Local leaders seek more sidewalks, bike paths

Jessica VanderKolk For the CDT

BELLEFONTE — With the goal of getting more people walking and biking in the borough and Spring Township, a regional economic development organization last week requested $2,500 from each municipality.

Brian Auman, a planner with the Susquehanna Economic Development Association Council of Governments, attended meetings in both municipalities Monday seeking the financial commitment, or at least a letter of support, within the next month.

SEDA-COG is seeking $10,000 overall from the two local municipalities and two in nearby Lycoming County. Once the group receives local funding, it can receive a federal match through the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal-state economic development partnership.

The group wants to use the funds to identify ways to connect neighboring communities with sidewalks, walking and biking paths and make downtown areas more accessible, including to those with disabilities.

“This is for planning,” Auman told Bellefonte Borough Council members. “The next step could be an implementation. That’s what we’re hoping.”

Auman said he also is willing to ask the school district for help with the project, noting schools often can be centers of such projects.

“In this instance, Spring Township completely surrounds Bellefonte borough and has Pleasant Gap, which has a neat opportunity around the elementary school,” Auman said. “There’s an abandoned rail line that could connect in with the school.”

Schools, downtown business districts and places like the post office are common walking and biking destinations SEDA-COG identifies for local projects, in an effort to take the focus off heavy automobile use.

“We often focus on the downtown, and they’ve done a really nice job,” Auman said of Bellefonte. “I think the middle school/high school will be one focus because they have a really nice network on the borough side, and on the township side, things really break down.”

Councilman Robert Taylor said Bellefonte used to have a greater focus on walking.

“Sixty years ago we had a patrol system, where kids could walk to school, for kids all over the borough,” he said.

If the communities approve the financial commitment, SEDA-COG will put together a committee of local experts and interested people to map community walking and biking destinations, as well as barriers to doing so.

“Then we go out and do some field work,” Auman said. “Hopefully we’ll be under way late summer or early fall of next year.”

Bellefonte Borough Manager Ralph Stewart said he expects the request will be discussed by Borough Council at its next work session on Nov. 16. Spring Township Manager William MacMath the township will probably make a decision in December.