Saint Clair will be able to finish improvements on Ann Street thanks to more than $241,000 in state grant funding.
The Multimodal Transportation Fund grant award was announced earlier this week. In total, Saint Clair will get $241,611 to complete what it started in 2025 on Ann St., one of the busier non-highways in Schuylkill County
Grant funds will be used to finish paving the street and install a number of wheelchair-accessible curbs. The Borough may have to pay for a small portion of the project, perhaps up to $10,000, for inspection fees.
Council President Thomas Dempsey says he’s relieved to get this grant funding to complete Ann St. improvements.
“This is one of the biggest headaches we have in town,” Dempsey tells The Canary.
Saint Clair’s Borough Manager Roland Price says, “This project represents a major win for our borough and an important investment in our community’s infrastructure and the quality of life and safety of those who live along this busy stretch of road.”
Dempsey said he’s grateful for the support of State Sen. Dave Argall and Rep. Tim Twardzik for their backing in helping to secure the grant funding.
Saint Clair’s engineer Brian Baldwin explains that handicap ramps near Route 61 will be improved. Five new or existing ADA-compliant ramps will be installed or upgraded near the entrance to Fairlane Village Mall, too.
Grant funds will also be used to pave the remainder of Ann St., up to the Borough line with Norwegian Township. That will mostly include just milling and paving but some concrete pavement underneath will have to be repaired.
Last year, Saint Clair used its own money to pay for a milling and overlay of what the Borough considered the worst part of Ann St., from the handicap crossing near the back entrance to Fairlane Village Mall down to the driveway at the AutoZone store near Route 61.
Saint Clair is looking to get this project completed this summer. It’s likely it won’t start until after the school term, to avoid any added congestion due to school buses traveling the road.
Frackville Gets $335K for Streetscape Improvements
Frackville is also getting the same grant funding to improve the streetscape along N. Lehigh Ave. in the borough.
The Borough was recently awarded $335,000 to continue its project to improve sidewalks and streetscapes along its busiest street.
Frackville has received an additional $670,000 toward this project over the last three years.
“We want to thank Rep. Twardzik and Sen. Argall for helping secure this grant for us,” said Patricia Domalakes, president of the Frackville Economic Development Taskforce. “It will give us safer sidewalks on Lehigh Avenue, which we desperately need. Likewise, it will beautify Lehigh Avenue with trees and new lighting and aid in our revitalization efforts for downtown Frackville.”
East Union Township Gets $350K for New Sidewalks and Streetlights
A total of $350,000 in Multimodal grant funds is also going to East Union Township to install new sidewalks and streetlights along two blocks of Center St.
ALSO READ: Pottsville Awarded $1M Grant for Yuengling Tourism Revitalization Route
TOP PHOTO: (From left) Borough Manager Roland Price, Council President Thomas Dempsey, and Engineer Brian Baldwin discuss improvements to busy Ann St. in Saint Clair that will be made possible by more than $240,000 in state grant funds.
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