(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Oscar Portan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photograph-of-traffic-lights-7007930/)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has been awarded a grant of $805,533 to replace and modernize traffic signals at a major intersection in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, the intersection at Fifth Avenue and Dithridge Street. This funding, is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and will support safety upgrades there. The Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Grant Program is where the grant was issued through. This initiative uses revenue generated from red light violation fines to fund road safety enhancements across Pennsylvania. The intersection that is targeted for the project has a history of several crashes over the last five years, which includes a fatal incident in 2020. Safety improvements planned for the intersection include new LED streetlighting and countdown pedestrian signals that are equipped with audible tone indicators. Engineers are also planning to install larger LED traffic light signal heads for better motorist visibility. The project also features the installation of concrete bumpouts that are designed to shorten crosswalk distances for pedestrians while slowing down vehicles as they turn. Pittsburgh officials expect to implement the technology later this year at additional high-risk corridors. The proceeds from traffic fines will also be used to fund further investments in life-saving projects.