Looking Ahead 2026: New Museum Coming In Lower Bucks Co.

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The African American Museum of Bucks County is finally expected to open its permanent headquarters sometime this year. Meanwhile, several governments will have different looks this year.

Here are some of the things to look forward to in Lower Bucks County communities in 2026:

Government Changes

The Bensalem Township Council will look a lot different next year.

While longtime Republican Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo returns, the Township Council will now hold a 3-2 Democratic majority after the November general election, in which two GOP councilwomen were ousted.

The ever-evolving Yardley Borough Council will see several new members and also a new borough mayor for the first time in several years as Council President Caroline Thompson becomes mayor.

School District Plans

The Bensalem School Board is considering later start times for high school students and may once again pick up the discussion about whether to build a new middle school.

Work continues to progress on the new high school for the Pennsbury School District. Design details were recently revealed for the new $269.5 million, 495,000-square-foot high school that is expected to start construction this year.

Mall Development

Bucks County's two malls continue to lose shopping traffic as the Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown Township continues its transformation with another phase of apartments being built, while the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem remains stagnant a year after being sold to a new company.

New Museum in Bucks County

After years of planning and building, the African American Museum of Bucks County is planning to open at Boone Farm in Core Creek Park in Middletown Township sometime early next year, officials said.

Road Projects

The third phase of the Route 1 Improvements Project will get underway this year. The upcoming U.S. 1 Section RC3 Project, to improve safety and congestion along a 2.7-mile section of U.S. 1 in Middletown Township, Langhorne Manor, and Langhorne.

A project to improve traffic congestion and safety on Langhorne-Yardley Road at the Bridgetown Pike and Woodbourne Road intersections in Middletown Township will last through January.