Lower Makefield Township Awarded $700K For Trail Project

Pennsylvania officials on Tuesday announced the approval of funding for 82 projects aimed to improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the state. One of those projects is in Lower Makefield Township.

Lower Makefield will receive $700,000 for 3,500 linear feet of 10-foot multi-use trail that will connect the existing trail to several township facilities, parks and schools.

In total, the Wolf administration awarded $66.8 million through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program Set-Aside or Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside. The TA Set-Aside provides funding for projects and activities defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose, and safe routes to school projects.

“Using alternative transportation methods is good for the environment and good for your health, and we should be encouraging it,” said State Rep. Perry Warren. “Whether you’re biking or walking, this project will make it easier and safer to get around to a number of spots in Lower Makefield Township, and I’m pleased the state was able to award this funding.”

PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on such criteria as safety benefits, reasonableness of cost, readiness for implementation, statewide or regional significance, integration of land use and transportation decision making, collaboration with stakeholders, and leverage of other projects or funding.

“Our citizens are taking advantage of an array of trails and improvements that enhance the state’s quality of life, and these new investments will build on our successes in making Pennsylvania an attractive place to live and work,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said.

The following additional Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Projects were approved in Bucks County:

• Doylestown Township – $985,000 for construction of a 0.8-mile trail along Shady Retreat and Burpee Roads that will connect several neighborhoods to the Doyle Elementary School, Lenape Middle School and Central Bucks West High Schools.
• Solebury Township will receive $1,000,000 to build the next segment of the Route 202 Cross-County Trail within the Aquetong Park boundaries.

Image via PA Governor's office