View a graphic representation of the proposed Gateway Project and revitalization of the East End.
Lycoming College, River Valley Transit and the City of Williamsport were jointly awarded a $1,000,000 strategic grant from the First Community Foundation Partnership (FCFP) of Pennsylvania as part of its "Once in a Century Grant" initiative in support of Lycoming's Gateway Project and the revitalization of Williamsport's East End and Old City Neighborhoods. Additionally, Rep. Jeff C. Wheeland (R-83) and Sen. Gene Yaw '70 (R-23) announced a grant of $777,395 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority under the Multimodal Transportation Fund in support of the Old City/East Third Street Gateway Project.
Both grants help Lycoming College make significant strides toward reaching goals as laid out by the Campaign for a Greater Lycoming. One of the main priorities of the campaign is to Transform the Campus to reflect the success that Lycoming is poised to capture.
The FCFP grant will be divided equally with $500,000 earmarked for Lycoming College to relocate Franklin Street for a more welcoming entrance to the College, the restructuring of Basin Street for two-way traffic, and work on portions of the "Willow Street Green Infrastructure Pathway."
The remaining $500,000 from the FCFP grant will be awarded to River Valley Transit to restructure East Third Street for two-way traffic to Market Street, a portal entrance into the redevelopment of Old City, and pathway and streetscape projects for the "Willow Street Green Infrastructure Pathway" which will connect Lycoming College to downtown Williamsport's Central Business District.
"Lycoming College is delighted once again to enjoy the collaboration of FCFP, and we are incredibly grateful for this extraordinary level of support for the proposed Gateway Project. This funding will allow us to collaborate with the City to create the infrastructure necessary to establish a new arrival sequence for the College." said Kent Trachte, Ph.D., president of Lycoming College. "We also anticipate that the Gateway Project will encourage additional investment in the east end and become a foundation for its revitalization. Finally, we are excited by the opportunity to connect the college and its students to downtown and the Riverwalk.
More information on the FCFP grant is available at http://fcfpa.org/page.aspx?pid=328.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority grant intends to connect Lycoming College to Old City, Trade and Transit Centres I and II and businesses along Via Bella. Wheeland has expressed the grant making inroads toward encouraging private investment in the area, as well as addressing traffic problems that have hindered it in the past. More information is available at http://www.senatorgeneyaw.com/2016/12/06/wheeland-yaw-announce-grant-for-williamsport-transportation-project/.
A more in-depth history and examination of Lycoming College's Gateway Project is available in the Spring 2017 issue of LC Magazine.