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Monroe approves Main Street grant applications, selects streetlight and streetscape elements
Summary
Council voted to submit a $400,000 Main Street grant application, considered lighting and bench designs for Main Street, and discussed trash-can models and signage; staff also discussed timeline for bids and groundwork for related projects including a multimodal grant application for the Creek Street bridge repair.
Monroe Borough Council on July 15 authorized applications for grant funding and advanced several Main Street streetscape and infrastructure decisions.
The council voted to apply for roughly $400,000 from the Main Street program to complete remaining downtown improvements and instructed staff to proceed with design choices and procurement. Council members also reviewed proposed historic-style streetlights, bench models and covered trash cans for Main Street and asked staff to proceed to bid for lighting, with placement and final details to return to council for confirmation.
Why it matters: The Main Street grant and the chosen streetscape features will determine the look and functionality of Monroe's downtown improvements, affect downtown pedestrian experience and involve a mix of borough funds and external grant money.
Councilmembers reviewed three historic-lighting style options and discussed color and mounting details; staff confirmed the fixtures will include electrical outlets to support seasonal events. The borough manager summarized that the larger "welcome" signs proposed for each entrance to Main Street are among the higher-cost items, and the council agreed to place smaller benches at bus stops and standard benches elsewhere, for a total of about 12 benches. Council members expressed concern about trash overflow and favored models with partial lids or rain covers to reduce wind-blown waste and rodent access.
The borough also agreed to apply for a multimodal grant to address the Creek Street bridge over Homestead Run, which staff described as structurally rusted at approaches and in need of repair. The council asked the borough engineer to include improvements to approaches where feasible; members said widening approaches or improving alignment should be considered in the grant application.
Procurement and schedule: Staff said they will post the lighting project for bid this week, with the goal of having construction underway before the next meeting; council members asked that detailed placement drawings and final cut sheets be posted on the borough website so the public can provide input. For the speed hump project on Green Street and a separate contract to install three speed bumps on Ravine Street, the council voted to award contracts after bid openings (lowest Green Street bid reported at $24,009.50; Ravine Street award to El Grande Industries at $24,009.50 was approved).
Actions taken: council voted to submit the $400,000 Main Street grant application, voted to seek multimodal funding for Creek Street bridge repairs, authorized staff to proceed with lighting bid documents and awarded street-speed-hump contracts. Staff said additional Main Street work would continue as grants are awarded and contractors mobilize.
Next steps: staff to finalize bid packages and post them, engineer to refine Creek Street bridge scope for the multimodal grant, and council to receive placement plans and final product cut sheets for Main Street fixtures before final purchase decisions.
