Mt. Lebanon and Dormont will receive $50,000 for a Safety Action Plan to improve active modes of transportation in the two communities. County Executive Sara Innamorato, joined by other county and local officials, announced the grant this morning during a press conference at Clocktower Plaza, on Washington Road, just above the Mt. Lebanon light rail transit station.
“These investments ensure that communities across Allegheny County have the resources to improve transportation infrastructure and encourage active lifestyles,” said Innamorato. “We are grateful to our municipal partners for supporting these transformative initiatives.”
Mt. Lebanon and Dormont began working on a joint Active Transportation Plan in 2024, first seeking proposals from consultants. At the end of 2024, the municipality selected Tool Design Inc. to conduct the plan.
“This idea was really built out of a lot of neighborhood recommendations and suggestions for ways to improve mobility throughout the community,” said Mt. Lebanon Assistant Manager Ian McMeans.
The plan will address street design, sidewalk improvements and mobility options. “It’s really about finding ways to accommodate how people want to get about the community and making that possible and accessible for everyone,” explained McMeans.
He said Mt. Lebanon and Dormont are working together on shared mobility goals, since the communities have shared borders, similar topography and a connected street grid network.
Innamorato commended Mt. Lebanon and Dormont for their collaboration and said the grant was created to help communities grow and foster better connections between neighbors. The Active Transportation Plan will help create safe multimodal routes and she called it a “shining example” of how Mt. Lebanon is leading the way.
McMeans explained the plan will not enact immediate changes on major roadways or neighborhood streets but will provide a buffet of options for reimagining street designs.
“If a resident comes to us and they live on a street and they say, ‘I would like some kind of traffic calming with my street,’ then we can say, ‘Okay. The Active Transportation Plan has these seven or eight options to consider,’” said McMeans. Those options could include speed bumps, new chicane patterns, bump outs, protected bike lanes and veneers.
“People love the mobility options that are available in Mt. Lebanon, and they want more of them. So, we feel like it’s incumbent upon us to respond to what our residents are telling us that they want,” said McMeans. “We’re very hopeful that the Active Transportation Plan can get us there.”
Commissioner Andrew Flynn spoke at the press conference, highlighting the need for mobility improvements and safer streets for Mt. Lebanon. “This is about building safe, better connections for people. Whether you are walking, biking, taking transit or using a wheelchair or stroller,” Flynn said. “Let’s build something great together, one step at a time.”
To hear more about the Active Transportation Plan and Active Allegheny Grant, listen to our new episode of Inside Lebo [1].