PENNSYLVANIA - Engineers have determined that a commuter rail from Arnold to Pittsburgh is feasible -- at an estimated price tag of $138 million.

"We think there is enough ridership to justify the startup of both of these lines," said Bill Novak with engineering firm HDR Inc.

He was referring to both the Alle-Kiski Valley line and a commuter rail from Latrobe to Pittsburgh. The Westmoreland County Transit Authority hired HDR to jointly study both projects.

Combined, the two projects would cost an estimated $208 million.

The biggest expense for the Alle-Kiski line would be $56 million to upgrade the tracks now used by the Allegheny Valley Railroad, a Verona-based, short-line freight company that runs primarily at night.

That cost includes improving the safety features at railroad crossings.

Novak said the tracks would need replaced to accommodate commuter trains running up to 60 mph. The freight trains only run about 10 mph.

"It's not going to move a train at 15 mph, let alone 60 mph," Novak said of the tracks.