Montco Gets More Than $300k From State For Road Safety Projects

Governor Tom Wolf announced Monday that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will distribute nearly $5.5 million in Automated Red Light Enforcement funding to 18 municipalities statewide to fund 23 safety projects, including several in Montgomery and Chester County.

“While having all drivers traveling safely is our ultimate goal, I’m pleased that traffic fines are being reinvested into making our communities safer,” Governor Wolf said in a statement. “This program brings safer travel to every corner of the state.”

As part of the statewide investment, the selection team identified that $200,000 should be used to update the state Transportation Advisory Committee’s 2011 evaluation study on the ARLE program, according to a press release from the governor's office.

Under state law, fines from red light violations at 28 intersections in Philadelphia supply the grant funding. Pennsylvania’s ARLE program aims to improve safety at signalized intersections by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue.

The law specifies that projects improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion can be considered for funding. Municipalities submitted more than 194 applications, totaling approximately $41.5 million.

Projects were selected by an eight-member committee based on criteria such as benefits and effectiveness, cost, local and regional impact, and cost sharing.

This investment brings the total dollars awarded through the ARLE funding program since 2010 to $45.4 million, funding 298 safety projects.

Projects locally include the following:

Chester County

• Schuylkill Township – $188,130 to upgrade and improve the existing traffic signal equipment and to add pedestrian crossing accommodations at the intersection of Route 1036 (Pothouse Road) and Route 1019 (Charlestown Road/West Bridge Street).
• Willistown Township – $180,000 to install fiber optics at an existing signal system from Old Lincoln Highway to Plank Avenue and to connect traffic signals along the Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) corridor at the intersections of Lancaster & Central Avenue, Lancaster & West Central Avenue, Lancaster Avenue & Moreland Road/King Road and Lancaster Avenue & South Cedar Hollow Road to the PennDOT Traffic Management Center (TMC).

Montgomery County

• Abington Township – $264,400 to improve safety at the intersection of Route 2027 (Mt. Carmel Avenue) & North Hills Avenue by installing a channelization island on the northwest corner of the intersection, a bump-out on the southeast corner of the intersection, pavement markings within the intersection, pedestrian crossings with ADA-compliant curb ramps, and new traffic equipment including video detection and overhead street name signs.
• Cheltenham Township – $83,597 to improve pedestrian accommodations by installing ADA ramps, crosswalks and pedestrian signals at the intersection of Glenside Avenue & Rices Mill Road.
• Limerick Township – $15,594 to develop new timing plans consistent with peak school arrival, dismissal and peak commute times at the primary intersection of Route 4013 (Lewis Road) & Spring-Ford High School/Middle School.

Philadelphia County

• $700,000 to establish a program to interconnect existing signal controllers to PennDOT’s Traffic Management Center (TMC).
• $275,000 to establish a program interconnect existing controllers with fiber optic cable so that communications can be established at the field devices.
• $525,000 to establish a program to increase pedestrian safety by improving street lighting while promoting walkability within the commercial and residential corridors of the city.
• $1 million to continue to improve safety by performing 30 to 50 location improvements at known crash locations.
• $300,000 to establish a program to integrate traffic signal controllers into the city’s Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS).