Hellertown Receives $600K to Improve Pedestrian Accessibility
Hellertown borough has been awarded $600,000 in federal funding to improve pedestrian connectivity between Main Street, Polk Valley Road and the popular Saucon Rail Trail, with construction of the new walkways potentially beginning in 2027.
The grant comes through the Carbon Reduction Program; part of a larger $633 million allocation by the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) for regional infrastructure improvements over four years. The Hellertown project was among dozens selected after a three-month evaluation process that prioritized safety, community impact and federal compliance standards.
Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft clarified the specific scope of Hellertown’s project, noting an important distinction from initial reports.
“The LVTS awarded the borough $600,000 under the Carbon Reduction Program,” Hartranft said.
“To clarify, this project does not include a traffic signal at Main Street and Polk Valley Road,” she added. “The scope of the project connects Tumminello Park to the shopping center district by installing upgraded ADA accessible sidewalks and a crosswalk with rapid flashing beacon.”
Tumminello Park is located just south of the Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley ReStore, on the west side of Main Street.
“By upgrading sidewalks and adding safe crosswalks, we are enhancing the walkability of Hellertown and creating stronger, safer connections between key community assets like Tumminello Park, the Saucon Rail Trail and Main Street,” Hartranft said.
The Hellertown improvements are part of a broader regional push to enhance pedestrian infrastructure.
The City of Bethlehem received significant funding totaling $3.7 million for three separate projects. The city was awarded $1.8 million to convert a section of Linden Street from one-way to two-way traffic, $1.4 million for multi-modal improvements along Broad Street and $500,000 specifically to connect the South Bethlehem Greenway to the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown.
According to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, the funded projects emerged from previous Walk Audit assessments conducted in partnership with AARP and the Greater Lehigh Valley United Way. These audits identified the region’s most challenging pedestrian corridors and provided data to guide improvement strategies.
The selection process evaluated each proposed project based on Federal Highway Administration criteria, alignment with the regional plan FutureLV and Walk/RollLV initiatives, and community impact factors including safety improvements, proximity to schools and economic development areas, and access to public transportation.
“What is most impressive about the grant awards is how the LVTS came together to choose projects and programs focused on safety, families, economic impact and immediate implementation,” said LVPC Transportation Planner and TASA project lead Evan Gardi in a press release. “These allocations make a difference here, now.”
The federal funding comes through programs specifically designed to support children’s education, improve safety, extend trail networks, reduce emissions and expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure options throughout the region. Overall, in June and July, a LVPC press release noted that the LVTS approved over $11.4 million in projects.
With construction potentially beginning in 2027, Hellertown residents can look forward to improved pedestrian access connecting the borough’s key recreational and commercial areas, making it safer and easier to walk between the Main Street commercial corridor, Tumminello Park and the popular Saucon Rail Trail.
