The state will spend $14.8 million on 14 transportation projects in the region that will focus on reducing vehicle use and encouraging walking and bicycling, Gov. Ed Rendell announced yesterday.

The biggest grant, nearly $4 million, went to Point Park University for enhancements to the Wood Street corridor, part of the university's $244 million plan to create an academic village on its Downtown campus.

		State grants • See a list of state grants for trails, safe school routes.

The grant will pay for milling and resurfacing of Wood Street, accessible sidewalks and curbs and distinctive pedestrian-friendly street lighting and new signal systems at the intersections with the Boulevard of the Allies and Third Avenue, university spokeswoman Mary Ellen Solomon said.

Point Park used an earlier $2 million grant from The Heinz Endowments to hire GAI Consultants of Homestead to design the improvements, which will extend from Fort Pitt Boulevard to Third Avenue. The newest grant will pay for construction.

"Point Park University is pleased and grateful for this significant investment in the academic village initiative," said Paul Hennigan, university president.

Statewide, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is providing $59.2 million for 50 "smart transportation" projects and $16.8 million for 30 Safe Routes to School projects that will improve safety and encourage walking and bike-friendly improvements, Mr. Rendell said.

"Investments in smart transportation and creating safe routes to schools offer travel options that help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By building more rational connections within communities, we can reduce vehicle use and attract pedestrians and bicyclists. These small steps will help Pennsylvania and the nation combat climate change and reduce reliance on imported fuels," he said.

Allegheny County will receive $500,000 to develop a safe network of trails for pedestrians and bicyclists in North Park and $300,000 to study ways of making walking and bicycling "an integral part of getting around Allegheny County."

Beaver County Transit Authority will get $1.8 million to build a traffic "roundabout" with enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists at a six-way intersection near a proposed transit-oriented development site in Rochester.

"It's wonderful news," said Mary Jo Morandini, the authority's general manager.

The authority is headed for its seventh straight year of record ridership, which has increased by 80 percent over that time, she said.

The authority's hub is the Rochester Transportation Center, near the intersection that will be improved. The roundabout will improve travel times for buses and save the authority $25,000 per year in operating costs.

The project also will add green space, connect two commercial areas and improve safety for cars, trucks, bicyclists and pedestrians, Ms. Morandini said.

Munhall will get $781,698 to restore sidewalks, curbs and crosswalks that are deteriorating and to construct new sidewalks, curbs and handicap ramps along Main Street, Charles Street, Charles Street Extension and Lea Street.

Fayette County's Redevelopment Authority will receive $1.9 million to improve the Route 381 corridor through Ohiopyle State Park and borough.

Blairsville in Indiana County will get $3.1 million to make infrastructure improvements, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements, to Blairsville Diamond Square and Market Street.

PennDOT received more than 400 applications from cities, boroughs, townships, metropolitan and rural planning organizations, transit agencies and advocacy groups, requesting more than $600 million.

The winning projects included planning and construction projects that focus on downtown revitalization, local street connections, multi-use trails, traffic calming and transit-oriented development studies, among others, state Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler said.