MAYOR FENTON REPORT FOR 10/20/05

 

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate Bobbi Olliver, Betty Griffith, And Carmen Santos, And All The Volunteers As They Celebrate The 10th Anniversary Of A Woman’s Place Bristol Outreach Office.

 

ROUTE 13 – SAFETY ISSUES

 

In My Report To Council Of 10/3/2000 Council Approved My Administration To Actively Seek Funding For Route 13 And To Incorporate “Traffic Calming” And Beautification For Route 13 To Include Trees, Curbs, Sidewalks, Bike Path, And Antique Lighting. In 2001 Congressman Jim Greenwood Announced That He Had Secured A $90,000 Grant For The Study Of The Route 13 Project. This Study Included The Design, Engineering Cost, And Construction Cost For The Project Area Which Included Route 13 From The Levittown Shopping Center To The Neshaminy Creek In Croydon. This Project Was Expanded To Include Bensalem Township From State Road In Bensalem Through Tullytown. The Plan Dubbed The U. S. 13 Revitalization Project Cost $210,000. The Money For The Study Came From The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission ($100,000), The Federal Government, Through Then Bucks Congressman Jim Greenwood’s Office At The Request Of Myself And Bristol Township Council ($90,000), And $5,000 Each From Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township And Tullytown.  A Committee Was Formed Based Upon My Idea And The U. S. Route 13 Revitalization Project Was Developed In Cooperation With Several Agencies Including The Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, The Bucks County Transportation Management Association And The Bucks County Planning Commission.  The Result Of The Study Included The Price Tag Of Federal And State Funds Of $23.4 Million For The Complete Revitalization Of U. S. Route 13, To Turn A Dangerously Outdated Roadway Into A Kind Of Main Street With Sidewalks And Grassy Median. The Plan Designed By Consultants Edwards And Kelcey Calls For Elimination Of Jug Handles In Favor Of Left-Turn Lanes, A Narrowing Of The Roadway From Six Lanes To Four With A Grassy Median In Between, And The Redevelopment Of Vacant And Underutilized Lots And Speed To Be Lowered To 35 Miles Per Hour.

 

Congress Recently Passed A Bill To Cover Projects Through 2009. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick Secured $5 Million For The Reconstruction, Resurfacing And Redevelopment Of Route 13 In Lower Bucks County. I Would Like To Thank Our State And Federal Officials For Their Support Of This Project And I Hope This Can Be Done As Soon As Possible.

 

CROYDON FUNDING:

 

I Have Been Publicly Accused Of Not Providing The Croydon Area Of Funding And Support In Seeking Funding For Improvement Projects. I Would Like To Address This Issue With Facts. Croydon’s Population Is 19 % Of The Total Population In Bristol Township. Since I Have Been Mayor We Have Spent $2,898,186. (Two Million, Eight Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand, One Hundred Eighty Six Dollars) On The Street Paving Program Throughout Bristol Township, Of This Street Paving Program Monies We Have Spent $551,366 (Five Hundred, Fifty One Thousand, Three Hundred Sixty Six Dollars) On Streets In Croydon Or 19% Of The Total Monies Spent. This Represents 9.31 Miles Completed In The Croydon Area.

 

I Would Also Like To Present Additional Facts Of Funding Opportunities For The Croydon Area That I And The Present Council Have Accomplished Working With State And Federal Officials. They Are As Follows:

 

Open Space For The Purchase Of The Rohm & Haas Property In Croydon - $ 736,500.

 

Dced Grant For State Road Drainage Study In Croydon –

$ 250,000

 

Pa Dep Grant Penndot To Resurface And Improve The Drainage Along State Road - $ 200,000

 

*** State Road Drainage  - These Study’s Went Into The Construction Stage Recently With The Help Of Penndot.

 

Federal Funds For The Septa Route 13 Croydon Train Station -

$ 6 Million

 

The Transportation Enhancement/Hometown Streets/Safe Route To School Funding Application Was Submitted For The Rehabilitation Of The Croydon Business District On Route 13 - $ 600,000.

 

Federal Funding For Improvements To Route 13 Redevelopment Project Croydon Area - $ 5.5 Million

 

Pa Dep Grant For Design And Implementation Of A Groundwater Infiltration System At Locations In Croydon - $ 20,000.

 

Bristol Township Community Development  Minot Avenue Study And Evaluation Of Storm Drainage - $ 8,500.

 

Coastal Zone Grant For The Minot Ave. Drainage Study Engineering And Design – $ 53,000.

 

Keystone Grant For The Rehabilitation Of Croydon Acres Park - $ 176,000.

 

Community Development: * Project Funding - $ 153,990;* First Time Home Buyers - $ 211,966; * Housing Rehabs - $ 374,802.

 

 

These Projects Are Paid For By All Of Us. I Believe That The Funds Have Been, And Will Continue To Be Well Spent In The Croydon Area For The Benefit Of All Bristol Township Residents, Including The Other 81%. We Are Responsible For The Entire Township And We Try To Give Every Area Equal Amount Of Service.

 

 

RECREATION:

 

Bristol Township’s Harvest/Halloween Festival Here At The Municipal Complex Is This Saturday, October 22nd From 9:00am To 3:00pm. This Event Is For Children And Adults Of All Ages. Come Out And Celebrate The Harvest Season!

 

On Saturday November 19th Bristol Township Will Be Holding Its Annual Thanksgiving/Holiday Parade. Anyone Wishing To Participate Or Contribute May Contact 215-785-0500.

 

I Would Like To Thank The Students Of Bucks County Tech School For The Fine Job They Are Doing On The Field House Here At The Municipal Complex.