Delaware County Awarded $2.5M Grant for Safety Improvements Along 291
Released: March 15, 2024
Delaware County Awarded $2.5M Grant for Safety Improvements Along 291
Delaware County is thrilled to announce that the County will be receiving $2.5M in grant funding to help improve safety and connectivity along 291 in the City of Chester.
U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon delivered the $2,500,000 in federal funding to design safety improvements along Route 291 in the City of Chester and reconnect the city’s residents to employment opportunities along its waterfront and at the Port of Chester. The funding will also improve Chester’s segment of the East Coast Greenway—a walking and biking trail that, when completed, will span 3,000 miles.
The Senators and Congresswoman delivered the award after advocating on behalf of Delaware County and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) joint application for federal funding.
“This funding is a critical step towards righting a wrong that has left Chester residents both cut off from economic opportunities and endangered their safety,” said Senator Casey. “While Route 291 has been a key conduit for economic growth in the Delaware Valley, harmful infrastructure decisions prevented Chester families and businesses from reaping those benefits. Because of the Inflation Reduction Act, I’m investing in creating a Chester with safer roads for pedestrians and motorists, more accessible employment opportunities for its residents, and more opportunities for outdoor recreation.”
“This is a big investment that will go a long way in making Route 291 and the City of Chester safer. Ensuring that our streets are safe and walkable is critical to making our communities more livable – this is a strong project that will do just that” said Senator Fetterman. “When I ran for this seat, I talked about the communities across Pennsylvania that have been forgotten and left behind that we must invest in. The City of Chester is one of those communities, and I’m so proud to be helping deliver these federal funds.”
“As funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to flow into our region, one of my top priorities is ensuring that communities like Chester, which has suffered decades of disinvestment, get their fair share,” said Representative Scanlon. “The proposed project for Route 291 and the East Coast Greenway will improve safety, reconnect Chester with its waterfront, and provide important recreational and multi-modal transportation improvements. I am proud to join Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman in closing the economic divide for the City of Chester.”
“We are absolutely thrilled that Delaware County was chosen to be the recipient of funding for the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program,” said Delaware County Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This grant will help us improve safety and connectivity along 291 in the city of Chester which is vital to the health and safety of our residents. Improving safety will also positively impact economic development opportunities along the 291 corridor and help us make progress toward completing the East Coast Greenway trail in Delco. Thank you to the County’s Planning Department and local and state leadership for their support in securing the grant.”
“The Planning Department team partnered with PennDOT on the grant application and our collaborative efforts and shared investment in our community resulted in this funding which will allow us to continue to engage the community and work together to ensure safe travel whether by walking, biking or by car for our residents,” said Delaware County Planning Department Director Gina Burritt.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, to connect communities by supporting neighborhood equity, safety, and affordable transportation access as well as mitigating negative environmental impacts.