Lehighton has applied for Local Share Assessment funds for Phase II of the Waterfront Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Improvement Project and authorizing signatures.

Borough Council approved the Statewide LSA Funding commitment letter in the amount of $34,765.

Last month, council chose Concept B, which calls for a decorative brick paver for the crosswalks at Route 209 and Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, along with the road surface to designate turning lanes.

Beckett said the life span for the pavers and surfacing can be expected to last 10 to 20 years.

She said this application is more costly, so the borough will not be able to complete the entire length of the left lane. Paint would be used at the southern end.

Beckett said this concept includes the pedestrian beacon lights, speed indicators and additional trees.

She was previously authorized in January to submit the application for traffic signal approval for the flashing beacon along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

Beckett also discussed the potential removal of the directional sign after receiving a report that the signs are deteriorating.

The new plan includes a walking path along Lehigh Drive; pedestrian beacon lights; instead of bump-outs, there would be a textured surface in the turning lane similar to a rumble strip; decorative crosswalks; and solar power speed monitors to tell motorists their actual speed.

The work along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and Lehigh Drive would include a 6-foot-wide walkway, crosswalks, curb extensions, ADA ramps and signs.

The continuous left-turn lane along the boulevard would be removed.

Beckett said council did not commit any matches to these grants or the projects at this point. The borough has received a total of $480,000; $250,000 through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program that was received in December, and $230,000 from Local Share funds that were awarded in 2020.

“With that, we can anticipate the project and engineering to cost $480,000, unless council were to allocate match funding. Until design is complete and the project is bid, we will not know the funding needs,” she said.

That project stems from a waterfront traffic study in 2020.