North Main Street Sidewalks Project Will Connect Communities

YARDLEY, PA —It's a little more than a million dollars.

But the $1,031,451 grant secured by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Perry Warren for Yardley Borough to continue sidewalk upgrades as part of a multi-phase improvement project on North Main Street means something a little more:

The grant will help connect two communities: Yardley with Lower Makefield Township.

“Yardley Borough is a growing and thriving community in the 10th Senate District, with bustling restaurants and businesses along Main Street,” Santarsiero said. “Each phase of Yardley Borough’s North Main Street project has improved pedestrian safety, boosting access to the many local businesses. I have proudly supported this project since its inception and look forward to seeing this project finally completed.”

Yardley Council Vice President Uri Feiner said that nearly two decades ago, residents on North Main Street came to the Borough Council to request a sidewalk. He said the grant allows the borough to "finally complete this essential connection for our residents."

"This is a huge step in our commitment to making every part of our one-square-mile walkable borough truly—and safely—walkable,” Feiner added.

With the funding for the project now complete and the recently opened new Mary Yardley Bridge, Feiner said the council can focus on safe walkability and connectivity throughout the borough.

"We are also very excited to be coordinating with Lower Makefield on future projects to close the gaps in our walking infrastructure," the councilman said.

Feiner said these are some of the projects the council is researching:

• Complete the small stretch of multi-use trail on Dolington Road at the borough line to the corner with a crosswalk to connect with the North Main sidewalk.
• Fill in the missing sidewalk on Afton Avenue from the Borough going up the hill to connect with the multi-use trail in Lower Makefield at University Drive.
• Improve crosswalk visibility and design throughout the borough to make it safer to walk and calm traffic at the same time.

These projects, of course, require funding from the state and other sources, and we are committed to working with our neighboring municipalities and state representatives to procure grants to do this critical work for our residents., Feiner said.

“The Yardley North Main Street sidewalk project is an economic development project that also enhances recreational opportunities and provides a community connection for residents of Yardley and Lower Makefield,” Warren said. “Thank you to present and past members of Yardley Borough Council for supporting and seeing this project through each of its phases.”

The third and final phase includes utility relocations, repaving a portion of North Main Street, and constructing sidewalks through Dolington Road.

“Representative Warren and State Senator Santarsiero have given the Yardley Borough Community the gift of a safe walking route along N. Main Street,” Borough Council President Caroline Thompson said. “This, North Main Street Phase III sidewalk completion project, is the final piece to connect our residents on the northern side of town to our bustling business district for shopping and dining and to the canal towpath for recreation and exercise. Over the past three months, Yardley Borough and Lower Makefield have begun cooperative discussion around sidewalks and connectivity and based on these conversations, we are confident that Phase III will not only serve Yardley Borough but also Lower Makefield Township and beyond as the fragmented sections of sidewalks reach full connectivity. It’s a beautiful thing with State government and neighboring municipalities all coming together like this!”

(Jared Stump) Yardley Councilman Jared Stump checks out the North Main Street sidewalks project.