Allegheny County lawmakers: more than $575,000 awarded to improve stormwater management
Will fund projects to address Wilkinsburg stormwater issues, improve equity of Pittsburgh stormwater management
Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes January 5, 2024 | 6:13 PM
BRADDOCK, Jan. 5 – Two grants totaling $575,450 from the state Department of Environmental Protection will bring stormwater improvements to Wilkinsburg and fund progress toward more equitable stormwater management throughout Pittsburgh, according to state Reps. Abigail Salisbury, Dan Frankel and La’Tasha D. Mayes and state Sen. Jay Costa.
The lawmakers said the funding awarded to Upstream Pittsburgh under DEP’s Growing Greener Plus program includes $390,000 for the second phase of the Wilkinsburg Stormwater Resiliency Project and another $185,450 to fund the Nine Mile Run Environmental Justice Watershed Plan.
“Runoff from municipal parking lots in Wilkinsburg’s business district have created stormwater management issues, including a high volume of water loading the storm sewer system and sometimes flooding area streets,” Salisbury said. “Upstream Pittsburgh has been working with Sci-Tek Consultants on plans to address the problem by removing impermeable pavement and retrofitting the lots with engineered soil, new trees, and native plants. These dollars will allow them to work with the borough to complete those plans.
“Beyond Wilkinsburg, we need to do better to ensure that communities across our region have the infrastructure they need to adequately manage stormwater, and the additional funding will help us work toward that goal.”
“A resident’s access to essential services like water and stormwater management should not depend on their community’s median income,” Frankel said. “This DEP grant will further Upstream Pittsburgh’s project to bring more equitable stormwater management to the region.”
Mayes said, "This funding will invest in the city of Pittsburgh for planning to ensure that our communities have the strong stormwater management they need. Those efforts will help ensure that the city is able to protect residents in the event of flooding, while also protecting our environment.”
“I am delighted that these crucial grant dollars are finding their way to our district so that our communities can have safe, beautiful environments for generations to come,” Costa said. “I look forward to the continued great work of these organizations who are fighting for clean air, water and energy for every Pennsylvanian.”
Matching funds will bring funding for the Wilkinsburg project to nearly $500,000 and funding for the Pittsburgh planning project to nearly $215,000.
More about the Growing Greener Plus program is available here: https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/GrantsLoansRebates/Growing-Greener/Pages/What-is-Growing-Greener.aspx.