Lehighton applies for additional funding for waterfront project

Lehighton has applied for additional funding to complete a project that would greatly change Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

Borough council recently agreed to apply for both PennDOT Multimodal funding and Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal funding.

Council’s decision came per the recommendation of borough Manager Nicole Beckett, with regard to the waterfront pedestrian safety and traffic calming project.

Beckett noted that the borough recently received a $230,000 award of the Local Share Grant for the project.

She said the total project estimate is over $850,000, which includes a pedestrian walking path along Lehigh Drive, ADA improvements, pedestrian beacon lights, two additional crosswalks, stormwater improvements and concrete bump outs in the left lane in order to create a designated turning lane for each driveway or street.

After the meeting, Beckett noted that the borough has two options depending on funding and scope of work.

She said the short-term recommendation from the study is to use paint and signs to accomplish the curb extensions. The left lane would have painted restricted areas.

Further, the study states that eliminating the full-length left turn lane (from Bankway to North First) should eliminate the majority of accidents that are presently occurring with the current two lanes. The painted restricted areas have the potential to reduce speed by up to 5 mph.

Beckett said the long-term recommendation is to formalize curb extensions with landscaped curbed extensions.

“There have been no formal decisions at this time on which option council will decide,” she said. “They will continue to evaluate the project and seek grant funding to accomplish the improvements while keeping pedestrian safety and future growth in mind.”

Last month, state Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne/Carbon, and state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, announced that eight Carbon County projects will receive $710,000 in state grants through the Monroe County Local Share Account.

Beckett at that time discussed how the borough would use the $230,000 Local Share Grant.

“We will utilize these funds to improve overall safety on this roadway for drivers, pedestrians, residents and visitors,” she previously said. “We believe Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard is no longer just a bypass, but has become a vital connection of the Lehigh River, D&L Trail and numerous businesses to our downtown.”

In September, council adopted a resolution requesting $818,921 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority-Local Share Account Grant.

In July, the Carbon County Planning Commission outlined its support letter for a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application for the creation of safe pedestrian connections and calm motorist traffic along the bypass.

Beckett previously said the project will be designed and bid out this year.

The project stems from a waterfront traffic study that was completed last year at the recommendation of council for the existing conditions, and to prepare for future growth.