Thompson and Nanes: Revitalizing downtown State College a bipartisan endeavor

As a Republican Congressman and a Democratic Mayor, you can imagine that sometimes we hold differing views about how best to support our communities through policy and budget.

However, there are also matters on which we strongly agree, for example, the importance of investing in the revitalization of downtown State College for the 21st century and beyond. Last month, we met in State College to walk the streets and discuss infrastructure improvements to keep the public safe and meet the demands of our rapidly growing community. We both share a love for downtown, and we appreciate its central role in the success of our regional economy.

State College annually attracts 1.1 million visitors and 8.8 million visits to the Borough. More than 350 businesses are thriving downtown, and there is a diverse mix of retail, professional and personal services, restaurants, hotels and other businesses that draw people to the area.

Over 46,000 students attend Penn State and commute throughout Downtown State College for class, work and leisure. Coupled with 10,000 local employees that live within a 20-minute walk from the heart of downtown and there is a significant amount of pedestrian and cyclist traffic on any given day.

Nizhyn Everyone who lives, works and plays downtown should feel confident that no matter what mode of transportation they choose, they will be able to travel safely and efficiently.

Therefore, we must act with urgency to address multimodal safety and accessibility improvements for pedestrians and cyclists downtown. According to the PennDOT crash analysis tool, pedestrians and cyclists are being injured, at times seriously, and a large percentage of these accidents have occured at the intersections. To enhance safety, on the iconic Allen Street corridor, leveraging Congressional and other funding sources, the Borough will provide new sidewalks, intersection improvements that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, stamped concrete crosswalks, pedestrian lighting, bike lanes and bike racks.

This is part of the State College Next Era PSU: Pedestrian Safety and Universal Accessibility Initiative to improve safety and mobility downtown. The initiative focuses on the main corridors of downtown: the College Avenue/Allen Street Intersection; the Allen Street Corridor; Beaver Avenue; and Calder Way. More than a decade ago, Congressional funding was utilized to realign Fraser Street at Beaver Avenue, which has led to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, and a beautiful streetscape that supports numerous businesses and pedestrian mobility.

This project played a role in making Fraser Centre a possibility and later brought the first major retailer within walking distance to campus, along with other conveniences associated with a modern downtown. We know these types of projects that leverage federal, state and local funds pay dividends in the long run.

They help make our community inviting to visitors and are a source of pride and enjoyment for residents. Building on our shared passion for our communities, and an inspiring vision of how downtown can evolve for the future while preserving its unique history and character, we will continue to work toward a safer, more vibrant, State College that will be enjoyed for generations to come. We look forward to doing it together.