PennDOT awards $12.9M for traffic safety projects
Centre, Huntingdon counties among 29 municipalities receiving state funding
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HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded approximately $12.9 million in grants for 33 traffic safety projects across the state, including improvements in Centre and Huntingdon counties.
The funding, announced Thursday, will be distributed to 29 municipalities through PennDOT’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement program.
Huntingdon Borough will receive $93,900 to install rapid-flashing beacons at three pedestrian crossings near Juniata College. The improvements will be made at crossings along 14th, 17th and 19th streets.
In Centre County, State College Borough will receive $400,000 for the study, design and permitting of traffic-calming measures and intersection safety improvements along the Westerly and Easterly parkway corridor, extending from Corl Street to University Drive.
The grants are intended to improve traffic safety, pedestrian access and traffic flow at intersections and along roadways.
Funding for the program comes from fines collected through automated red-light enforcement at intersections in Philadelphia. State law allows the money to be used for projects designed to improve safety, enhance mobility and reduce traffic congestion.
Municipalities submitted 126 applications requesting more than $78 million in funding.
An eight-member committee reviewed the applications and selected projects based on safety benefits, effectiveness, cost and potential local and regional impacts.
Other projects receiving funding include $512,534 for traffic signal modernization at 10 intersections in Carlisle Borough, Cumberland County, and $248,000 for pedestrian crossing improvements in Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
In Harrisburg, the funding will be used to install audible pedestrian warning systems at intersections along Forster, Boas and Commonwealth streets. The project also includes converting an existing pedestrian crossing beacon at Front and Vaughn streets into a fully signalized intersection.
Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, will receive $662,000 to modernize the traffic signal at Front Street and Linglestown Road, while Lower Swatara Township will receive $179,820 for signal upgrades at two intersections along Route 230.
In Philadelphia, three projects totaling $6.5 million will fund intersection modifications, roundabouts and improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit users.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the program provides municipalities with funding for improvements at intersections and other locations where traffic safety concerns have been identified.
The latest awards bring the total funding distributed through the program during Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to more than $87 million for 205 projects, according to PennDOT.