Schlossberg: PennDOT grant will improve safety at Hamilton Blvd./Lincoln Ave. intersection
Rep. Mike Schlossberg January 31, 2024 | 4:32 PM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 31 – A $554,855 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will support a project to modernize the intersection of Hamilton Boulevard (Route 222) and Lincoln Avenue to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety in South Whitehall Township, according to state Rep. Mike Schlossberg.
“Hamilton Boulevard is a critical stretch for residents, business owners, employees and visitors in Lehigh County. Safety through this area has long been a concern for motorists and pedestrians. This particular project is one step in a major effort to make traveling Hamilton Boulevard safer for everyone,” said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh.
“Our local governments have worked cooperatively with PennDOT and each other to set safety goals and to make improvements such as this one. I have supported this and other enhancements on Hamilton Boulevard and I will continue to do so. I look forward to continuing to work with South Whitehall Township and PennDOT on future improvements, fighting to make safety along this stretch a key priority.”
The improvements proposed as part of this grant will include modernization of the existing traffic signals and control unit, upgrading the traffic control system phasing, and installing all new traffic signal infrastructure to accommodate these improvements (i.e., new mast arms, signal heads, poles, junction boxes, and video/radar detection systems). To optimize traffic control phasing, the township will use the grant to integrate this traffic signal into PennDOT’s Intelight Maxview ATMS. This will allow South Whitehall to establish predefined action sets which can be triggered remotely to help mitigate traffic congestions during special events, nearby incidents and peak seasonal hours for the theme park. The township anticipates needing to establish multiple action sets for this intersection. This grant will support the purchase of necessary software and infrastructure for the township to connect to Maxview.
The township will also utilize the grant to address major pedestrian/transit-user safety concerns at this intersection. As part of this scope, existing pedestrian crosswalks will be repainted with new paint and a design to increase visibility. LED pedestrian signals and push buttons will be installed at crosswalks and the median safety island. New ADA curb ramps will be installed at all crosswalk locations and sidewalks will be extended along Hamilton Boulevard to the east of Lincoln Avenue. These sidewalks will include accommodations for new LANTA bus stop landing pads.
The grant was awarded under PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program. Funding for the ARLE program is generated from the net revenue of fines collected through Automated Red Light Enforcement Systems and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems, which are only legal in Philadelphia.