LEWISBURG — An authority created in 1983 in response to Conrail’s abandonment of several unprofitable rail lines in central Pennsylvania will become an independent entity on Jan. 1.

That is when the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority severs its relationship with the SEDA Council of Governments that created it to preserve freight service.

It is a natural progression for a 42-year-old entity that has grown from initially owning 80 miles of track used by two shortlines, Steven Beattie, its executive director, said Monday.

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