Young announces almost $1M for safe pedestrian and bicycle paths
Rep. Regina Young April 22, 2022 | 10:21 AM
HARRISBURG, April 22 – State Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, today announced that the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will be receiving $990,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for Surface Transportation Block Grants. These funds are to be used to improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the state.
“As we work to improve FDR Park, we need to also make sure the surrounding area keeps up with these enhancements,” Young said. “This money is going to help our neighbors get from A to B in the most efficient way possible and provide much needed safety improvements and guidance to local schools.”
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission secured $540,000 to help the City of Philadelphia Streets Department improve pedestrian and bicycle connections to the Navy Yard by installing a shared-use side path along the western side of South Broad Street from FDR Park to the Navy Yard.
In addition, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has secured another $450,000 to help the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, in partnership with the Streets Department, to provide a pedestrian and bicycle safety curriculum to local middle schools; develop a bicycle and pedestrian safety learning e-module for students; create conceptual design plans that create slow zones around schools; and fund a project coordinator position to help with grant management, consultant management and program management and outreach of the middle school safety program.
These projects are part of $54.1 million awarded in Surface Transportation Block Grants, Set-Aside, or Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside programs. Before the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed, only $18 million was available. These grants provide funding for projects and activities defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities and environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose, and safe routes to school projects.
For more information, those interested can contact Young’s district office at (215) 952-3376.
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