State Grant Announced for Sidewalks to Serve Lock Haven Hospital

HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has approved a $285,266 grant towards a streetscape improvement near UPMC Susquehanna Lock Haven Hospital.

Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) made the announcement of Tuesday’s approval of $2,679,678 in state funding for nine local transportation, flood protection, trail, recreation and water projects in his 25th Senatorial District.

According to Scarnati, the more than $2.6 million in local funding is being distributed as state grants. The financing was approved at the Tuesday CFA meeting in Harrisburg. Funding for the projects comes from money generated by the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee (Act 13 of 2012) and the Transportation Funding Plan (Act 89 of 2013).

The UPMC grant is through the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program. This funding will assist UPMC Susquehanna with a streetscape improvement project in Lock Haven’s hill district. The project will include pedestrian safety enhancements to improve safety, mobility and accessibility to Lock Haven Hospital. These improvements are critical, Scarnati said in a release, due to the hospital’s relatively remote location in one of Lock Haven’s residential areas. Currently, residents walk on Cree Drive and nearby Irwin Street due to the lack of sidewalks, which creates potentially serious conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. Streetscape improvements along Cree Drive and Irwin Street include sidewalk installation, lighting and landscaping. The total project cost is $407,524.