LEWISTOWN — State funding aimed at improving traffic safety and accessibility is headed to Lewistown, with more than $380,000 approved for upgrades at one of the borough’s key intersections.

Sen. Judy Ward, R-30, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-171, announced that Mifflin County will receive $383,536 through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement grant program. The funding will upgrade the intersection of Walnut Street and Spring Street to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act and PennDOT standards.

According to the announcement, the project is intended to improve safety and accessibility for drivers, pedestrians, and people with disabilities by bringing the intersection into compliance with modern transportation requirements.

Ward said the investment will make Lewistown’s roads safer and more accessible for all users. She said she was pleased to see Mifflin County benefit from the program and looks forward to seeing the improvements completed.

Benninghoff said the project was easy to support because of the number of side and rear-end accidents that have occurred at the intersection due to a malfunctioning traffic light. He said borough officials brought the issue to his attention, and he was willing to write a letter in support of the grant request.

The funding comes through PennDOT’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement program, which supports projects that enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce congestion at signalized intersections across Pennsylvania. The program is designed to help communities address traffic safety concerns through targeted infrastructure improvements.

Funding for the ARLE program is generated through fines collected from red-light violations in Philadelphia. Those funds are then reinvested statewide in traffic safety projects, allowing municipalities outside Philadelphia to benefit from the enforcement program.

Lewistown Borough will use the grant to upgrade the Walnut Street and Spring Street intersection to current ADA standards, which include features that improve accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges or visual impairments. The project will also bring the intersection into compliance with PennDOT standards governing traffic signals and intersection design.

The announcement did not include a project timeline or specific construction details. It also did not outline the exact improvements planned beyond upgrading the intersection to meet current requirements.

State transportation officials have increasingly used ARLE funding to address safety issues at intersections with documented crash concerns. By reinvesting enforcement revenue into infrastructure upgrades, the program aims to reduce accidents while improving traffic flow and accessibility.

Here, borough officials identified safety concerns at the Walnut Street and Spring Street intersection and pursued state funding to address them. Benninghoff said the malfunctioning traffic signal contributed to crashes at the intersection, making the project a priority.

The grant reflects a broader effort to modernize aging infrastructure across Pennsylvania communities. Many intersections were built decades ago and no longer meet current safety or accessibility standards, particularly for pedestrians and individuals with disabilities.

Ward and Benninghoff emphasized the importance of making roadway improvements that benefit all users. Upgrading intersections to current standards is intended to reduce crash risks while improving access for people who rely on sidewalks, crosswalks, and signalized crossings.

PennDOT administers the ARLE grant program and works with municipalities to ensure funded projects meet state requirements. Once construction is complete, the Walnut Street and Spring Street upgrades are expected to improve safety and accessibility for residents and visitors traveling through Lewistown.

The ARLE program has become an important source of funding for municipalities seeking to make safety improvements without placing additional burdens on local taxpayers. Because the revenue comes from red light enforcement fines collected in Philadelphia, communities across the state can pursue projects that might otherwise be delayed because of cost.

For Lewistown Borough, the funding provides an opportunity to address long-standing concerns at a busy intersection while ensuring compliance with federal and state accessibility requirements. ADA standards should ensure that public infrastructure is usable by people of all abilities, and updates often involve changes that make intersections safer and easier to navigate.

Signalized intersections play a critical role in traffic safety, particularly in areas where vehicle, pedestrian, and cross traffic intersect. Bringing older intersections into compliance with current standards can reduce confusion, improve visibility, and create more predictable traffic patterns for everyone who uses the roadway system.

Local officials will oversee the project in coordination with PennDOT to ensure the grant is used in accordance with program guidelines and state requirements once work moves forward. No additional funding sources were identified in the announcement released by state officials Monday morning.