DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, have announced a federal grant of $261,942 for Delaware County. The funding aims to enhance pedestrian safety for students in the Chester-Upland and Southeast Delco School Districts.
The fund allocation will facilitate improvements along routes leading to 13 local schools. This move is part of a broader effort to ensure safer commutes for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Senator Casey stated, “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, we’re making it safer for students, faculty and staff, and visitors to get to Delaware County schools. Families will have greater peace of mind when they send their children to school each day. Faculty and staff will have safer and more efficient commutes.”
Senator Fetterman highlighted the urgency of addressing street safety, saying, “We are facing a street safety crisis in America — and in Pennsylvania. The thousands of lives we lose due to unsafe streets is unacceptable. This funding will provide Delaware County with the resources they need to make streets safer for everyone on the roads.”
Rep. Scanlon echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of safe pathways to school for students and families in Delaware County. She said, “This new federal funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will allow our local leaders and residents to develop and advance projects that address the unique safety needs of our neighborhoods and save lives.”
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
With this financial boost, the County can develop a school-focused community engagement and education plan for Chester-Upland and Southeast Delco schools. It will also allow for data collection and study of pedestrian routes, including feedback from parents and staff. Additionally, the funding will aid in identifying, designing, deploying, and evaluating quick-build demonstration activities at four schools. These may include high-visibility crosswalks, raised medians, and paint and plastic pedestrian refuges.
The move marks a significant step forward in enhancing pedestrian safety around schools in Delaware County, benefiting students, staff, and the wider community.
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