HARRISBURG — Two townships in Centre County were awarded grants totaling $618,686 to help transportation infrastructure in the region, Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre announced on Tuesday, March 26.
One of the grants is worth $118,688 and will help an ongoing road improvement project rehabilitating Kato Road in Snow Shoe Township. Another grant worth $500,0000 will go towards the construction of a shared-use path along East College Avenue from Puddintown Road to Hastings Road in College Township.
“This much-needed influx in funding is threefold as it aims to improve roadways and shared-use paths to improve safety and access for vehicular, pedestrian and bike traffic along heavily used routes,” Takac said.
“Proactive, strategic investments that strengthen Centre County’s infrastructure is a good-government initiative that appeals to everyone. I applaud this funding and look forward to seeing these projects become a reality. The East College Avenue project in particular is something that I was involved in as a member of College Township Council, and I am excited about much-needed improvements along this vital corridor to campus and the downtown area,” he added.
“College Township is very pleased to be receiving this $500,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant award, which will support the construction of a new shared-use path connecting from Puddintown Road to an existing path near Hastings Road on the Penn State Campus within the borough of State College,” Dustin Best, College Township Council chair, commented.
“This highly anticipated project had previously been identified as a missing link in the regional transportation network in the township’s Pedestrian Facilities Plan, Centre Region Bike Plan and Penn State’s Bicycle Master Plan. College Township wishes to thank the Commonwealth Financing Authority, Representative Paul Takac, our partners State College Borough and Delta Development, and all of our supporters, who are helping to make this project a reality,” Best added.
The Multimodal Transportation Fund awarded the grants, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Commonwealth Financing Authority provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the public.
“This funding and the improvements to Kato Road will be very helpful for not only traditional vehicles, but also ATVs that travel on Kato Road,” Rodney Preslovich, Snow Shoe Township supervisors chair, said. “Snow Shoe Township appreciates Representative Takac’s consistent attention and dedication to improving the infrastructure and quality of life in the Mountaintop area.”
