TRANSPORTATION
Programs
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program
$1.4 million Awarded for Pedestrian, Multimodal Projects
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) June 16 approved more than $1.4 million in projects designed to improve safety and expand bicycle and pedestrian options across the region.
The money, awarded through the federally regulated Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) Program, covers a two-year period. The projects selected go towards the implementation of FutureLV: The Regional Plan and Walk/RollLV: Active Transportation Plan. Specifically, the projects support equitable education and access to the Lehigh Valley’s transportation system.
“Expansion of healthy transportation options, centered in safety, air quality and congestion reduction projects that enhance bicycle, pedestrian, transit and ADA improvements are critical to the region’s success,” said Becky Bradley, LVTS Secretary and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Executive Director.
The projects funded are:
- Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (CAT): $154,036 for two years of programming that includes bicycle safety and maintenance education for an estimated 6,000 students kindergarten through eighth grade. Much of the education is done at school campuses across the Lehigh Valley and at CAT’s Bethlehem location.
- Community Bike Works: $240,036 for two years of programming. Carrying the mission of “teaching life lessons through bicycles,” CBW impacts the lives of hundreds of children through its two locations in Allentown, and new location in Easton. It’s popular Build a Bike program enables more than 600 youths, aged 9-18 connect with adult mentors to learn bicycle maintenance and safety. Students who complete the program earn ownership of the bike they worked on through the 12-week program.
- Two Rivers Trail Gap: $654,036 for a Northampton County project to carve a .8-mile trail through Bushkill Township, connecting Jacobsburg State Park to the section of the September 11 National Memorial Trail that runs through Stockertown Borough and Plainfield Township. The project will include establishing a trailhead at Filetown Road in Bushkill Township and creating a crushed limestone multi-use trail that extends to Henry Road at the state park. It’s the next step in creating an unbroken Two Rivers Trail from Easton to Jacobsburg State Park.
- Fountain Hill Pedestrian Safety: $203,829 to install pedestrian safety measures at the busy intersection at Broadway and Delaware Avenue. The project includes new pedestrian crossing signs with LED lighting, countdown timers and accessibility ramps. The intersection changes are part of a larger resurfacing and streetscape project along Broadway through the Borough.
- Allentown Pedestrian Safety: $181,471 to help accessibility ramps, roadway repairs and striped crosswalks along an intersection at Martin King Luther Jr. Drive in Allentown. It’s part of a larger project that includes audible crosswalk signals and other pedestrian safety measures at an intersection that carries 16,000 vehicles a day within two blocks of three schools and the Parkettes Gymnastic Training Center.
The projects were chosen after a detailed, four-month selection process. Each project was analyzed and scored based on its compliance with Federal Highway Administration criteria and FutureLV: The Regional Plan.
The grant money becomes available October 1.
$1.32 million in Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
Awarded for 2017
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) on Monday, December 18, 2017 awarded the investment of $1.3 million in support of innovative regional and local Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TASA) projects. Fifteen (15) municipal application requests competed for an award with the collective ask totaling more than $10 million.
TASA projects build pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to school, preserve historic transportation structures, provide environmental mitigation, create trails projects that serve a transportation purpose, while promoting safety and mobility. Eligible project sponsors include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, and tribal governments.
Eligible TASA projects include:
Bicycle or pedestrian facilities;
Bicycle and pedestrian education (grades K-8 only);
Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails;
Construction of overlooks and viewing areas;
Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities;
Archaeological activities; and
Bicycle and pedestrian education.
Since the 1990s, more than $30 million has been awarded locally to more than 50 TASA and the previously named Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects.
“Investing in our local transportation infrastructure enhances transportation and recreation options for all users of non-motorized modes of travel, improves air quality, and promotes connectivity of paths and trails” states Becky Bradley, LVPC Executive Director. The following projects were awarded funding:
South Bethlehem Corridor Connections:
City of Bethlehem
$500,000
The project in South Bethlehem calls for improving crosswalks at three intersections, adding handicap ramps on four streets and increasing lighting in areas frequented by pedestrians and bicyclists.
Geiger Covered Bridge Rehabilitation:
Lehigh County
$325,900
The project is part of a $1.2 million project to restore the structural integrity and look of the 157-year-old covered bridge, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic places. Deterioration has rendered the bridge unable to handle the weight of some vehicles.
Hellertown Main St. Pedestrian Safety Initiative:
Borough of Hellertown
$200,000
The project is part of a $1.1 million plan that will include crosswalks, LED lighting and handicap ramps at some of the downtown’s busiest intersections.
Bike Education Program:
Community Bike Works
$160,000
The project helps fund the organization’s bicycle education program, which is targeted at low-income youths, including its earn-a-bike program.
Bike Education Program:
Coalition for Appropriate Transportation
$136,100
The Bethlehem-based organization plans to use the money for bicycle education and promotions for 6,000 youths from kindergarten through eighth grade. The money will help fund 84 events that will include at least 30 school assemblies focusing on bicycle and helmet safety.
$1.27 million in Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Awarded
Front Street Safety + Connectivity Project:
Catasauqua Borough
$292,126
Bike Education Project:
City of Allentown + Community Bike Works
$150,000
Jordan Creek Greenway + Trail Project:
South Whitehall Township
$292,366
Broadway + Delaware Avenue Pedestrian Improvements Project:
Fountain Hill Borough
$59,950
Bike Path Crossing Safety Improvements:
Palmer Township
$56,630
Two Rivers Trail Gap: Northampton County, Bushkill Township + Plainfield Township
$420,562
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 awarded the investment of $1.27 million in support of innovative regional and local Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects. Twenty-three (23) municipal application requests competed for an award with the collective ask totaling more than $9 million.
TAP projects build pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to school, preserve historic transportation structures, provide environmental mitigation, create trails projects that serve a transportation purpose, while promoting safety and mobility. Eligible project sponsors include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, and tribal governments.
Eligible TAP projects include:
- Bicycle or pedestrian facilities,
- Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails,
- Construction of overlooks and viewing areas,
- Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities,
- Archaeological activities, and
- Bicycle and pedestrian education.
Since the 1990s, over $20 million has been awarded locally to more than 50 TAP projects.
“Investing in our local transportation infrastructure enhances transportation and recreation options for all users of non-motorized modes of travel, improves air quality, and promotes connectivity of paths and trails” states Becky Bradley, LVPC Executive Director. The following projects were awarded funding:
Bike Education Project:City of Allentown + Community Bike Works$150,000 Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian EducationCommunity Bike Works is a non-profit organization that offers a three-point approach to bicycle education. This begins with bicycle safety assemblies where students learn about helmet use, hand signals, and rules of the road. The second approach is the ‘Earn a Bike’ program where students learn bike mechanics and safety over a 12-week period. Finally, students are encouraged to participate in regular guided bike rides on Lehigh Valley trails.
This request includes a minimum of 12 assemblies reaching out to an estimated 1,200 students along with scheduled weekend and summer riding events.
Jordan Creek Greenway + Trail Project:South Whitehall TownshipAwarded: $292,366State Funding Recommendation: $257,634Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian FacilitiesThe Jordan Creek Greenway & Trail is a 13-mile system that physically and ecologically connects the City of Allentown to several Lehigh County parks and recreation areas. The trail system passes through seven Lehigh Valley Townships, offers an array of recreational and educational opportunities, and will eventually provide a key connection to the Appalachian Trail along the Blue Mountain Ridge. The project has been developing over the course of several years under the direction and influence of a multi-municipal consortium.
This TAP award assures a significant gap in the current network is filled and includes mobilization, demolition, trail construction, riparian buffer plantings, rain gardens, erosion and sediment control facilities, and construction of a 170’ boardwalk. (Sections 48 and 49 awarded. Section 50 recommended for State funding.)
Front Street Safety + Connectivity Project:Catasauqua Borough$292,126 Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian FacilitiesFront Street in Catasauqua serves as the Borough’s primary commercial and mixed-use corridor and it currently lacks appropriate bicycle and pedestrian amenities and facilities. The Borough has recently completed an extensive public engagement planning process to enhance this corridor including suggestions for roadway conversions and corridor improvements. The planning effort also recognizes the pending redevelopment of the ‘Iron Works’ site and the significant economic impact it will have on this corridor. This TAP request serves to improve safety and enhance mobility through the installation of street trees, bicycle racks, pedestrian scale signage, street benches, sidewalk, and decorative lighting.
This request further constitutes a shovel-ready project that will leverage private economic development investment and upgrade the intersection at Front Street and Bridge Street with crosswalks, bump-outs, and ADA curb ramps.
Broadway + Delaware Avenue Pedestrian Improvements Project:Fountain Hill Borough$59,950 Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian FacilitiesBroadway is a heavily traveled roadway that runs through the center of the Borough and separates many local destinations from adjacent neighborhoods. Residents and school children are forced to cross this road on a daily basis to access parks, churches, and elementary school facilities. While the Borough employs a crossing guard during school hours, current pedestrian crossing facilities are woefully inadequate from a safety standpoint. Accordingly, this grant award serves to improve the crossing at Broadway and Delaware Avenue through the installation of pedestrian crossing signals with LED lighting and count down timers. Additional concrete and sidewalk work will also occur.
This request constitutes a shovel ready Safe Routes To School (SRTS) project that improves bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Two Rivers Trail Gap: Northampton County, Bushkill Township + Plainfield Township$420,562 Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian FacilitiesThe Two Rivers Greenways Plan lays the framework for a number of environmental initiatives located throughout the Bushkill Creek watershed including the Two Rivers Trail system. This trail serves as a key link for accessing recreational opportunities along and between greenways and further complements an education center that has been built at Jacobsburg Park. This TAP grant award will help the County and Township close a key high priority gap in the system and also fund safety enhancements along the main stem of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail.
The proposal is project ready as a majority of the trail lies within PennDOT owned right-of-way. Completion of the project will offer additional recreational, transportation and educational opportunities.
Bike Path Crossing Safety Improvements:Palmer Township$56,630 Category:Bicycle + Pedestrian FacilitiesPalmer Township currently maintains more than 7.8 miles of trail and there are 8 at-grade locations where bicycles and pedestrians must cross heavily traveled state roads. Many of these crossing locations were developed at different times and with different design considerations. Accordingly, the Township will utilize the grant award to upgrade these 8 crossings to current safety standards as articulated in a Shared Use Path Crossing Agreement. In addition, this project will serve to mitigate traffic impacts as several of these crossings lie within or in close proximity to a recognized congested corridor on 25th Street and a high crash corridor on William Penn Highway.
This proposal is project ready and includes gated bollards, signage and roadway marking improvements.
Pedestrian Streetscape Project:Macungie Borough$542,288 State Funding RecommendationCategory:Bicycle + Pedestrian Facilities
Macungie Borough has developed and is implementing a Walkability & Streetscape Plan that includes an emphasis on traffic calming and aesthetic enhancements for their Main Street (State Route 100). A past TAP award was granted to the Borough to assist with the implementation of crosswalks and bump outs, which are scheduled to go to construction this spring. This request supplements the past award and includes additional traffic calming techniques in the form of a center median island, ornamental pedestrian street lighting, street trees, and paver strips.
This request constitutes a shovel-ready project that improves bicycle and pedestrian safety resulting from increased traffic volumes and speed.
Please direct program questions to George Kinney, AICP, Director of Transportation Planning at gkinney@lvpc.org or Michael Donchez, Senior Transportation Planner at mdonchez@lvpc.org; telephone 610-264-4544.
2014 Transportation Alternatives (TAP) Awards
1. Manassas Guth Historic Covered Bridge (Lehigh Co.) - $360,000
2. Community Bike Works Youth Bike Education (City of Allentown) – $74,000
3. Victory Park Sidewalk Project (Slatington) - $45,430
4. Safe Routes to School Safety Project (City of Allentown) - $125,000
5. Main Street Curb Extensions and Crosswalks (Macungie Borough) - $347,200
6. Sitgreaves Pedestrian Alley Conversion (City of Easton) - $43,400
7. Bicycle Education for Children K-8 (City of Easton) - $166,160
8. City of Bethlehem Pedestrian Improvements (portion of South 4th Street section only) - $100,000.
9. Regional Expansion of the Shared Lane Markings Network (City of Bethlehem) - $65,500.
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
961 Marcon Boulevard - Suite 310
Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 264-4544
Toll Free: (888) 627-8808
