Be a Part of the Solution
SSM has been completing multiple municipal street and road improvement projects just like these every year for over 35 years.
SSM is proud to be a part of ongoing street projects with the City of Reading. We have provided a variety of services including field survey, engineering and design services, as well as ongoing construction phase services.
SSM has been completing multiple municipal street and road improvement projects just like these every year for over 35 years. These street projects provide community residents and neighbors not only smoother drives but safer and pride-worthy streets. SSM’s municipal experience is comprehensive- including development of a number of Long-Term Maintenance Programs for clients. This means determining the quality level to which they want to maintain their roads and then planning ahead to do so in a cost-effective manner. This also establishes a long-term budget projection to aid with financial planning. We have extensive experience designing yearly Street Improvement Projects, employing a variety of repair techniques, and guiding the project through the procurement process. Our team manages the Street Maintenance Program Procurement, works hand in hand with the Public Works Department, and provides insight to ensure a cost effective street maintenance program is achieved. From start to finish- idea to construction, we’ve got you covered.
SSM has been an integral part of local municipalities since 1932. We know municipal communities- we know the people they serve, and we know the needs they address. Keeping your roadways and municipal infrastructure in good condition is key to serving your community.
Congratulations to the City of Reading, on continuing their road projects.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it all!
DCED Accepting Applications for Act 13 Grants
The state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is now accepting applications for Act 13 programs. Eligibility includes municipalities, authorized organizations, higher education institutions, watershed organizations, and for-profit businesses.
Act 13 of 2012 established the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for statewide initiatives that include abandoned mine drainage abatement; abandoned well plugging; sewage treatment; greenways, trails and recreation; baseline water quality data; watershed restoration; and flood control.
The state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is now accepting applications for Act 13 programs.
Application deadline: May 31, 2021
Eligibility:
Municipalities
Councils of Governments
Authorized Organizations
Institutions of Higher Education
Watershed Organization
For-Profit Businesses
Current Act 13 Grant Opportunities:
Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) Abatement & Treatment Program
Eligibility: Abandoned mine drainage, abatement, and treatment with the Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program (AMDATP).
Opportunity: Projects which involve the reclamation of Abandoned Mine Well(s), construction of a new AMD site, remediation and repair of existing AMD project sites, operation and maintenance maintaining current AMD remediation sites, establishment of trust fund to ensure ongoing maintenance is achieved, and monitoring of water quality to track or continue to trace non-point source load reductions resulting from AMD remediation projects.
Funding: Grants shall be awarded to eligible applicants for projects that do not exceed $1,000,000. The grant requires a least a 15% match of the total project cost.
Baseline Water Quality Data Program
Eligibility: Initiatives to establish baseline water quality data on private water supplies using the Baseline Water Quality Data Program (BWQDP).
Opportunity: Projects which involve practices for water sample collection and analysis to document existing groundwater quality conditions on private water supplies.
Funding: Grants shall be awarded to eligible applicants for projects that do not exceed $250,000. The grant requires at least 15% match of the total project cost.
Flood Mitigation Program
Eligibility: Projects authorized by a flood protection authority, the Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or identified by a local government, for flood mitigation.
Opportunity: This could be a good funding source to address localized stream flooding due to siltation and debris deposits over time, for which few funding sources exist.
Funding: Grants shall not exceed $500,000 for any project. A 15% match of the total project cost is required.
Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program
Eligibility: Programs for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP). Projects which involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails and river conservation.
Opportunity: This could be a good way to leverage recreation funds that already exist within municipal budgets.
Funding: Grants shall not exceed $250,000 for any project. A 15% match of the total project cost is required.
Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program
Eligibility: Funding orphan or abandoned well plugging projects using the Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program (OAWP).
Uses: Projects which involve the cleaning out and plugging of abandoned and orphan oil and gas wells; stray gas mitigation systems; and well venting projects.
Funding: There is a maximum of $1,000,000 for any project.
Sewage Facilities Program
Eligibility: Initiatives for complying with the Act of January 24, 1966 (1965 P. L. 1535, No. 537), known as the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.
Opportunity: Costs associated with the planning work required under Act 537.
Funding: Grants shall be awarded to eligible applicants up to $100,000. A 50% match of the total project cost is required.
Watershed Restoration and Protection Program
Eligibility: Projects which involve the construction, improvement, expansion, repair, maintenance or rehabilitation of new or existing watershed protection Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Opportunity: The overall goal of this program is to restore and/or maintain reaches of streams impaired by non-point source pollution. As such this grant could be used to implement NPDES MS4 Pollution Reduction Plans.
Funding: There is a maximum of $300,000 for any project. A 15% match of the total project cost is required.
Here to Help: Did you know that our teams can help you to acquire grant funding? Contact Andrew at andrew.shambach@ssmgroup.com
Emergency Vehicles and Road Design
How do we combine street design to accommodate economic growth, pedestrian and bike paths, and emergency vehicles? The expertise is in the engineers. Because when you need an emergency vehicle, it has to be able to get there.
When you are in need of an emergency vehicle, you expect it to be able to get there. Plain and simple.
It is expert civil and municipal engineers that make sure roads are made the way they should be, streets are designed the way we need them to be, curbs are structured the way they have to be, and emergency vehicles are able to get to you when you are relying on them to.
While most of us equate roadways with driving, recent trends have shown an uptick in structuring roadways to engage and include a variety of goals that include a whole lot more. Some of these enhancements include designated spaces for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as traffic calming elements that impact traffic speeds. Typically these decisions stem from an interest in encouraging public space, economic activity, physical activity, and enhancing the safety of all road users.
The street designs that meet these ends often involve narrower travel lanes.
At the same time, emergency responders are focusing their efforts on reducing the time it takes to arrive at the scene of an emergency. And they are requiring physical space to utilize equipment.
These two priorities- well-rounded street design and first responder vehicular and equipment needs provide a tug that expert civil engineers balance in design phases.
Effective street design considers not only the efforts of complete streets that accommodate a variety of activity, but also the adequate width and turning radii for emergency vehicles.
In addition to considering lane widths, providing an adequate number of lanes to accommodate traffic is critical to reducing delays for emergency vehicles, as is providing emergency vehicle pre-emption devices on traffic signals so that emergency vehicles can gain the right of way quickly and safely through intersections.
Lastly, keeping the road pavement in good condition is another way municipal governments can help emergency vehicle response time.
All of these, combined together ensure that when you need an emergency vehicle- they get there.
#ProblemSolved: Our Civil Engineering team is here to help. Send an email to Mark Stabolepszy, PE, Director of Municipal Engineering and Planning at mark.stabolepszy@ssmgroup.com or give a call to 610-898-3023
Having the Right Conversations at Your Municipality
For many during this time, considerations are being taken for what communities will look like in the future. Local governments are facing concerns over declining tax revenue, parks and recreation facilitators are wondering how things will happen if they can’t really happen, local leaders and community members are all looking to answer the question, what’s next? When the only thing we can be sure of is change.
For many during this time, considerations are being taken for what communities will look like in the future. Local governments are facing concerns over declining tax revenue, parks and recreation facilitators are wondering how things will happen if they can’t really happen, local leaders and community members are all looking to answer the question, what’s next? When the only thing we can be sure of is change.
While we encourage municipal leaders to be proactive in their pursuits to address changes and needs in the community, we recommend they not rush into making drastic, long-term changes to zoning or major adjustments to spaces until the future is more clear. An internal taskforce may be a great option for municipalities looking to assess the current situation and future needs.
We recommend these priorities:
Compile and utilize the resources and pieces of information available to you through organizations. Use them to further enhance your planning processes
Engage in capital planning for next year. Take stock of your assets and start to prioritize the infrastructure projects that would take priority for next year’s budget. Don’t forget your MS4 Pollution Reduction Plan BMPs. This is always a good practice; but it’s a priority considering the potential impact of the current pandemic.
Address your municipality’s digital role. Digital applications and submissions have surfaced as a viable and necessary option. Land development applications serve as a prime example. Secure your municipality’s stance on what is public and what is not and how these digital adjustments will make an impact.
Dust off planning commission rules and municipal planning code for affected projects. Items such as typical 90-day application clocks may be examined by the recent changes in operations. We recommend identifying and solidifying your municipality’s expectations in preparation and response to these types of requests.
Establish a plan for your municipality transitioning into Red, Yellow, and Green zones. Consider how each will impact your community and establish specific plans regarding transitional periods.
Prioritize your ability to interface with the public and your community. Consider virtual office hours for borough staff to touch base. Technology investments and trainings will allow you to manage your communication with the public, as well as make remote communication an effective and on-going practice.
Acknowledge what you have learned. What do you wish you would have had in place? Maybe having your assets in the cloud would have allowed productivity to function more effectively. Maybe a more robust digital infrastructure would have made for an easier transition. Where have you found gaps, and what can be done to fill them in case there is ever a next time?
Talk to your consultants. Learn about best practices taking place in other municipalities and how you can implement similar actions.
We want you to feel supported. So remember that we’re here to help. As a taskforce, navigate what you feel comfortable with and then reach out to us and your other resources with the things that overwhelm you.
Communication Station: Staying in Touch with Your Municipality
Your constituents live in the Amazon world, where they expect products and information immediately. Every township, borough, and city can utilize free or cost-effective resources to give their community the information they need.
Must haves: website, social media presence, email newsletter, and easy access to forms, documents, and information.
Some of our favorite free tools:
Facebook- to connect with most constituents. (Tip: schedule your posts ahead of time to save effort!)
LinkedIn- to connect with your local professional community
Google My Business Listing: easy to use resource to make it easier to find you online
Google Meet- for virtual meetings
Google Sites- if you don’t already have a website
MailChimp- email marketing, free for lists of less than 2,000 emails
Need more tips on communicating with your community? Our marketing team would be happy to help. Send us an email at information@ssmgroup.com
#ProblemSolved: Read more about municipal engineering.
