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Governor Edward G. Rendell and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that Point Park University has been awarded a $3.95 million grant from its Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative. The grant, which will support critical upgrades and enhancements to the Wood Street corridor as part of the Academic Village at Point Park University, is the largest of 50 grants awarded throughout the state.

"Point Park University is pleased and grateful for this significant investment in the Academic Village Initiative," said Paul Hennigan, president, Point Park University. "Our local legislators were essential in leveraging the sustainable merits and economic impact of the project. With the support of Governor Rendell and PennDOT, we can move from the planning phase to construction - a key step in realizing our $244 million campus and public enhancement space plan."

The Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative grant will provide funding to upgrade Wood Street, the heart of Point Park University's Downtown Pittsburgh campus. The planned enhancements include milling and resurfacing of Wood Street; installation of accessible sidewalks and curbs; and the addition of distinctive pedestrian-scaled street lighting and new and efficient signaling systems at the intersections with the Boulevard of the Allies and Third Avenue.

Thanks to a $2 million grant from The Heinz Endowments, Point Park hired GAI Consultants, a Homestead-based engineering construction firm, to design the streetscape improvements that will extend from Fort Pitt Boulevard to Third Avenue. Point Park will work with PennDOT to take the project from design to bidding for construction.

For more information about the Academic Village at Point Park University, go to www.pointpark.edu/academicvillage.