The Commonwealth Financing Authority last week awarded $3.1 million in Multimodal Transportation Fund grants to seven projects with ties to Cumberland County.
The grants support infrastructure upgrades. The authority is an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Statewide, the authority approved 244 projects for more than $104.6 million in funding. The local grants are:
- $1,055,000 to North Middleton Township for transportation and safety improvements to Spring Road.
- $450,000 to Shippensburg Area School District for improvements to its middle school campus.
- $380,000 to Pacifica Mechanicsburg LLC to improve intersection, roadway and pedestrian use along the Carlisle Pike in the vicinity of Beltway Commons in Hampden Township.
- $373,000 to Silver Spring Township for road improvements along Main Street in New Kingstown.
- $357,172 to Shippensburg Borough for its inter-municipal Dykeman Road extension project.
- $250,000 to Gettysburg Road Investors LLC to improve the access road at Gettysburg Road and Rupp Avenue in Lower Allen Township.
- $250,000 to New Cumberland for borough streetscape improvements.
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Spring Road project
North Middleton Township will match the grant money to construct a roundabout at Spring, Creek and Cranes Gap roads.
Spring Road is the main commercial corridor for the township connecting Interstate 81 and the Harrisburg Pike to state Route 944. The project is intended to improve visibility and reduce vehicle speeds.
“The township has a rapidly increasing population,” state Rep. Barb Gleim said. “This intersection is almost impossible to navigate safely with the current traffic volume. This new roundabout will greatly help manage traffic flow for everyone’s safety as the township continues to grow.”
“Maintaining safe and appropriate transportation infrastructure is essential,” state Sen. Greg Rothman said. “Spring Road is an important artery for residents and businesses alike.”
Middle school campus
Shippensburg Area School District will use the grant to construct an access road at its middle school in Shippensburg Borough, according to a news release from its local legislators.
“Student safety is always the top priority,” state Rep. Rich Irvin said. “Better management of vehicle traffic will ultimately benefit students, parents, school employees and area commuters.”
“After seeing the dangerous traffic issue with my own eyes while on a visit to the middle school, I was very happy to throw my support behind this grant award,” state Sen. Doug Mastriano said. “The grant will help the school district construct a new road to alleviate traffic concerns and facilitate the safe travel of students and pedestrians between the high school and middle school.”
Beltway Commons
Pacifica Mechanicsburg LLC will use its grant to improve the segment of the Carlisle Pike serving its Beltway Commons development.
“Ensuring we have appropriate roadway infrastructure and optimal traffic management measures in place is extremely important, not only to the redevelopment of this highly visible property on the Carlisle Pike, but for all who travel it,” state Rep. Sheryl Delozier said.
New Kingston
Relocating the Carlisle Pike to bypass the Main Street in 2009 took away the brunt of the heavy traffic flow. This has enabled residents to follow through on an effort to transform the village back into a close-knit community.
As part of that, advocates have applied for state funding to spruce up Main Street, which runs for about 1.5 miles. The goal has been to have this money to help pay for new sidewalks, curbs, and street lighting along with landscaping, storm water drainage upgrades and improved handicap accessibility.
“Ensuring the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists on our roadways is important,” Rothman said. “This project will improve safety for all who travel in and around New Kingstown.”
Dykeman Road
“Shippensburg has witnessed an increase in traffic, straining existing road infrastructure,” state Rep. Torren Ecker said in a news release.
The grant will be used to develop an alternative route around Shippensburg to relieve congestion on King, Orange, Queen and Fayette streets.