From Chairman Greg Churach: Upper Pottsgrove Township was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) in the amount of $301,500. This fund provided over $87,000,000 in grants to 224 projects throughout Pennsylvania. The funds will be used to provide safety improvements at the intersection of Gilbertsville Road and the Sprogel’s Run Trail. The work will include realignment of the trail, as well as push-to-cross flashing lights. This will signal drivers they must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. The cost to the Township will be $66,000.
Several years ago, the issue of safety at the crossing was discussed by the Open Space and Recreation Board, which recommended the Board of Commissioners consult with the Township engineer on the desired improvements. This was a complicated project, however, as any improvements needed to be approved by PennDOT, and were very expensive.
The Township applied for funding through the ARLE (Red Light) program in 2022 and 2023 but were denied both times. They then applied to the MTF fund in 2024 and were ultimately successful. Senator Tracy Pennycuik, Representative Donna Scheuren, and Montgomery County all wrote letters of support for the project and were instrumental in getting the application approved.
The Township Planning and Zoning staff, as well as the Parrc Regional Recreation Planner, followed through over the years to move the project forward. The engineering drawings are complete, so the next step is to put the project out for bid, which will happen as soon as possible.