PA Awards Northampton $2.3M For New Trail, Lights And School Crossings

RICHBORO, PA — Northampton Township has been awarded $2.3 million in state grants for four township safety improvement projects, including a new multi-use trail, new lights and sidewalks, and school crossing safety improvements.

The funding was announced by State Senator Frank Farry, State Rep. Kristin Marcell, and State Rep. Joe Hogan, who represent the township in Harrisburg.

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Farry joined Marcell at the July board of supervisors meeting to outline the projects and to announce the funding, which comes from three state sources - the Pennsylvania Local Share Account, the Small Sewer and Water Fund, and a Multimodal Transportation Fund awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

"One of the great things we get to do as public officials is to take some of our state-funded programs and to bring some of that back to our local communities," said Farry. "Of the 14 municipalities that I represent, Northampton is certainly one of the most aggressive in seeking funding sources. Both the board and the administration deserve significant recognition."

Marcell added, "I'd like to complement Northampton for taking advantage of the grant opportunities available" through the state and "bringing some of those dollars back to the community" where they help lower the township budget and the local tax bill.

State Senator Frank Farry and State Rep. Kristin Marcell present grants totaling $2.3 million to the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors.

Farry presented the first check for $364,027 awarded through the small sewer and water fund administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development. It will help pay to retrofit a stormwater basin serving the Tanner Estates/Syracuse Lane neighborhoods with bioretention cells, new plantings and sediment traps. "It is essential for improving stormwater management and water quality within the Neshaminy Creek watershed," said Farry.

The second check for $2,010,171 will fund four different pedestrian safety projects in the township, including:

• $334,000 for the addition of pedestrian lighting throughout the village of Richboro along Second Street Pike and Bustleton Pike. The work is being funded through a DCED multimodal transportation grant.
• $159,000 for pedestrian crossing safety improvements at four "high priority" crossings located near elementary and middle schools in the township. The improvements include high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and advance signage and pavement markings at the intersections of New Road and Norton Drive, New Road and Jennifer Lane, Middle Holland and Liberty Drive, and East Holland Road and Grant Drive.
• $500,000 for the development of a 900-foot-long multi-use trail on Route 332 from Rock Way to St. Leonards Road, including the installation of split rail safety fences, stormwater management, signage and pavement markings, and a pedestrian gate. It is designed to provide connectivity from the residential neighborhoods to Tyler State Park. The project funding comes from the Local Share Account.
• $1.1 million to fund the Richboro Sidewalk Project.

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