HARRISBURG, April 20 — State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, announced today that a trailhead improvement project in Lehigh County is one of 43 projects aimed at improving transportation alternatives and enhancing mobility and public accessibility across the state to receive funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Today’s announcement is great news for Whitehall Township,” said McNeill. “I’m grateful for this investment, and always welcome opportunities allowing money returned to our area. The Ironton Rail Trail is very popular and there’s no doubt that this funding will provide improvements and add needed space for welcoming additional visitors.”

The trailhead expansion project will include the following:

• doubling the parking area from 36 to 72 spaces.
• paving the 72-space parking area.
• constructing storm water management improvements including a bioretention rain garden.

McNeill said that the program funds projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose, and safe routes to school projects. According to the state Transportation Department, the BIL continues to fund the TA Set-Aside through 2026.

The Biden administration awarded $54.1 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program Set-Aside or Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside. Before the passage of the BIL, only $18 million would have been available to the state to fund 21 other projects.

More information is available here.

Information provided to TVL by:
Shannon Keith
House Democratic Communications Office

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