Two Centre Region Township’s will receive nearly $450,000 in state funding for traffic safety improvement projects, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced on Monday.
College and Harris townships are among 35 municipalities awarded about $39 million from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement funding program. The program distributes funds supplied by fines collected from red light violations at 34 automated enforcement intersections in Philadelphia.
State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, applauded the local funding for initiatives on what he called “two of the most important and well-traveled thoroughfares in our region.”
Harris Township will receive $298,349 to designate, design and install a bike and pedestrian crossing point on Boal Avenue near the Pennsylvania Military Museum entrance and Old Boalsburg Road intersection, according to PennDOT.
“…[T]he grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum and the Boal Mansion, Boal City Brewing and other residential and commercial areas in Boalsburg have witnessed a tremendous increase in both special event and regular, daily usage,” state Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, said in a statement. The ability of pedestrians and bicyclists to more safely navigate this intersection across Boal Avenue will be a tremendous and much-needed improvement for our community.”
College Township was awarded $146,320 for traffic signal upgrades on the Route 26 corridor. Those will include advanced radar units for detecting approaching vehicles; new signal heads with reflective back plates; louver systems for precisely aiming signals at intended traffic; and split phasing for right-of-way sequencing or a new pavement marking alignment at the Route 26 and U.S. 322 ramps.
“The Route 26 and 322 interchange sees some of the highest volume of traffic in our region and the enhanced visibility and signage funded by this grant will be a huge benefit for both local residents as well as those visiting State College and Penn State,” Takac said.
ARLE program funds can be used for projects to improve safety, enhance mobility or reduce congestion. Since 2010, the program has awarded $141.15 million to 576 projects statewide.
“This program helps communities across the state make important investments in traffic flow and safety,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a statement. “These improvements complement the many road, bridge, and multimodal projects happening in Pennsylvania, and are in line with the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to invest in Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and help keep communities connected safely to opportunity and each other.”
