Tamaqua borough plans to partner with the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad to apply for grants that would help make roadways and railroad crossings safer.

Council received a letter about the grant program from railroad official Matthew Johnson.

“The Northern Railroad is writing you to inform you of an important grant fund opportunity to improve the safety of the roadways and our railroad grade crossings in the community,” he wrote.

Council member Ritchie Linkhorst will chair a committee to work with the railroad. Mary Linkevich and Jay Hollenbach Jr. will also serve on it.

“Basically what this is is federal money for the crossings and things to do with the crossings,” Connely said. “Anything that we can get put into that such as sidewalks, under crossings of water lines and sewer lines.”

The deadline to apply for the funds is Oct. 4.

In an unrelated matter, borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said Tamaqua will likely receive $126,979 in Community Development Block Grant funding this year.

At a public hearing held in June, council suggested the monies be used for paving Clay Street between Nescopec and Pitt streets, and Cedar Street between Center and Greenwood streets. He estimated costs for those projects to total $75,540. In addition, the borough needs to set aside 18% - or $22,856 - for administrative costs.

The remaining $28,583 will be earmarked for demolition projects.

Council approved a resolution for the grant budgeting plans. It will need approval from both Schuylkill County and the state.

“At the earliest, you’re looking at 2024 until this happens,” Steigerwalt said of when the paving projects might get underway.