A.M.BRIEFING

Santa Express train rides canceled in Bellefonte

The Bellefonte Historical Railroad has canceled this year’s Santa Express train rides scheduled for Dec. 19.

“Corporate restructuring” at North Shore Railroad Systems, which had supplied a historic train for the rides before, led to the cancellation, said the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society in a news release. No other details were available Friday.

PayPal ticket purchases will be refunded by PayPal within the next few weeks, the society said. Inquires concerning Pay- Pal sales can be sent to President@BellefonteTrain.org. Tickets bought by mail or at the Bellefonte train station should be returned to the station at 320 W. High St. in Bellefonte, and a refund check will be mailed.

County to continue retirement method

BELLEFONTE — Centre County’s retirement board voted 4-1 Thursday to continue with the method currently used for determining how much to contribute annually to the retirement account.

The retirement board had previously decided to reduce projected average salary increases from 4.5 percent to 3.5 percent when determining the county’s annual retirement contribution. That change will mean an estimated annual savings up to $700,000. Based on current estimates, the county will have to contribute $3.17 million to the retirement fund next year.

The board decided to continue using the “aggregate” method rather than switch to an “entry age” method for determining how much to contribute. According to the information from Controller Chuck Witmer and Treasurer Rich Fornicola, the aggregate method is a more conservative approach, while the entry age method could mean lower current annual contributions.

Chairman Jon Eich voted no. The county is facing a budget shortfall. Eich had made a motion to adopt the entry age method, saying that type of adjustment would be better than budget cuts that would hurt the county’s ability to deliver its services. The motion died without a second.

New Marsh Creek Bridge to open for traffic

The new Marsh Creek Bridge, on state Route 1001 in Curtin Township, will open to traffic this afternoon, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced.

Quality Engineering Solutions Inc. of Conneaut Lake, Crawford County, was the contractor on the $948,535. The project was one of 17 transportation projects across the nine counties of PennDOT District 2 that is being financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The contractor replaced the old steel, I-beam bridge at marsh Creek with a new, single- span concrete bridge. The old bridge dated from 1938 and was on a list of bridges in need of replacement.

Work starts on Route 504 bridge replacement

Work has begun on the state Route 504 bridge replacement project at Black Moshannon State Park, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced.

Crews are currently working to build a temporary bridge and roadway beside the existing bridge, so that the old bridge can be removed and a new one built.

Demolition of the existing bridge will begin in early December. The temporary bridge will be used during construction of the new bridge. The temporary bridge will be one lane and feature a traffic signal. The temporary signal will allow motorists to alternate turns crossing the bridge.

Overall project work will include construction of a new, single span concrete bridge, new approaches, new guiderail and miscellaneous construction items. PennDOT expects the project to be complete by the end of July 2010.

State College-based HRI Inc. is the contractor on the $1.8 million project.