Over the past several years, Export officials have been undertaking projects aimed at revitalizing the 110-year-old borough. They range from Eagle Scout flower planters to the relocation of the borough veterans’ memorial to the nearly complete construction on a replica of the old Export train station, built by Kacin Companies in Murrysville.

Now, they are working with a Monroeville architect to bring everything together.

“A few months ago, council approved a contract with Lisa Intrieri from Design 3 Architecture, the same group that helped design the veterans’ memorial,” Councilwoman Melanie Litz said. “So, we pulled her in to help coordinate the downtown area, particularly parking.”

Litz said the goal is to “give us an overall, coordinated, central community gathering space.”

The plan, dubbed “Heritage Square,” would define vehicular, bus and bicycle traffic within Export through newly designed crosswalks, bike lanes and parking areas.

“We’re looking to connect these different features they’ve been working so hard to create the past few years,” Intrieri said. “They’re all kinds of little islands. This project is trying to unify all that with paved parking lots, a more defined entry to the bike trail and some green areas in there as well.”

Intrieri also helped the borough apply for a state Department of Conservation and Economic Development grant for up to $2.6 million to help fund the project. The borough committed $45,000 in matching funds, Litz said.

“Obviously, there’s a great need for parking and cohesion downtown,” she said. “So, instead of piecemealing it like we’ve been doing, we knew we needed an overall plan.”

Recipients of the DCED multi-modal transportation grant will be announced in November. Litz said borough officials plan to spend that time seeking additional support for the plan.

“The Department of Planning and Development in Westmoreland County noted this aligns with the county’s comprehensive plan, as well as Re-Imagining Our Westmoreland,” she said. “We’ve gotten support from state Rep. Bob Brooks and state Sen. Joe Pittman. They like it, too.”

Litz said she’s grateful for the work Intrieri has done so far.

“Lisa was able to not only have the design completed, but also complete the grant application on our behalf,” she said. “That was a major job, since we only gave her about a month and a half to do it.”

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