Funding is Part of the Fiscal Year 2009 THUD Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced today that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved federal funding for several Pennsylvania transportation and housing projects as contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill.
“I am pleased that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have recognized the importance of these transportation and housing projects in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Specter. “These projects are necessary advancements to improve our roadways, mass transit infrastructure, and housing sites and are an important force for economic growth in our local communities.”
“This money for economic development and transportation projects is great news for Pennsylvania and I am grateful that members of the committee approved this funding,” said Senator Casey. “Affordable housing and community redevelopment is vitally important to the future of our communities across the Commonwealth.”
The bill will now await action on the Senate floor and must be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States before funding is final.
Funding has been approved for the following Pennsylvania projects:
· $3 million for Flight 93 Memorial Access Roads in Somerset County. Funding will support the construction of roads, utilities, parking and improved site drainage from US 30 to increase access to the national memorial which honors the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
· $3 million for the Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster County to support continued development and construction of the Queen Street Bus Facility. This next phase will provide three additional bus berths and another outlet from the facility, thus eliminating excessive looping of buses in the downtown area.
· $2.5 million for Runway Rehabilitation at Philadelphia International Airport for improvements to Runway 9R/27L. This runway is one of the airport’s main runways requires new surfacing in order to be safe for aircraft operations.
· $1.75 million for Freedom Road Improvements in Butler County. The improvements in Cranberry Township will include widening from two lanes to four lanes, a signal system installation, and intersection upgrades. The road is currently carrying 140 percent more vehicles per day than the capacity for which it was designed.
· $1 million for the Scranton ? New York City Rail project to complete engineering and begin construction of the passenger rail service line between Scranton and New York City.
· $1 million for the PA High?Speed MAGLEV Project. Funding will support the continued development of a 54?mile high?speed Maglev system that would connect Greensburg to Pittsburgh International Airport via downtown Pittsburgh.
· $1,000,000 for the City of Wilkes-Barre Coal Street Park Revitalization Project in Luzerne County. Funding will be used for revitalization of economic and recreational amenities at Coal Street Park, which is one of its premiere parks and is located near one of the City’s major gateways.
· $750,000 for the construction of a bridge over Brandywine Creek in Chester County. The Downingtown bridge will provide a vital connection to facilitate sufficient access to several large redevelopment sites throughout the borough.
· $500,000 to improve the Market Frankford subway station at 5th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The renovations will maximize capacity for ridership and improve passenger safety.
· $500,000 for the City of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts Revitalization and Streetscaping Project in Philadelphia County. This funding will provide for new lighting on Broad Street and major intersection streets between 13th and 15th.
· $500,000 for the City of Allentown’s Old Allentown Streetscape Improvements in Lehigh County. This funding will provide for street lighting, street trees, new ADA compliant handicap ramps, curbing and sidewalk replacement for the purpose of enhancing safety and promoting community revitalization.
· $500,000 for the City of Easton’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative in Northampton County. The funding would expand the City of Easton’s comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy by extending its housing rehabilitation and homeownership assistance program.
· $200,000 for Our City Reading in Berks County to rehabilitate abandoned houses with the goal of rehabilitating 100 homes every year. Our City Reading provides quality homeownership opportunities to low?income families.
· $200,000 to the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation in State College for a neighborhood revitalization project as part of a West End revitalization initiative. The multi?year effort is aimed at the revitalization of the Borough’s West End, focusing on mixed?use development and encouraging development that will reuse existing buildings and foster residential and non?residential uses.
· $200,000 for the City of Carbondale in Lackawanna County for a downtown revitalization initiative. The City’s Pioneer Plaza project is a public/private partnership aimed at stimulating the local economy.
· $200,000 for Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation in Philadelphia to support a housing initiative. The Corporation identifies and acquires severely deteriorated and dilapidated homes with the goal of rehabilitating the vacant properties to be sold to low and moderate income families.
· $200,000 for Armstrong County for site preparation and redevelopment to complete remediation of a brownfield site in Apollo Borough. Site preparation and redevelopment of the former Metal Services property is necessary to proceed with infrastructure improvements and development of a light industrial park, which will attract business to the Alle?Kiski Valley.
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“I am pleased that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have recognized the importance of these transportation and housing projects in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Specter. “These projects are necessary advancements to improve our roadways, mass transit infrastructure, and housing sites and are an important force for economic growth in our local communities.”
“This money for economic development and transportation projects is great news for Pennsylvania and I am grateful that members of the committee approved this funding,” said Senator Casey. “Affordable housing and community redevelopment is vitally important to the future of our communities across the Commonwealth.”
The bill will now await action on the Senate floor and must be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States before funding is final.
Funding has been approved for the following Pennsylvania projects:
· $3 million for Flight 93 Memorial Access Roads in Somerset County. Funding will support the construction of roads, utilities, parking and improved site drainage from US 30 to increase access to the national memorial which honors the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
· $3 million for the Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster County to support continued development and construction of the Queen Street Bus Facility. This next phase will provide three additional bus berths and another outlet from the facility, thus eliminating excessive looping of buses in the downtown area.
· $2.5 million for Runway Rehabilitation at Philadelphia International Airport for improvements to Runway 9R/27L. This runway is one of the airport’s main runways requires new surfacing in order to be safe for aircraft operations.
· $1.75 million for Freedom Road Improvements in Butler County. The improvements in Cranberry Township will include widening from two lanes to four lanes, a signal system installation, and intersection upgrades. The road is currently carrying 140 percent more vehicles per day than the capacity for which it was designed.
· $1 million for the Scranton ? New York City Rail project to complete engineering and begin construction of the passenger rail service line between Scranton and New York City.
· $1 million for the PA High?Speed MAGLEV Project. Funding will support the continued development of a 54?mile high?speed Maglev system that would connect Greensburg to Pittsburgh International Airport via downtown Pittsburgh.
· $1,000,000 for the City of Wilkes-Barre Coal Street Park Revitalization Project in Luzerne County. Funding will be used for revitalization of economic and recreational amenities at Coal Street Park, which is one of its premiere parks and is located near one of the City’s major gateways.
· $750,000 for the construction of a bridge over Brandywine Creek in Chester County. The Downingtown bridge will provide a vital connection to facilitate sufficient access to several large redevelopment sites throughout the borough.
· $500,000 to improve the Market Frankford subway station at 5th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The renovations will maximize capacity for ridership and improve passenger safety.
· $500,000 for the City of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts Revitalization and Streetscaping Project in Philadelphia County. This funding will provide for new lighting on Broad Street and major intersection streets between 13th and 15th.
· $500,000 for the City of Allentown’s Old Allentown Streetscape Improvements in Lehigh County. This funding will provide for street lighting, street trees, new ADA compliant handicap ramps, curbing and sidewalk replacement for the purpose of enhancing safety and promoting community revitalization.
· $500,000 for the City of Easton’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative in Northampton County. The funding would expand the City of Easton’s comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy by extending its housing rehabilitation and homeownership assistance program.
· $200,000 for Our City Reading in Berks County to rehabilitate abandoned houses with the goal of rehabilitating 100 homes every year. Our City Reading provides quality homeownership opportunities to low?income families.
· $200,000 to the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation in State College for a neighborhood revitalization project as part of a West End revitalization initiative. The multi?year effort is aimed at the revitalization of the Borough’s West End, focusing on mixed?use development and encouraging development that will reuse existing buildings and foster residential and non?residential uses.
· $200,000 for the City of Carbondale in Lackawanna County for a downtown revitalization initiative. The City’s Pioneer Plaza project is a public/private partnership aimed at stimulating the local economy.
· $200,000 for Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation in Philadelphia to support a housing initiative. The Corporation identifies and acquires severely deteriorated and dilapidated homes with the goal of rehabilitating the vacant properties to be sold to low and moderate income families.
· $200,000 for Armstrong County for site preparation and redevelopment to complete remediation of a brownfield site in Apollo Borough. Site preparation and redevelopment of the former Metal Services property is necessary to proceed with infrastructure improvements and development of a light industrial park, which will attract business to the Alle?Kiski Valley.
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