St Joe's Getting $3M To Boost City Ave Pedestrian Safety

PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph's University is getting state funding to improve pedestrian safety along City Avenue, according to officials.

Governor Tom Wolf recently announced that 43 highway, bridge, rail, and bike and pedestrian projects in 21 counties were selected for $45.9 million in funding through the Multimodal Transportation Fund.

St. Joe's funding is totaling $3 million.

The funds will help support the Saint Joseph’s University Pedestrian Safety Underpass.

The underpass will construct a bridge structure below highly traveled City Avenue to create a pedestrian bypass for University students, commuters and local residents.

"Transportation moves communities and economies forward," Wolf said. "These investments will assist with overall mobility and safety in our local communities."

Reflecting PennDOT’s commitment to improving local infrastructure, several of the projects will also help local governments improve roadways, address pedestrian and accessibility concerns, and help bridges in need of repair or replacement.

"Investing in our communities continues to be critical to moving the economy forward in 2021," PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. "Making roadways more accessible for all modes of travel assures that we are making continued business connections for the future and keeps transportation an integral part of daily living."

PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on criteria such as safety benefits, regional economic conditions, the technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency, and operational sustainability.