Regional Planning Commission Announces Dozens of Project Seed Grants
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission today announced $2.2 million in grants to jump-start transportation projects in dozens of communities across the Philadelphia region.
The grants, which come from federal funds, will help 32 communities in and around Philadelphia, from Chester to Mercer counties, as part of its "TCDI" program (Transportation and Community Development Initiative).
"TCDI grants are not for construction, but for the early planning that allows good ideas to move forward to implementation," notes Planning Commission executive director Barry Seymour (far left in photo).
Penndot's Charles Davies (far right) says that while the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation typically focuses on large capital projects for the region as a whole, these grants help with smaller, more focused projects:
"They're very, very important to specific groups of people, and that is important to complement what we typically do as a transportation agency," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Examples include a walkability study in Montgomery County, and a project to try improve access to the hospital area in University City.
Find a full list of the projects at www.dvrpc.org (.pdf document).