LOWER MERION — Lower Merion officials are planning to apply for grant money, which they believe will help connect places like Villanova University, the Stoneleigh garden site, SEPTA stations, and the residential neighborhoods in Villanova.
During a recent Grants and Community Development Committee meeting, Brandon Ford, assistant township manager, said township staff is asking the board to consider submitting a $250,000 grant application to the Montgomery County MONTCO 2040 Implementation Grant Program.
Ford said the proposed project would install sidewalks on the Lower Merion side of County Line Road, which not only serves as the border between Lower Merion and Radnor but also Montgomery County and Delaware County. The new sidewalks would run along County Line Road between Spring Mill Road and Clairemont Road.
“The intent of the project would be to significantly improve pedestrian and non-motorist safety while enhancing connectivity to Stoneleigh, Oakwell, Villanova University, the regional SEPTA station, and, of course, the residential neighborhoods,” Ford said. “This project, if we go forward, would also supplement a similar project that is being undertaken by Radnor Township, which would put sidewalks on County Line Road.”
Township officials say there has been a desire to improve pedestrian connectivity in this section of the township for the past several years.
“Since the opening of Stoneleigh and the recent acquisition of the Oakwell property by Natural Lands, there has been an interest in enhancing pedestrian and cyclist connectivity in this area. Since there is no sidewalk along this segment of County Line Road, pedestrians and cyclists heading to Stoneleigh frequently walk on the side of the major thoroughfare. The County Line Road Sidewalk Project would install a sidewalk on the east side of the road from Spring Mill Road to Clairemont Road, improving pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as enhancing non-motorized connectivity with Stoneleigh, Villanova University, the SEPTA regional rail, and nearby residential neighborhoods,” according to township meeting documents.
According to Ford, the project is already budgeted in the township’s (Capital Improvement Program).
Last month, the township was awarded a $400,000 state grant for this project.
The project is estimated to cost $1.06 million, which is fully budgeted across 2027-2029. The township’s application would request $250,000, or approximately 23% of the estimated project cost, the maximum request allowed under the Montco 2040 program, according to the issue briefing to the commissioners on the grant application.
The remaining $815,000, or 77%, of the estimated cost would be provided by the Lower Merion Township as a local match. Lower Merion was recently awarded a $400,000 grant by the Commonwealth’s Multimodal Grant Program for the project, reducing the township’s out-of-pocket match to $415,000.