Committee recommends pursuing federal TASA funds to replace flashing school signs, add ADA curb ramps

The Public Health and Safety Committee on Aug. 13 recommended that the full council pursue Transportation Alternatives Set‑Aside (TASA) funding to replace two flashing school signs and add ADA curb ramps and pedestrian improvements near St. Margaret’s School and Marion Elementary.

The recommendation follows staff briefings that the TASA program is a federal reimbursement program for pedestrian and safe‑routes‑to‑school projects and that this year’s cycle emphasizes Safe Routes to School projects. “Pennoni had approached us a couple weeks ago with this opportunity,” said Maggie Dawes, manager, describing the program and the timeline. Dawes said a preliminary application is due Sept. 5 and a final application is due in October; program awards are expected to be announced next spring.

Why it matters: Committee members said the proposal would stretch an already‑budgeted capital project into a broader pedestrian safety package. Dawes said the borough has $67,000 budgeted to replace flashing signs and is preliminarily budgeting roughly $150,000 for the larger bundled project; she said the TASA program funds 100% of construction cost and is reimbursement‑based, so the borough would initially pay and then submit for reimbursement. “Minimum grant award is $50,000 up to $1,500,000,” Dawes said.

Staff described the proposed scope: replacement of two flashing school signs (one at St. Margaret’s, one at Marion Elementary), ADA curb ramps at two intersections serving St. Margaret’s (about 10 curb ramps) and three more curb ramps at Marion Elementary, and crosswalk improvements and other pedestrian infrastructure. Dawes said Pennoni will prepare preliminary conceptual designs and construction cost estimates and assist with final design and bidding if the project is awarded.

Committee discussion focused on scope, schedule, and budget impact. Committee members and staff said application preparation would use existing engineering budget lines for this year; Dawes said application and preliminary engineering costs this year would be modest — she referenced a $5,000–$7,000 range for initial application/engineering work — and that larger construction expenditures would occur next year before reimbursement. The packet lists an engineering design and bidding estimate of roughly $25,000 that would be incurred next year if the project moves forward.

There was also discussion about program competitiveness: staff and Pennoni representatives said the grant is administered statewide and is expected to be competitive. Tony (Pennoni), the project engineer on the call, said many municipalities will likely apply, making the program competitive.

Formal action: Committee Chair Jane Borat called for a vote to recommend moving forward with the TASA application to the full council. The committee recorded three yes votes and the motion passed. The committee recorded no changes to the project scope at the meeting beyond authorizing staff to proceed with application preparations.

Next steps: staff will prepare the preliminary application by the Sept. 5 deadline, finalize a full application in October if authorized, and will return to council for any capital appropriation or scope changes if the borough is awarded funding.

No legal authorities beyond the program description were cited at the meeting. No final construction contract or award was approved at the committee meeting; the committee’s action was limited to recommending that the application move forward.