I am pleased to announce that two major federal grants have been awarded for infrastructure projects in both Southeast, and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The first grant, totaling $15 million, will be used to expand the capacity of Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Specifically, it will finance improvements that make travel in the city easier for millions of commuters and visitors, and help to accommodate increased traffic from the Schuylkill Yards project. The second grant, totaling $20 million, was awarded to Butler County to improve Route 228. This 26-mile economic thread is the County's primary link between southern Butler County, and Shell Chemical's $6 billion ethane cracker plant in Beaver County. Currently, there are several transportation challenges along the route, such as inadequate capacity, an excessive number of accidents, and lack of access to key employment centers, schools, and residential neighborhoods. The awarded grant funds will realign and widen the Balls Bend and Haines School-Commonwealth sections of Route 228 to four lanes, including adding turn lanes, medians, connecting access roads, and pedestrian/bicycle facilities. |