While the process is not running as smoothly as planned due to Pennsylvania’s ongoing budget impasse, the project to construct the new Coatesville Train Station as well as make streetscape improvements to Third Avenue and Fleetwood Street is still moving forward, writes Lucas Rodgers for Daily Local News.

During the City Council meeting held on Monday, Jenn Granger, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Project Manager, gave an update on the project, noting that the design stage of the streetscape improvements project has been 60 percent completed. Granger also said that PennDOT received Federal Transit Administration approval on Monday afternoon.

Under the current plan, the first work on the streetscape improvements will start around July, provided that a notice to proceed with construction is granted, with the project expected to be completed within a year or less of groundbreaking.

The streetscape project includes a number of significant enhancements to the streetscape, including improved streets, sidewalks that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as pedestrian accessibility for Third Avenue from Lincoln Highway to Fleetwood Street.

According to Granger, the project is divided into three phases. The first will cover streetscape improvements to Third Avenue, the second phase will then deal with construction of a relocated Fleetwood Street, and finally, the third phase will see the construction of the new train station and platform.

While majority of the project is being funded by PennDOT and the FTA, the planned parking garage for the train station is being treated as a separate project which will have to be funded from other sources.

The Coatesville’s Redevelopment Authority has already submitted two multimodal grant applications, one each to PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Due to the budget situation in Harrisburg, the DCED response to the application has been put on hold, while PennDOT is still reviewing its proposal.

“We wanted to keep the design for the station moving, and I think once that happens, I think we’re going to find the money for the station, and then the garage will be part of that too,” said Granger.