STREETSCAPE 2012
UPDATE
ROY is anxious to get the new sidewalks, new lighting,
new underground facilities, new roadways, new landscaping, new hike/bike trail,
and the new ceremonial entrance done. It has been a long seven years and they
are ready to see work being done and changes being made for a newer, better,
and more inviting Youngsville. Joanne Oviatt, Design VP with the Revitalization
of Youngsville, highlights some of the hold ups with the streetscape project.
"Railroad Street, Phase I, of Youngsville's Streetscape will be bid no
later than October 2012 as required by the funding sources. However, two issues
need to be resolved. One is the Federal Post Office's failure to sign an
easement agreement for the project to fix their sidewalks, make Penn Dot recommended
mail drop improvements, and add esthetic elements. All at no cost to them.
Their rules require payment by the square foot for such agreements. All parties
are trying to work it out. Issue number two is the last minute requirement that
would include a crosswalk where Route 6 and Railroad Street meet with crossing
lights et cetera to be upgraded. This is an unanticipated cost. The project
engineer, E.G.&G, has applied for an additional grant to cover the deficit.
We will know by June if the application is successful. If not, the project goes
to bid in July. If successful, the project will get an additional 5 week
extension to bid the project. Some prep work will be done in 2012, but the bulk
of the construction will be done in the spring of 2013."
Bike Hike Trail - Reality
Pastor Rick Hamrick announces the Youngsville Bike/Hike Trail will be a
reality in 2012. The old axiom “good things come to those who wait” is half
true. A dedicated group with a vision of a bike trail worked very hard to
research and submit a grant application for the construction of a bike trail.
Then the waiting started - after almost 4 years of reapplying and addressing
one concern after another from the Dept of Conservation of Natural Resources,
the bike trail is poised to become a reality. A testimony to the fact that
perseverance does pay off. On January 11th Pastor Rick Hamrick received
confirmation that the Youngsville trail project has met all requirements by the
federal government, and is being funded. Pastor Rick states, "We should
expect the approved grant documents to arrive at the Borough Office within the
month. The Department of Environmental Protection permit has been filed, and
all the engineering is accomplished. Now begins the real “on the ground” work,
which will provide big dividends. We have some branches to trim back, some
brush to move and possibly a fence or two to build. Every hour we work is
charged off to the grant, so we don’t want to begin having meetings or working
on the project until the grant paperwork arrives. As soon as we have the
paperwork, I will work with Lisa (Borough POC) to schedule our first
coordination meeting. Until then, you may provide any suggestions you have and
monitor the progress at our Facebook page: Brokenstraw Bike Hike Trail. Get
ready!"
