How a $16M grant from the ‘Safe Streets and Roads for All’ program will help State College
State College’s multi-year project to transform Calder Way into a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly area just received a significant boost from the federal government.
The borough project that began construction last August — and picked up in January — was recently awarded a $15.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to a DOT news release issued Thursday. The grant is expected to cover nearly half the project costs, which are estimated to be around $38 million.
Thanks to other revenue streams, that means all but $8.5 million of the entire project is funded, according to borough spokesperson Kayla Lafferty. The final phase of construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The grant comes as a result of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. That program was designed so communities across the country — including nine announced Thursday in Pennsylvania — would receive grants focused on improving roadway safety and preventing serious injuries.
“The SS4A program gives local and tribal governments the resources to plan and implement the safety improvements that will make the most difference in their communities,” U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg said in a written statement. “They know what is best, and this program leverages that local expertise to save lives.”
The Calder Way Project seeks to transform the road in downtown State College into one with minimal vehicular traffic, one that involves curb-less streets, widened sidewalks and an added bike lane. Other proposed streetscape improvements include crisscrossed string lights, planted tree pits, utility poles wrapped in ornamental covers, etc.
Much of the ongoing construction involves upgrading aging utilities and infrastructure throughout the corridor, which is also part of the project.
“The Borough has worked closely with our Congressional delegation to help secure funding for this project,” Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said in a written statement. “The Borough will also continue to work with its consultant, Delta Development Group Inc., to apply for available grants to cover the remaining $8.5 million needed to fully fund Calder Way.”
State College Borough was awarded exactly $15,885,560. Eight other Pennsylvania communities were also announced Thursday as grant recipients, including the city of Harrisburg, which received $955,184 to help retime 25 signalized intersections in the downtown area.
To date, more than 1,000 communities across the U.S. have received more than $1.7 billion as part of the SS4A program.
The third and final round of this year’s SS4A grant awards is expected to be announced in November.
