Franklin gets grant money for downtown project

From staff reports

A $135,850 project in Franklin is part of the $54.7 million in funding that will be infused into the state’s transportation infrastructure and distributed to projects in 40 counties.

“Infrastructure is one of the most crucial components of Pennsylvania’s economic well-being,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a press release in which he announced the projects.

The money Franklin is receiving will be used to build a new gazebo and handicap walkway in the 1200 block of Buffalo Street, city manager Tracy Jamieson said. The project is called Franklin Mobility and Streetscape Improvements.

Jamieson said the project will see the removal of the current wooden gazebo to benefit the new bus stop and will install a “good handicap walkway from Buffalo to Liberty Street.”

“It will involve some changes to the parking lot behind Subway,” Jamieson said, noting that the parking lot may lose a few spaces to make way for the handicap-accessible walkway.

The alleyway beside Subway will also be repaved to create a more accessible walkway for the project, according to Jamieson, who added that the area will also become more well-lit.

Jamieson said the project was spearheaded by the Crawford Area Transportation Authority, which is responsible for the public transportation buses in Venango County.