The Cynwyd Heritage Trail during its first round of construction.
From a recent DVRPC press release:
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has awarded $7.9 million to ten local projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TA). Additionally, $4 million will be dedicated to future projects over the next three years.
The federal program funds community-based “non-traditional” projects designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation’s intermodal transportation system. Selected projects include trail, sidewalk, transit station, and on-road bicycle improvements. In addition to this funding round, there are 29 additional projects worth $22.4 million, which will be recommended for funding through a Statewide TA selection process in spring 2018.
“These ten projects will enable communities to build multi-use trails, safe routes to school and pedestrian pathways, and bike lanes and bikeway projects, providing transportation options for a wide variety of users throughout our region,” said Barry Seymour, DVRPC Executive Director. “This is one more step in our ongoing efforts to advance the Circuit Trails, the region’s ambitious plan for an 800-mile network of connected trails.”
The projects and funding are listed below, with Circuit projects in green.
Bucks County
Neshaminy Greenway Trail (Core Creek Park to Woodbourne Road) ($995,000) – Construction of a 10-foot wide multi-use trail connecting the existing Core Creek Park Trail to Woodbourne Road. The one-mile long trail on county-owned property will make the connection along Tollgate, Fulling Mill, and Ellis roads.
Iron Work Creek Sidewalk ($894,000) – Construction of sidewalk improvements along both sides of Second Street Pike (SR 232), in Northampton Township, between Tanyard Road and Crossroads Plaza.
Chester County
Kennett Area Safer Active Transportation Routes ($915,000) – Construction of bicycle and pedestrian improvements along South Street and Walnut Street. The project proposes to make connections to Pennock Park and Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Township and Kennett Square.
Paoli Trail, Segment A ($483,000) – Construction of a sidepath on the northside of Paoli Pike (SR 2014) between Airport Road (East Goshen Township line) and Ellis Lane. Segment A is one section of the overall Paoli Pike Trail network in East Goshen Township.
Delaware County
Pennsy Trail – Phase II Improvements ($1,163,000) – Construction of an off road multi-use trail to extend the existing Pennsy Trail to Vernon Road. The trail in Haverford Township proposes a bridge over Manoa Road.
Montgomery County
Jenkintown to Pennypack Trail ($715,000) – Construction of a multi-use trail in Abington Township connecting Abington Friends School at Washington Lane and Newbold Road to the existing trail at Fox Chase Road through Alverthorpe Park.
Parkside Cynwyd Trail Extension ($534,000) – Construction of a rail with trail project. The project proposes to extend the Parkside Cynwyd Trail, in Lower Merion Township, from the Cynwyd SEPTA station to the Montgomery-Philadelphia County line.
Philadelphia County
North Broad Street – Vision Zero Priority Corridor ($300,000, partial funding) – Construction of medians and pedestrian safety improvements along key segments of North Broad Street (SR 611) between Girard Avenue and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. An additional $700,000 has been requested through the Statewide TA round to fully fund the project.
Renewing Philadelphia’s Historic Streets ($1,000,000) – Restoration of a historic transportation facility; the project proposes ADA improvements and full restoration of Thomas Paine Place located in the Society Hill National Register District.
Restoring Shawmont Station ($1,000,000) – For those familiar with the SRT canal tow path that climbs up to Shawmont Avenue and Nixon Street know the dilapitated station building that sits by the rail line. The building will finally be restored! Closed in 1996, this 1834 building is the oldest rail station in the United States.
For more information about the program, click here.
To view the full list of TAP projects for this cycle, click here.