READING, Pa. – Reading City Council voted on Monday night to approve a proposed downtown “Vision Zero” action plan.
Earlier this month, council heard a presentation from Peter Simone, president of Simone Collins Architecture, Norristown, on a plan that lays out a strategy to create multimodal connections for cyclists and pedestrians.
The goal of the plan is meant to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic-related fatalities.
At his presentation of the plan, Simone said the movement is one that cities and communities are embracing across the country.
By adopting the plan, the city will be qualified to apply for federal funding through the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Simone said that by approving the plan by June 23, the city would still be able to meet the June 26 deadline for applying for the grant.
Adopting the plan does not commit the city to do exactly what is specified in it, but will serve as a blueprint for planning.
The grant funding could provide $1.44 million for the project, which would require a 20% match by the city of $360,000.
It is believed the whole project could be done for under $2 million because it entails simple improvements such a painting, creating bike lanes, adding signage and adjusting parking spaces.