Newtown Borough Seeking More Than $1M For Capital Projects

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Newtown Borough Council on Tuesday is expected to give its approval to two grant applications that, if successful, would fund two capital projects totaling more than $1 million.

The first, a PECO Green Region Bonus Round Grant, would pay much of the cost to retrofit the town's decorative streetlights with more energy efficient LED fixtures.

Borough manager Greg Totaro said the borough will be asking for $50,000 from PECO to fund the project, which will replace the metal halogen fixtures with LED lights.

"We have an estimate from our vendor of $65,000. If we were to get this $50,000 grant we would have to come up with $15,000 to retrofit the lights, which will more than pay the borough back in just a short period of time like two to three years probably," said Totaro.

The grant process will require council to approve a resolution supporting the application. That is expected to happen at Tuesday's council meeting.

The second resolution - a Local Share Assessment Grant - will be asking for $999,000 to fund the Edgeboro Pedestrian Connection. The funding would pay to extend the North State Street sidewalk around the curve at the northern end of town to Frost Lane.

"Currently the sidewalks just stop in front of the new Mikvah and across the street. This would take the sidewalks up to Frost Lane," said Totaro.

Neighboring Newtown Township, which owns some of the land around the curve, is agreeable to allowing the borough to make some modifications, he said. "There are also a couple of awkward properties there that we think we can work through. I've spoken to one of the owners who is agreeable to working with us. Once you get up to Frost Lane it's pretty wide open."

Neighboring Newtown Township was recently successful in obtaining a million dollar grant through the same Local Share program for the construction of a pedestrian bridge, which will link Newtown Borough and Newtown Township over the Newtown Creek between Frost Lane and North Sycamore Street. The borough is partnering with the township and the Newtown Creek Coalition on that project.