LOWER MERION — Lower Merion officials plan to request a grant to help with the cost of over $4 million to construct sidewalks along two roads in the township.
The grant would be sought from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Multimodal Grant Program for $3 million to fund sidewalks, crosswalks, and other improvements as part of the township’s sidewalk installation program.
The two roads slated for new sidewalks are Hagys Ford Road in Penn Valley and Morris Road in Penn Wynne.
“These are segments that have been identified as part of the township’s priority sidewalk installation program,” Brandon Ford, assistant township manager, said. “So these are segments that we would have encumbered at some point through the CIP process, so it does not necessarily represent any increase or added costs to the township.”
The section on Hagys Ford Road would include the installation of sidewalks along the west side of the street between Moreno and Old Gulph Road.
Township officials said the sidewalk would provide improved pedestrian visibility at the Y-intersection where Old Gulph and Hagys Ford meet.
“The sidewalk and intersection upgrades coincide with Lower Merion Township and PennDOT improvements for Hagys Ford Road between Righters Mill Road and Tower Lane to improve mobility in a corridor connecting residents and students with Penn Valley Elementary School and Welsh Valley Middle School,” according to the information briefing from the township staff to the commissioners.
The sidewalks along Morris Road would be constructed on the north side from Haverford Road to Lancaster Avenue.
“The densely populated residential neighborhoods will have sidewalk access to Penn Wynne Elementary School, Penn Wynne Park, Wynnewood Shopping Center, Wynnewood Train Station, Whole Foods Market, and other retail shopping along Lancaster Avenue and Wynnewood Road,” the briefing said.
Ford said the total cost of both sidewalks is about $4.3 million, so if they get the $3 million, it would reduce the township’s total cost to $1.3 million.
Lower Merion’s sidewalk installation program began in 2023 when the commissioners adopted a policy and selection criteria to identify specific locations where public funding and construction of sidewalks on nontownship property would be in the public interest.
“A list of High-Priority sidewalks projects was developed based upon recommendations from the 2016 Comprehensive Plan and had been refined through discussions with Ward Commissioners, the Ad Hoc Sidewalk Committee and Civic Associations and vetted by Township staff for physical and economic constructability,” according to the staff’s information briefing.