Middletown outlines multimodal plan and $8.5M in potential grants, approves $7,500 solar feasibility study

Township staff told the Board of Supervisors on May 1 that Middletown is pursuing a series of grants and public‑engagement efforts tied to a multimodal improvement plan and renewable‑energy projects.

Mr. Valla described the multimodal plan as a walkability/bikeability and transit access effort and demoed an interactive mapping tool and short survey on middletownbucks.org/multimodal that allows residents to add routes, barriers, desired sidewalks or trails and leave comments. He urged residents to take the survey and said a public meeting will be held May 30 at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Center.

Valla listed awarded grants—about $1 million in newly secured funds including roughly $500,000 for City Crossing Park and $220,000 for ADA curb ramps—and said the township has multiple pending applications including a FEMA SAFER request that, if fully awarded, could fund five additional full‑time firefighters for three years. He said the township has more than 30 grant efforts underway and estimated total community investment across the projects at roughly $8.5 million, about three‑quarters from non‑township sources.

On energy, Valla recommended a solar feasibility study and a local company, Exact Solar of Newtown, to assess optimal locations and economics; the board authorized a $7,500 contract for the study by voice vote, 5‑0. Valla said the township recently began running township accounts on 100% renewable energy under a new supply contract.

Finance presenter Miss Bandari gave a quarter‑one update: revenue was at about 24% of the annual target and expenses at 17% through Q1; year‑over‑year comparisons (excluding ARPA and timing differences) showed revenues roughly 20% higher, driven by earned income tax (EIT), real‑estate tax timing and program revenue. She cautioned that EIT changes in neighboring municipalities could produce an estimated $315,000 impact and urged continued monitoring.

Board members thanked staff for grant‑seeking efforts and emphasized that ready project lists improve competitiveness for federal infrastructure and other grant programs.