Penllyn SEPTA Station Trail Connection Project Gets $250K Funding

LOWER GWYNEDD, PA — Lower Gwynedd Township has received a major grant from the county to help build a trail connection to the Penllyn Train Station, a stop on the Lansdale/Doylestown SEPTA line.

The $250,000 grant, awarded through the Montco 2040 program, is a nod to the project's focus on the area's sustainability and walkability.

The funds will be used to connect the station to Pen-Ambler park and the mixed-use development at Ambler Yards. It's a stretch where there is not currently a sidewalk, and the county's project overview notes that there are "unsafe conditions for pedestrians."

"The trail would begin at the maintenance access to Pen-Ambler Park, where a crosswalk carries trail users to the north side of Pen-Ambler Road, continuing to the intersection of Pen-Ambler Road and Old Penllyn Pike, where crosswalks are provided across both streets and a sidewalk extension connects the trail to the train station," the county adds.

This year's Montco 2040 grants provided a total of $2.5 million to 13 projects that meet the county's stated goals.

2024 marks the ninth year of grant funding through the Montco 2040 program, which aims to help create connections between communities, improve local economies, and promote sustainable

Specifically, projects were evaluated for their "impact, equity, readiness, and consistency" with local and county planners. Projects that improved walkability or bikeability in the region were also given added consideration.

A total of 140 grants worth $17.8 million have been awarded since the program was originally launched.