State Awards $2 Million in Transportation, Pedestrian Improvements to Senator Tartaglione’s 2nd District

State Awards $2 Million in Transportation, Pedestrian Improvements to Senator Tartaglione’s 2nd District

New projects include sidewalks and bus stops along Roosevelt Boulevard, along with a traffic safety zone around Cramp Elementary School

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 8, 2018 – Residents of state Sen. Christine Tartaglione’s 2nd District will benefit from two new major transportation and pedestrian safety projects announced by Gov. Tom Wolf and PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards today in Harrisburg.

The projects are among 82 approved by the administration statewide through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program Set-Aside and Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, representing a combined investment of $66.8 million.

“These initiatives will improve the lives of people throughout Pennsylvania and in the 2nd district,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “One project will support public transportation and pedestrian safety along one of Philadelphia’s busiest traffic corridors, Roosevelt Boulevard, while the other will protect children and their families as they travel to and from Cramp Elementary School in my district.”

The administration awarded $1 million to the City of Philadelphia to construct six sidewalk segments for pedestrian improvements along SEPTA’s Direct Bus route, and to prepare sites for Direct Bus stations. The Direct Bus route serves Roosevelt Boulevard between Frankford Transportation Center in the 2nd district and the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem Township, offering an efficient and reliable travel option with frequent service and fewer stops.

The Direct Bus route took effect on February 25, 2018, and includes a fleet of 60 buses easily recognizable by their distinct branding, including a bright green color scheme and large “D” logo.

Meanwhile, the City was also awarded $995,000 to establish a school slow zone at William Cramp Elementary School in the Fairhill neighborhood. The zone will consist of traffic calming interventions to reduce vehicle speeds, promote safety and advance the city’s commitment to eliminating all traffic deaths, an initiative known as Vision Zero.

Cramp serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students there are taught in a supportive educational environment that meets their individual needs and desires, with special emphasis on reading, math, science and technology in all content areas. The school strives to teach character development skills that enable children to assume their roles as productive citizens in a technological and global society.

“Building for the future includes improving access to a variety of transportation options and these investments will promote safety and mobility for communities across Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or email at William.Kenny@pasenate.com.

Apply Now for Recreation and Conservation Grants, Tartaglione Urges

HARRISBURG, Jan. 14, 2014 – Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today said groups interested in continuing the greening of Philadelphia should apply now for a share of the state’s recreation and conservation grants.

The 2014 awards will be made by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“Many Philadelphians are watching – and enjoying – the city’s transformation into a hiker’s destination as miles and miles of trails twist through the region,” Tartaglione said. “Let’s keep this progress going. Every step we take, every improvement realized adds to a better quality of life.”

This year’s grant applicants are encouraged to work on projects that advance local conservation and recreation and complement the state’s outdoor recreation plan.

Sustainable green park projects, park and recreation rehabilitation and universal access, trails, land conservation, emerging trends (those that connect youth to nature with natural play areas, for example), river conservation, and partnerships designed to promote outdoor recreation and conservation are some of the strategic areas eligible for grants.

The deadline for applications is April 16.

DCNR awarded grants last year to Philadelphia County (under the County Recycling Coordinator Grant Program), $71,300; City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County (under the PA Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Grant Program), $100,000; City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County (Under the Recycling Performance Grant Program), $1.65 million; and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Philadelphia County, $67,000.

For more information on upcoming grant workshops, visit DCNR. Details about Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is required to be renewed every five years so the commonwealth can continue to receive federal land and water conservation funding, are available here.

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