Jonestown Borough was successful in securing a $1.1 million grant to improve street crossings along Market Street.
The grant was announced Wednesday, April 20, as part of a slate of multimodal projects funded largely by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Also awarded in the same round of funding was $1.3 million for a new South 22nd Street bridge over the Quittapahilla Creek, a project that will enable Phase 6C of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail.
Jonestown Borough Council president Tom Keefer said that the award was a surprise. “We never expected it honestly,” he said, adding that they had decided to “give it a shot and see what happens.”
Keefer said that Jonestown, as with many other towns, sees a need for traffic calming – slowing vehicle traffic down to make it safer to cross the square.
Although the project is still in very early stages, and it could be years before completion, the borough is already working to coordinate with Lebanon County Planning and expects the project to be done by 2026 at the absolute latest.
The project will include curb extensions along Market Street from Broad Street to King Street. Keefer said that the crossing improvements made in Annville in recent years are a good example of what Jonestown residents will see from the project.
The borough may couple the project with stormwater improvements, which would allow Jonestown to tap into additional funding opportunities. Keefer said that the borough may also try to piggyback off other grants to potentially include other beautification elements or beacon crosswalk lights.
Keefer said that Jon Fitzkee at Lebanon County Planning and former borough engineer Erik Harmon (then with Light-Heigel) were both key in securing the grant.
“We’re very appreciative and excited to get this going,” said Keefer.
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