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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Multi-Modal Transportation Fund is providing $830,000 for a project on 15th Street in the city of Allentown.
The funds will pay for installation of a new traffic signal at 15th and Highland Street and upgrading two existing traffic signals along 15th Street at Sumner Avenue and Roth Avenue and tying in with the city’s traffic adaptive system. A new pedestrian crossing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) will be installed in front of Trexler Middle School at 15th and Greenleaf Street.
The city is required to provide a $250,000 match for a total estimated project cost of $1,080,750.
The 15th Street work is among 43 highway, bridge, rail, and bike and pedestrian projects in 21 counties totally $45.9 million that were announced Friday by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
“Transportation moves communities and economies forward,” Governor Wolf said. “These investments will assist with overall mobility and safety in our local communities.”
“This will be a tremendous safety improvement to a key stretch of 15th Street for the motoring public and for students walking to school,” said Mayor Ray O’Connell.
The new traffic signal at 15th and Highland was recommended in a November 2019 PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) study.
“The signals at the existing lights run pre-timed programs. There is no communication between the intersections to provide coordination,” O’Connell said. “All the intersections do not have ADA compliant curb ramps and there are no pedestrian signals at the signalized intersections.”
The city has identified the following improvements: • Connection of the project intersections to the centralized system, including traffic signal controller upgrades: • Installation of video detection • Full Modernization at the intersections including mast arms, signal heads, and pedestrian upgrades including ADA ramps.
The installation of video detection at the intersections will provide for an improved intersection operation, while allowing for remote monitoring. This will allow for improved management of the existing traffic signal system. The full modernization of the intersections will provide an improved intersection operation for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Final design of the project is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year.
The installation and revisions to the traffic signals will require PennDOT approval.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
