Borough wins bridge commission grant funding

MILFORD - The borough was a winner Monday when the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission tapped Milford to recieve $453,000 for a streetscape project. The grant was part of some $4 million in grants to five communities in the second round of funding under its Compact Authorized Investment Program. The $40 million grant program, established by the Commission last year, will provide funding for transportation infrastructure related projects in New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities that host Commission bridges. Besides Milford, communities receiving grant funding include: Ewing, NJ; and Lower Makefield, Riegelsville, and Upper Makefield, in PA. According to the commission statement, $453,000 will be used to implement the Milford Borough “Gateway Project” by constructing streetscapes and landscaping features to improve traffic conditions and walkability along Route 209/East Harford Street. The completed project will also serve to revitalize the downtown business district, and create a more continuous street frontage. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2008. “As we move forward with the Commission’s $640 million investment in capital improvements for its bridges and other infrastructure, it is important that we address the needs of the transportation infrastructure in close proximity to our bridges,” said Philip Mugavero, Chairman of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. “These grants recognize the important role these communities play in helping reduce congestion.” “Improving traffic conditions on Commission bridges would do drivers little good without improvements to the surrounding roadways,”said Robin Wiessmann, Vice Chair of the Commission. “These grants recognize that fact and we look forward to continuing to evaluate the grant proposals of other communities and assisting them where possible.” The second round of funding was approved after the Commission’s Compact Authorized Investment Committee and Commission staff reviewed grant proposals, determined grant eligibility, and held meetings with elected officials and representatives from various communities. Economic development projects are not eligible for funding under the Commission’s compact or its Compact Authorized Investment Program. The total amount of grant funding approved today was $3,885,000. In September 2005, the Commission approved nearly $17 million in grants to ten communities in the first round of funding under its Compact Authorized Investment Program. The towns that received funding included: Delaware Water Gap, PA; Easton, PA; Lambertville, NJ; Morrisville, PA; New Hope, PA; Phillipsburg, NJ; Portland, PA; Smithfield, PA; Trenton, NJ; and Williams, PA.