Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will advance the Safety Improvement Project on Route 2005 (South Main Street / Business Route 15) in Richmond Township, Tioga County. The project, which is 0.75 mile in length, is located between the Route 15 overpass and Spencer Road and includes the construction of a two-way left-turn lane from the Exxon gas station to the KFC restaurant, as well as milling and overlay of the roadway surface in that area.

Richmond Township received a Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) Grant in the amount of $470,000 to fund a newly designed sidewalk that was to be constructed in conjunction with the PennDOT Safety Improvement Project. The TASA program provides federal funding for projects and activities defined as transportation alternatives, including on and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose and safe routes to school projects.

On Monday, April 22, 2024, PennDOT sponsored a Public Plans Display on behalf of the Richmond Township Supervisors. The display allowed members of public to view the four proposed safety improvement illustrations that were under consideration for the Richmond Township sidewalk project.

In addition, members of the public were able to view and provide input on these options by way of survey. Surveys were available both paper copy and/or online. The link and QR code to the online survey was distributed through media outlets, social media platforms, and other online forums.

The Sidewalk Survey results were compiled and provided to Richmond Township to use at the Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Township Meeting for final vote on the Township’s preferred option. Richmond Township voted 2-1 to select the project option with 8-foot shoulder on either side of the travel lanes with no sidewalk.

Upon receiving Richmond Township’s decision on the sidewalk, PennDOT is now advancing the Final Design of the Route 2005 (South Main Street) Safety Improvement Project, which will include 8-foot shoulder on either side of the travel lanes with no sidewalk.

Final Design of the Safety Improvement project will conclude in fall of 2025 with construction planned in 2026 pending funding availability.