Solebury Township is preparing to plug into the electric car era by applying for a federal grant to build four public charging stations on township-owned land at the Route 202 site of a former flea market near Logan Square.
The board of supervisors on Tuesday, unanimously agreed to be one of the partners in the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s (DVRPC) $500,000 grant request.
Solebury’s match could reach $25,000 to $50,000 to install the four charging stations, Chair Mark Baum Baicker said.
Users would be required to pay for the electricity via credit card.
The DVRPC is seeking more partners to reduce the match, including PECO, he added.
The grant award would be announced in September and construction would be completed by 2028-2030.
To participate in the group grant application a notice of intent to participate has to be submitted by May 15 and the board voted to do so.
Solebury opted for a Level 2 charging station, which uses a 240-volt outlet, like those used by ovens and clothes dryers and takes 2.5 to 4.5 hours to charge.
A Level 2 charger averages 32 miles of driving range per hour of charge, according to bchydro.com, while a Level 1 charger gets 4 miles of driving range per hour of charge and takes 30 to 40 hours to charge.
The two charging stations at the township building for municipal use are Level 2, said Michele Blood, assistant township manager.
In other matters, the board said the township would discuss funding solutions with the Fox Run Home Owners Association to pay for installing triggered flashing lights at the Route 202 and Silver Tail Lane intersection. The flashing lights would activate only when a vehicle approaches from Silver Tail.
The township recently discovered the new PennDOT requirement would cost the township $74,000 plus annual maintenance costs.
In preparation for updating the township’s Comprehensive Plan, which happens every 10 years, the board authorized plans to form a Comprehensive Plan Committee to consist of members from six committees: Planning Commission, Historical Architectural Review Board, Advisory Environmental Council, Park and Recreation Board, Land Preservation Committee and Farm Committee; three at-large members and two board of supervisors liaisons.
Baum Baicker also presented Township Manager Christopher Garges with an engraved plaque for being “the first Solebury manager known to have completed the Boston Marathon” –which he did this April.
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