PHILADELPHIA– The City of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the receipt of federal funding for five community-based transportation projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which target pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.
The grant of $2.67 million of TAP funds will be matched by over $500,000 of local contributions. The initiative is the result of a coordinated effort between the City’s Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems, Department of Streets, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Commerce Department, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, as well as the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
“This effort to secure over $2.6 million underscores the importance of collaboration across departments to enhance our streets and neighborhoods. I am particularly proud how each project will improve traffic safety for all users, from our youngest to oldest, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians,” said Clarena Tolson, Deputy Managing Director for the Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems.
These are the five projects funded by the TAP grant:
“Make Way for Children: Expanding Pedestrian Infrastructure to Philadelphia Schools,” will install critical pedestrian and bicycle safety infrastructure around two elementary schools located in areas with high number of child pedestrian-involved crashes.
The “Philadelphia Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety & Encouragement Elementary Education Program (City of Philadelphia Safe Routes to School)” will fund a comprehensive Safe Routes to Schools program that plans, implements, and evaluates activities to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety and encourage walking and biking to school. Selection of school participation will be data-driven, placing prioritization on elementary schools located in areas with a high number of child-pedestrian-involved crashes.
The third project, “Chelten-Greene Plaza Reconstruction,” will transform the north side of the street into a gateway plaza between the recently renovated Vernon Park and an important bus transfer point. “What began as a Central Germantown Business District Beautification Plan recommendation, will result in the transformation of this plaza into a pedestrian-friendly and accessible place for a variety of users, and connect Vernon Park to multiple Chelten Avenue destinations,” said Gary J. Jastrzab, Executive Director of the City Planning Commission.
The fourth project, “Manayunk Bridge Trail Lighting,” under the supervision of the Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation, will add lighting to the recently opened Manayunk Bridge Trail, which connects the Schuylkill River Trail, Manayunk Canal Towpath, and Main Street in Manayunk to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Montgomery County. Upon completion, the Manayunk Bridge Trail hours will be extended, allowing the Bridge Trail to serve as a critical commuter connection for pedestrians and cyclists who travel between Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell is thrilled. “The lighting of the Manayunk Bridge Trail will provide a greatly enhanced amenity for our trail users, permitting extended hours for usage and a much safer space on this historic bridge,” she said.
The final project, “Safe Spaces for Cyclists: Build a Protected Bike Network”, will include a mix of converting existing bicycle lanes into protected facilities and adding new protected bicycle lanes by adding flexible delineator posts to clearly separate vehicle and bicycle space in the right of way. The project also will include striping and signage in high priority bicycle corridors throughout the City.