Township gets grant to improve intersection

One of the busiest intersections in Allegheny County will be getting a face-lift.

Ross received a $2.2 million grant to make improvements to the intersection of McKnight and Siebert roads.

This grant will cover improvements to the side with Bravo Cucina Italiana and the Berkeley Hills Volunteer Fire Department. A $1 million grant received two years ago will be used to improve the other side of the intersection, where McKnight-Siebert Shopping Center sits.

“It’s very exciting,” commission President Steve Korbel said Monday. “With the $1 million we received a couple of years ago, it will really transform that intersection.”

The new grant from the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund will cover adding a second lane on Siebert heading toward the fire department, a second southbound turning lane from McKnight to Siebert, and a sidewalk along Siebert from McKnight to Woodland Road.

“This is going to be a great amenity to have for the people that live up there,” said Commissioner Dan DeMarco who, along with Mr. Korbel, represents that area. “A lot of people walk down to McKnight Road to catch a bus or to carpool from the neighborhoods up there off Siebert Road.”

“This is great news for all of Ross Township,” said state Rep. Adam Ravenstahl, D-North Side. “Connecting residents to McKnight Road in a safe manner will have a positive impact on the local economy. I was happy to support this project and thank Governor Wolf for this investment.”

The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth.

Funds can be used for the development, rehabilitation and enhancement of transportation assets to existing communities, streetscape, lighting, sidewalk enhancement, pedestrian safety, connectivity of transportation assets and transit-oriented development.

The grant was announced by Mr. Ravenstahl, state Rep. Sara Innamorato and state Sen. Lindsey Williams. Mr. Korbel thanked them for their support, as well as former state Rep. Dom Costa and former state Sen. Randy Vulakovich, who worked on the grant.

“This is one of the busiest intersections in Allegheny County, and they realized that, I think, in terms of reviewing the grant,” he said.

Mr. Korbel also credited Avanti Consulting Group, which was hired to lobby for grants.