Casey Urged DOT to Approve Grant – Project Could Create 1,000 Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a $10 million grant for the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County for a project to improve transportation links at two redevelopment sites along the Monongahela River. The project has the potential to create 1,000 jobs and spur economic development in the County.
“I supported this project because it will create jobs in Allegheny County and provide a much-needed boost to the region’s economy,” said Senator Casey. “I’m pleased that the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County will have the resources needed to make this project a reality and add family-sustaining jobs to the community.”
“Since Allegheny County purchased the Carrie Furnace site in 2005, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to clean and clear the property and create a sustainable redevelopment plan that would return it to viable commercial, residential and recreational uses,” said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. “The last piece of the puzzle was funding to connect the site to the recently renovated Rankin Bridge. Thanks to the hard work of Senator Casey and Congressman Doyle, we now have the final funding to make that connection a reality, and we are on the verge of transforming one of the largest remaining former industrial sites in Allegheny County.”
Senator Casey urged the U.S. DOT to approve the grant in a recent letter to the agency. The project will significantly expand access to the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s East Busway, which carries roughly 25,000 commuters daily, and will promote economic development in underserved communities in the region. Communities that stand to benefit from this project include the boroughs of Rankin, Swissvale, Whitaker, Munhall and Braddock.
The proposed redevelopment area is currently characterized by vacated sites and dilapidated structures, but the grant announced today will encourage development in line with the Redevelopment Authority’s plan for residential, industrial, commercial and recreational facilities.
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