Local Transportation Authorization Requests

Please note, in 2011 Congress issued a two year moratorium on "congressional directed spending (earmarks)." The information posted below refers to requests recieved for FY2011 and remains on the website for informational purposes only. If you are interested infinding federal funding opportunities for your entity, please refer to the section on "Grants."

The following projects for Pennsylvania’s Second District were submitted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration in 2010 (for FY2011).  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure did not write a bill that year and no action was taken.

American Cities Foundation, Inc. (ACF) and City of Philadelphia Green Fleet Conversion Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $4,200,000
 
Funding will be used for faith based and other non-profit organizations to replace fleets that provide transportation services to underserved communities in Philadelphia into clean fuel burning “green” vehicles.  To meet the diverse transportation needs of constituency, this multi-faceted program will also serve as a vehicle to enhance the ability of African American and other minority and women owned contractors to participate in contracting opportunities that arise from transportation system investments and provide employment opportunities for double digit unemployed African American youth.   The project will provide a pipeline to transit industry through workforce opportunities, technical assistance, bonding assistance and serve as a financing entity to disadvantage businesses serving an equal number of African American and other disadvantaged businesses.

American Cities Foundation, Inc. (ACF) and City of Philadelphia ParkWest Transit Improvement Project (PTIP), Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $4,200,000
 
Funding will be used to construct streetscape enhancements and create a "Greenway" trail.  The initiative will connect three business corridors; Lancaster Avenue (48th to 63rd Streets), Lansdowne Avenue (52nd to 63rd Streets), 52nd Street (Girard Avenue to Parkside Avenue) and Merion Avenue (Girard Avenue to 52nd Street).  By incorporating green infrastructure elements into existing regional planning and development activities, the project will create new public spaces, provide transit hub upgrades, incorporate pedestrian and bicycle paths, and improve public safety creating opportunities for residents and businesses of under-resourced communities to benefit.  Upgrades will include ADA compliant sidewalks, park entrances, curbcuts, landscaping, and stormwater best management practices.  Improvements will ultimately encourage pedestrian activity, provide rider safety and mobility, reduce carbon emissions, spur economic growth and create workforce opportunities.

Arcadia University, Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project, Glenside, Montgomery County, PA
Amount Requested:  $8,500,000
 
Funding will be used for construction of a new pedestrian entrance and sidewalk on Route 73 along the campus frontage abutting Route 152, east on Route 73 in Glenside, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  Improvements will include campus parking and intermodal improvements such as bicycle and walking paths along with lighting and landscaping creating a safe efficient hub that improves public safety and access, increases public mobility, reduces congestion and enables continued enrollment growth at the University.

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Wissahickon Gateway Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $3,024,000
 
Funding will be used to construct a key multi-use trail connection for the Schuylkill River Trail between Kelly Drive and Main Street.  The Wissahickon Creek, the SEPTA Transfer Station and neighboring PECO transformers create a huge break in a continuous path from Center City, along Kelly Drive to Ridge Ave at Wissahickon Creek.  This project will take pedestrians and bicyclists across Wissahickon Creek on a separate bridge, behind and between the other obstacles along Ridge Avenue, continue along the Schuylkill River and return to Main Street at the Penncoyd Bridge.  The intermodal improvements of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge and trail create a safe efficient hub that improves public safety and access.

Center City District, Center City Collaborative, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $45,000,000
 
Funding will be used to upgrade the Kimmel Center’s public plaza and exterior space creating a self-sustaining pedestrian area with transportation linkages, reconstruct Dilworth Plaza on City Hall’s west side, provide exterior enhancements to the Pennsylvania Academy for the Fine Arts (PAFA) and closing of Cherry Street creating a pedestrian-only concourse from the south at Bainbridge Street to Vine Street at the north.  Resources will also be used to improve and maintain the appearance of this commercial and cultural corridor to ensure a linked commercial and cultural community is realized.  These projects will promote pedestrian activity, increase usage of the region’s transit facilities, reduce automobile traffic and emissions, and foster economic growth.

Chestnut Hill College, Innovative Access Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $3,000,000
 
Funding will be used for a green roof parking 300 space facility to mitigate parking congestion at the site of the Woodmere Art Museum and base of Chestnut Hill College SugarLoaf Hill campus in addition to re-routing the Inner Road Network, and developing physical connections between the main campus and the SugarLoaf campus by a bridge, sidewalks and well lit paths.  This project will address safety issues for traffic entering and exiting the property; provide a convenient non-motorized alternative and an off-road, traffic free, commuting route.  Improvements will encourage pedestrian activity, increase usage of the region’s transit facilities, reduce automobile traffic and emissions, provide rider safety and mobility for students, faculty, and residents while spurring economic grow through a variety of workforce opportunities.

City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Youth Center Parking Facility Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $930,000
 
Funding will be used for the acquisition and development of land for the creation of an off-street 180 parking space ground-level facility at a major transportation hub located at 46th & Market Streets adjacent to the new Philadelphia Youth Center.  This parking facility will ensure minimum disruption by staff and corrections traffic in the community, reduce congestion and emissions, encourage pedestrian activity, increase bicyclist, and rider safety mobility, encourage neighborhood economic growth and provide job opportunities.

City of Philadelphia, 30th Street Gateway Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $3,040,000
 
Funding will be used to construct pedestrian paths, upgrade traffic signals and improve bus loading areas on 29th and 30th Streets from Arch Street to Market Street.  Specifically, Arch Street from 29th Street to 30th Street and Market Street from 29th Street to 30th Street.  Benefits include reduced automobile congestion, alleviate confusion of pedestrians and bicyclist, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and support the economic development occurring around 30th Street Station.

City of Philadelphia, 46th Street Market-Frankford Line Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $1,120,000
 
Funding will be used to reconstruct sidewalks, curb ramps, install pedestrian scale street lightning, plant trees and install appropriate street furniture radiating out from within four city blocks at the intersection of Market Street and Farragut Street.  Project improvements will provide pedestrian, cyclist and automotive safety, increase transit rider mobility while supporting redevelopment efforts around the 46th Street Station.

City of Philadelphia, Lincoln Drive Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $2,800,000
 
Funding will be used to conduct base repair, milling, overlay, resurfacing, drainage, guiderail improvements, and signal modernization on Lincoln Drive from Ridge Avenue to Wissahickon Drive.  These enhancements will bring the road up to current standards contributing to automotive safety along the corridor, support economic development in the surrounding area, improve storm water runoff, and continue to serve as a critical link between residents and local employment centers.

City of Philadelphia, 40th Street Bridge Replacement Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $11,940,000
 
Funding will be used to construct a new bridge on 40th Street between Westminister Avenue and Pennsgrove Street over the Amtrak and SEPTA rail lines replacing the original bridge erected in 1915.  The bridge will consist of two travel lanes, emergency shoulders and sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclist.  Project improvements will provide bicyclist, pedestrians, and rider safety mobility in addition to reducing traffic congestion and emissions.  This project is critical to continued support of neighborhood revitalization efforts.

City of Philadelphia, City Hall Station Renovation Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $35,000,000
 
Funding will provide hardscape and softscape renovations to the 1928 City Hall Broad Street Subway and 15th Street Station Subway on the Market-Frankford Line serving over 56,000 passengers daily.  Improvements will include ADA accessibility and modernization standards along with a new entrance at Dilworth Plaza, new elevators, platform raising, new fare collection facility additions and modifications, space improvements, strengthening and widening of passageways, structural repairs, lighting and signage, ventilation, architectural finishes, and prevention/interception of water infiltration/flow.  Improvements are critical to the continued economic growth of Center City Philadelphia increasing pedestrian and rider safety mobility in addition to reducing traffic congestion and emissions.

Delaware Valley High School (DVHS), Fleet Replacement Project, Philadelphia, PA,
Amount Requested:  $375,000

Funding will be used to replace the fleet with green clean fuel burning vehicles.  Currently serving three counties; Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia, students and staff travel to and from different educational sites.  The fleet replacement vehicles will provide safe mobility for students and staff, reduce emissions, and encourage enrollment and participation.

Drexel University, Hydrogen Bus Demonstration Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $5,600,000
 
Funding will be used for the research, demonstration and acquisition of materials required for the Hydrogen Bus Demonstration Project. The project will fund new plasma-catalytic hydrogen production technology research and the acquisition of two hydrogen-fueled shuttle buses.  The project will allow for safe, effective use of hydrogen fuel as a solution to shuttling students between the main campus and research offices at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center while meeting Drexel’s urban mass transit needs in addition to providing a reduction of emissions, create 20 jobs and generate economic growth.

Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Parking Facility, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $21,400,000
 
Funding will be used for the construction of a 400-space underground parking facility located between 19th and 20th Streets from Callowhill Street to Wood Street as part of the expansion of the Parkway Central Library.  The project will provide safe and secure parking, relieve congestion by easing traffic flow and ensure minimum disruption by library staff traffic in the community, reduce congestion and emissions, encourage pedestrian activity, increase bicyclist, and rider safety mobility, attract local businesses with increased access to goods and services encouraging neighborhood economic growth, and provide job opportunities.

Mt. Airy USA, Transit Village Urban Brownfield Conversion Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $2,000,000
 
Funding will be used for the acquisition and predevelopment conversion phase of a blighted brownfield into a green sustainable welcoming pedestrian, transit rider and cyclist cross-walk with new lighting and benches.  The site contains a former gas station, home heating oil business, vacant lot and auto body repair shop near the intersection of Washington Lane and Chew Avenue.  Enhancements are designed to increase pedestrian/rider safety and mobility, continue to support neighborhood economic growth, meet ADA accessibility and modernization standards along with streetscape/landscape improvements.

Nicetown Community Development Corporation, Nicetown Court Transit - Area Gateway Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $2,000,000
 
Funding will be used for streetscape efforts in the 4100-4500 blocks of Germantown Avenue to connect gateways on both sides of the commercial corridor.  This project is a catalyst to the revitalization of Nicetown's commercial corridor, part of a neighborhood plan intended to stabilize infrastructure, including housing stock, commercial areas, and open spaces.  Upgrades will include ADA compliant sidewalks, park entrances, curbcuts, landscaping, and stormwater management.  Improvements will encourage pedestrian activity, increase usage of the region’s transit facilities, reduce automobile traffic and emissions, provide rider safety and mobility, spur economic growth and create workforce opportunities.

People for People, Triangle Parking Garage Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $1,500,000
 
Funding will be used to construct a two level parking garage at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Fairmount Avenue and 15th Street serving as a bus facility and passenger intermodal center. This request will meet the demand for development on the Broad Street and Ridge Avenue Corridors by creating 101 parking spaces and by supporting local businesses with close off-street parking that does not visually influence the corridor.  The project will relieve congestion by easing traffic flow in close proximity to a mass transit line with connectivity to rail, bus and air encouraging intermodal transportation, improve pedestrian mobility and safety by easing commuter movement, attract local businesses with increased access to goods and services, and provide environmental enhancements by planting trees to help offset the carbon footprint.

Philadelphia Housing Authority, Plymouth Hall Rehabilitation Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $100,000
 
Funding will be used to construct new ADA compliant sidewalks on public right of way, in support of the new Plymouth Hall affordable Housing Development located at 22nd and West Venango Street.   Plymouth Hall is a seniors only apartment building that has been vacant since 2004 due to a fire.  Reconstruction of public sidewalks adjacent to Plymouth Hall is critical in providing mobility for the handicapped and other pedestrians.  This site is located near multiple transportation options and recreation areas and will provide construction jobs, increase sales tax revenue and will include a comprehensive stormwater retention system.

Philadelphia Housing Authority, Markoe Street Development Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $100,000
 
Funding will be used to construct new ADA compliant sidewalks on public right of way, in support of the new Markoe Street affordable Housing Development located along the 800-900 blocks of North Markoe Street.  Sidewalks are critical in providing mobility and safe routes for the handicapped and general public.  The site is located near multiple bus, trolley and subway lines providing pedestrians with a variety of intermodal options.  Construction will create jobs and increase sales tax revenue.

Philadelphia Housing Authority, Mantua Hall Redevelopment Project,Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $200,000
 
Funding will be used to construct new ADA compliant sidewalks on public right of way, in support of the new Mantua Hall affordable Housing Redevelopment project located at North 35th Street and Fairmount Avenue.  Sidewalks are critical in providing mobility for the handicapped and other pedestrians.  The redevelopment of Mantua Hall is expected to increase sales tax revenue, create 242 jobs, generating $245,000 in City Property Tax revenues and $57.4 million in total economic output.  The site is located near multiple bus, trolley and subway lines providing pedestrians with intermodal options.  The development will reuse and revitalize and existing housing site that will include a comprehensive stormwater retention system.

Philadelphia Unemployment Project (PUP) SEPTA and City of Philadelphia, Commuter Options Program, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested: $6,782,000
 
Funding will be used to expand the Commuter Options program, a model for national replication, which provides vehicles and organizes van and car pools for Philadelphia residents to travel to employment in the 7 county Philadelphia suburbs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  PUP, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia will work together to expand the Commuter Options reverse commute ride share program to include bicycle sharing and a transit subsidy unemployed workers job search component. Commuter Options has a 40 vehicle fleet which transports over 150 Philadelphia residents safely to their suburban jobs daily. Public transportation would require 2-3 transit transfers making employment a real challenge in terms of accessibility and mobility. Four to seven workers travel together in each vehicle reducing the consumption of gasoline, auto emissions and traffic congestion resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Greenstone Technologies Project, Philadelphia, PA 
Amount Requested:  $2,000,000
 
Funding will be used for research, development, deployment, and testing of DOT ASTM performance based specifications of green alternative concrete for sidewalks, blocks, highways and bridges.   The research and development portion of the project will be conducted in Philadelphia at 38th & Chestnut Streets with concrete product pour activities conducted at other locations in the vicinity.  Concrete production will spur economic growth with the creation of an entire new industry and the construction of  new manufacturing facilities, purchase of transportation vehicles, workforce opportunities and reduction of greenhouse gases.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Traffic Safety Access Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $13,500,000
 
Funding will be used for a number of roadway and transportation improvements to resolve dangerous pedestrian and vehicular traffic conditions on Art Museum Drive, north at Kelly Drive, and south at Spring Garden Street bridge, as well as Fairmount Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue in the area of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and between the Museum’s main building and the Perelman Building.  The project moves loading activities to the south side of the Museum’s main building, thereby reducing truck traffic and back-ups on the north side of the Museum and Kelly Drive.  The placement of Museum access and operational activities on Art Museum Drive will be reconfigured for improved safety and mobility. Economic impact studies show that every $1 spent by the Museum produces $4 in economic activity.  By improving access to the pedestrian and bicycle routes the project substantially reduces vehicular idling and run-off by expanding and reorganizing access to Museum entry points and improving access to the  new below-grade, "green" garage.

Salvation Army, Wissahickon Avenue Streetscape Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $6,549,000
 
Funding will be used for streetscape improvements to Wissahickon Avenue between Roberts Avenue and Hunting Park Avenue.  The project will create a safe pedestrian and driving environment in the immediate vicinity designed to create a landscaped two lane divided street with ADA compliant pedestrian sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks, lighting, milling, paving, tree planting, line striping, landscaped median and relocation of above ground utilities.  Improvements will encourage pedestrian and bicyclist activity, increase usage of the region’s transit facilities, reduce automobile traffic and emissions, provide rider safety and mobility, promote community building, spur economic growth, create workforce opportunities, and include a comprehensive stormwater retention system.
 
SEI-SEPTA Umbria Village Development Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested: $1,101,789
 
Funding will be used to rehabilitate Glen Willow Railroad Crossing and Ivy Ridge platform and station, conduct traffic/transportation study and environmental review; design and engineer railroad crossing. Additional construction includes shed improvements, ADA accessible sidewalks, paving, lighting and parking ramps, reconstruction of railroad crossing and re-signalization, installing gate crossing, incorporate trenching utilities underneath crossing at Parker Avenue and brownfield remediation. Enhancements are designed to increase pedestrian/rider safety and mobility, reduce traffic congestion and emissions, encourage neighborhood economic growth, meet ADA accessibility and modernization standards and provide streetscape/landscape improvements.   

St. Joseph’s University, Pedestrian Safety Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $1,000,000

Funding will be used for the construction of pedestrian walkways in the vicinity of Cardinal Avenue and City Avenue (SR001) and Lapsley Lane and City Avenue for safe access to Saint Joseph’s Maguire Campus.  Creation of established porous paved walkways and the installation of upgraded traffic signals to facilitate the flow of vehicular traffic, will be installed to discourage jaywalking across City Avenue making passage more predictable, safer and convenient for pedestrians to use protected crossings.  Landscaping will incorporate best practices in storm water management to improve the quality and reduce the quantity of storm water runoff.  The project will generate approximately 30 construction jobs.

Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) Schuylkill River Trail & Greenway Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $5,510,000

Funding will be used for the construction of a new connector trail to an existing trail at Locust Street and the South Street Bridge providing access to the trail from West Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.  This neighborhood connecting trail will provide a convenient non-motorized alternative and an off-road, traffic free, commuting route to and from Center City and Fairmount Park for pedestrians and bicyclist reducing traffic congestion, emissions and spurring residential and commercial economic growth.

Schuylkill River Park Alliance, West Bank Schuylkill River Trail Study, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $72,000
 
Funding will be used to study the placement of an on-road trail between the West Bank Greenway and 34th Street Bridge via the South Street Bridge, creating a full loop.  In addition the trail would connect both the West Bank Greenway and the Schuylkill River Trail via the South Street Bridge through the University of Pennsylvania to the 34th Street Bridge and also connecting to the DuPont Crescent Greenway.  The project would potentially connect various neighborhoods and university campuses by providing a safe path for pedestrians and bicyclists, promoting economic growth for small businesses located in the affected neighborhoods,  reducing traffic congestion and emissions, and enhancing non-motorized mobility of residents, students, faculty and staff.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), City Hall Subway Renovation Project, Philadelphia, PA
Amount Requested:  $15,000,000
 
Funding will be used for improvements to the City Hall Subway Station that will include ADA accessibility and modernization standards along with a new entrance at Dilworth Plaza, new elevators, platform raising, space improvements, strengthening and widening of passageways, structural repairs, lighting and signage, ventilation, architectural finishes, and prevention/interception of water infiltration/flow.  Improvements are critical for continued economic growth of Center City Philadelphia, increasing pedestrian and rider safety mobility in addition to reducing traffic congestion, and emissions.