Reading and Northern Railroad is continuing to invest in the Jim Thorpe community.

Last week, the Carbon County Railroad Commission spoke about a recent project that the railroad is working on in conjunction with the county and borough.

Officials said the railroad is working to extend a portion of sidewalk coming into town from the Route 903 bridge.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that the railroad has contacted PPL about moving a utility pole.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said during a recent meeting between PPL, Blue Ridge, Reading and Northern regarding the utility pole, PPL is now working on engineering for the pole.

The goal is to ensure that a wheelchair could fit on the sidewalk coming into downtown.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that this project is showing the cooperation of the railroad and owner Andy Muller and their commitment to the community.

He said the company is going “above and beyond” as far as the agreement the county made with them during the sale of the rail line.

“They are continuing to work with the county and borough to improve the safety over there,” Nothstein said.

The commissioners said they are hoping the project could be nearing completion by the time the tourism season picks up in the spring.

The sidewalks coming from the AJ Baddick Memorial Bridge have been the source of discussion for several years.

In 2021, borough council considered filing an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint over the abrupt end to the sidewalks, which force travelers to walk on Route 209 as they head toward downtown.