Rendell Budget Focuses on Transportation Enhancements, Walk-to-School Programs

[John Boyle]

PennDOT: Rendell Budget Focuses on Transportation Enhancements, Walk-to-School Programs Tuesday February 3, 12:30 pm ET HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania will pursue a four-year program of renewing Hometown Streets and enhancing Safe Routes to Schools in communities across the commonwealth under Governor Edward G. Rendell's proposed 2004-2005 budget, Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., said today. "Pennsylvania's quality of life is built on its cities, boroughs and townships," Biehler said. "From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, from Erie to Scranton, every direction you travel through the state, your route takes you through a rich variety of towns. Governor Rendell is interested in seeing them restored as vibrant communities that will attract new businesses, jobs and families. And transportation has a role to play in making those improvements to Pennsylvania's quality of life." While PennDOT continues to advance its mission of maintaining and improving its system of 40,000 miles of highways and 25,000 bridges, the Department will pay special attention to the transportation-enhancements program, Biehler said. Both the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century offered communities opportunities to improve by using transportation enhancement funds. "Improvements to street lights, sidewalks, and other features of our cities, boroughs and townships set the stage for additional development," Secretary Biehler said. "Our message is strong and clear: the economic health of our municipalities is crucial to the Commonwealth's prosperity, and the Rendell administration will use as many tools as possible to focus resources and attention on them." One of the attractions of living in an established community is the proximity of schools, churches and shops. PennDOT will help with the growing movement to encourage kids to walk and bike to school through the Safe Routes to School program. PennDOT will work with Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Planning Organizations to have projects funded and programmed into the Transportation Improvement Program. Eligible projects include sidewalk improvements, pedestrian/bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, traffic diversion improvements, off-street bicycle facilities and traffic calming measures. The Walk to School program in Indiana, Pa., recently received national network news publicity and a $361,000 program is planned in the borough to make changes that will support a safer environment for children to walk to school. "Balanced transportation means paying attention to all the modes - be it pedestrian, transit-rider or motorist-based," Secretary Biehler said. "This approach will improve Pennsylvania's quality of life and bring prosperity to our communities." CONTACT: Rich Kirkpatrick, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, +1-717-783-8800. Source: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation