Ford City Receives Grant for Sidewalk Upgrades
by Jonathan Weaver
Sidewalk upgrades are coming to Ford City.
Thanks to a nearly-$340,000 Multimodal transportation grant from the state Commonwealth Financing Authority, sidewalks will be made handicapped-accessible according to the law.
As explained by Councilman Ray Klukan, the project will add 130 handicapped-accessible curbs starting as soon as Spring of 2017.
“As the demand for a more walkable community increases, pedestrian safety is becoming a higher priority in road design. Yet, for many municipalities facing other mandates and decreasing revenues, it’s not a priority.
“But in Ford City, it is.”
Storm inlets will also be upgraded as part of the project.
Commonwealth Financing Authority Executive Director Scott Dunkelberger actually addressed the grant approval letter to Councilwoman Kathy Bartuccio, who was Borough Council president when elected officials with the help of Gibson-Thomas Engineering applied for the funding.
Administrators approved the grant request (of officially $339,850) July 1 after State Senator Don White and State Representative Jeff Pyle endorsed the project.
Bartuccio motioned for the contract to be signed and she was unanimously supported by other elected officials.
Sidewalk upgrades must be completed before June 30, 2019 in order for Ford City to receive payment. Costs incurred after upgrades are not eligible for repayment.
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By mutchka, August 4, 2016 @ 8:10 PM
We have alleys where if a handicapped person walks thru them they are going to break a leg. It’s probably ok if they fall there lets fix the curbs and roll the dice on the alleys
By wolfin, August 6, 2016 @ 5:36 PM
This grant is just for making the corners ADA compliant where liquid fuels pays for paving the streets and alleys. If alleys are such in bad shape why didn’t the previous council address them last year?