Hellertown Gets Grant for Pedestrian Signal Upgrades, More

Est. Read Time: 2 mins

A crosswalk with a pedestrian signal at the intersection of Main and Water streets in downtown Hellertown (FILE PHOTO)

State Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D-18) announced Monday that $126,173 in Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) funding has been awarded to the Borough of Hellertown to help improve public safety along Rt. 412 (Main Street) by upgrading pedestrian signals, push buttons and controller equipment and adding new pavement markings.

Statewide, $11.5 million in grants is being distributed to 41 municipalities.

“Any project that improves safety and enhances mobility is eligible for ARLE funding”, Boscola said in a news release. “I am thrilled when state funding finds its way to our communities to help make the Lehigh Valley a safer and better place to live and work.”

Statewide, municipalities submitted nearly 150 applications, totaling over $34 million, the news release indicated.

Projects were chosen according to criteria including project benefits and effectiveness, cost, local and regional impact and cost sharing.

The ARLE Funding Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Maintenance and Operations.

Currently the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the City of Philadelphia’s system administrator [as outlined in 75 Pa.C.S. §3116(h)], provides the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation with quarterly deposits of revenue generated by automated red light enforcement violations into a restricted Motor License Fund account as indicated in 75 Pa.C.S. §3116(l)(2).

Borough officials have said they plan to replace the current pedestrian signals with countdown signals that give pedestrians a better idea of how much time they have to walk across the street.

The borough has been the recipient of several pedestrian safety grants over the last two months.

In December local officials accepted a $200,000 grant that will be used to help fund improvements at Main Street and Thomas Avenue; improvements that will include the installation of a rapid flashing beacon system and decorative crosswalks, Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements and the installation of curbing and a bus shelter.

And last month, it received $160,000 for the installation of various improvements at the Thomas Avenue intersection as well as at Main Street and Hampton Avenue.