PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia is set to receive a significant infrastructure boost with a $7.3 million grant awarded by the Shapiro Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The funding, delivered through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program Set-Aside, also known as the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, will target several aspects of community living, thereby positively impacting the pedestrian experience in the city.
Central to this initiative are projects designed to upgrade biking and walking paths, enhance pedestrian access to public transport systems, and amplify community improvement measures. The grant will also finance environmental mitigation projects and support the creation of trails.
A noteworthy element of the funding allocation is the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiative, which will focus on the creation of safer alternative access to schools via new crosswalks, sidewalks, and walking paths. The objective of the SRTS projects is to guarantee a safer journey for all Philadelphia’s school-going children.
Mike Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for the City’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, expressed gratification at securing the grant. He remarked that the projects financed by the grant would upgrade infrastructure and enhance pedestrian safety, thereby engendering a safer Philadelphia for all.
With these funds, the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems plans to add speed cushions, bump outs, and other traffic calming devices around Logan Elementary School. They will upgrade crosswalks and traffic signals at Woodlands Driveway and Chester Ave, revitalize sidewalks, construct a two-way cycle track, and form a pedestrian plaza by closing 41st Street between Chester and Woodland.
Other funded projects include the construction of a connecting section of the Cobbs Creek Trail, installation of bus bump outs on S. 7th and 8th Streets, and safety improvements along Torresdale Avenue. Moreover, $300,000 has been set aside for the Safe Routes Philly program, providing traffic safety education for K-5 students with special needs.
The grant money will also be utilized for the reconstruction of the asphalt trail on the west side of Belmont Avenue, making it a pleasant connection for residents and visitors exploring Fairmount Park West on foot or by bike.
The selection of funding recipients was based on critical considerations such as safety benefits, cost-effectiveness, readiness for implementation, and leveraging of other projects or funding. This particular round of funding saw 137 applications, requesting a total of over $165 million.
These projects promise to cultivate an environment with better pedestrian and cyclist safety facilities, improved economic opportunities for all residents, and a cleaner and greener Philadelphia.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.