This month, Councilman Wilson talks American Rescue Plan allocations.

Photo: Office of Councilman Wilson

Hello Northside!

I hope you’re all having a safe and fun summer! I want to use this month’s column to discuss the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding allocations.  I especially want to thank those of you who spoke up in favor of investment in our neighborhoods—we could not have secured such major infrastructure investments without your support. 

I am thrilled to share that the Davis Avenue Bridge has received $2 million in ARP funds! The design phase of this project was already funded, and this funding covers the cost of construction. The new Davis Avenue Bridge will be a 12-foot wide pedestrian and cycle bridge at the site of the former bridge, at 900 Davis Ave. It will be a steel arched-truss superstructure supported on concrete piers that shall span over Woods Run Avenue. Once open to the public, it will create another entry into Riverview Park and allow Brighton Heights residents the ability to walk and bike to the park directly from their neighborhood. Entry at this elevation into the park will allow Brighton Heights visitors to safely and quickly get outdoors, away from their urban environments and into the many green spaces of Riverview Park. My office intends to move forward on this project with as much community input as possible.  In the coming months, please be on the lookout for public meetings and an Engage PGH page where you can share your thoughts and ideas regarding the new bridge. As always, my office will share information about these meetings on our social media pages.  

I am also very excited to share that the plan allocates $6 million for the Cowley-Goettman Recreation Center in Troy Hill! This $6 million completes the funding and will allow us to move forward on building a new rec center. As a result of multiple community meetings, the current plan is that the new building will be one story and include a large assembly space and smaller meeting rooms. Our goal is for the new Cowley Rec Center to be a rentable space where the community can gather. Given this additional $6 million allocation, I am looking forward to the next community meeting about Cowley Rec Center, where residents can share even bigger goals they have for this facility. I encourage you to stay up to date on the details and share your feedback on https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/cowley.

We also received a critical $2.5 million to invest on North Avenue. These dollars will allow us to modernize aging traffic signals at five intersections along North Avenue by adding pedestrian indicators and audible signals; narrowing pedestrian crossing distances by building curb extensions; replacing missing sidewalks; adding highlighted crosswalks; installing pedestrian-scale lighting; and improving bus stops, street furnishings, bike racks, and bike share stations. All of these investments will ensure that cyclists, drivers, pedestrians, transit riders, and individuals with limited mobility will be able to reach their destinations safely and pleasantly.

The last allocation that I have the pleasure of sharing is $1 million for the Perrysville Avenues of Hope program, including both the Five Points Business District in Observatory Hill and the Charles Street intersection. This funding comes as a part of the City’s plan to give $1 million to each Avenues of Hope corridor. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will oversee the spending of this $1 million, which will primarily focus on helping minority-owned small businesses.

I also want to take a moment to thank the City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) for the fantastic job they did in building the new concrete sidewalk along Brighton Road, going from Simen Avenue to the bus stop. I also want to thank DPW for the awesome job they did in building new concrete steps at the Riverview Park Soccer Field. When I met with board members from Old Allegheny Soccer last year, they showed me the dirt path that players and spectators would use to access the field. Thanks to all the community members who advocated for this new sidewalk and steps! 

I also want to thank the City’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) for the great job they did resurfacing all three parking lots and Weitz Way at the Jack Stack baseball field complex in Brighton Heights. The main lot was repaved last year and the remaining areas were recently repaved. Brighton Heights Athletic Association has been a great advocate for these improvements. DOMI also recently repaved the parking lot at Marmaduke Park in Brighton Heights. Gravel parts of the lot, as well as the areas behind the team benches, are now paved with asphalt. DOMI is also installing ADA-compliant parking spots. Thanks to Team Pittsburgh Dek Hockey for pushing for these improvements!

All of these infrastructure investments will shape and improve our neighborhoods for years to come. Although the City Council has passed the above allocations, much of the nuts-and-bolts of how this money will be spent has yet to be decided. This is why I encourage you, as always, to contact my office with any ideas, feedback, or concerns about these allocations. We are here to listen and look forward to hearing from you. Happy August, everyone!

Councilman Bobby Wilson 

412-255-2135 

Email: District1@pittsburghpa.gov 

Twitter: @Dist1Pgh 

Facebook: @CouncilmanBobbyWilson 

Instagram: @councilmanbobbywilson