McCandless gets $1 million in state funds for traffic light upgrades, celebrates opening of new sidewalk

PennDOT has awarded McCandless Township more than $1 million in Green Light-Go grants to help upgrade traffic lights.

The awards were among more than $35 million given to 77 municipalities statewide, according to an announcement by Gov. Tom Shapiro on Aug. 11.

McCandless received:

• $306,222 for updated signal equipment at Peebles Road and Duncan Avenue;

• $227,016 for updated signal equipment at Perry Highway and 19 North Drive;

• $217,696 for updated signal equipment at Peebles Road and Remington Drive;

• $227,314 for updated signal equipment at Thompson Run Road and Red Coach Road;

• $350,532 for updated signal equipment at Peebles Road and McIntyre Square;

• $275,404 for updated signal equipment at Ingomar Road and Blazier Drive.

“These grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities for updates to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals,” said Michael Tarle, president of McCandless Town Council. “The town received a significant amount of money.”

He thanked State Sen. Lindsay Williams, D-West View, and State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless, for assisting in the grant process and said the funds will be “used well.”

The Green Light-Go program supports traffic signal upgrades and increasing community safety and mobility.

These projects will be financed through the 2023-2024 state budget, according to Shapiro’s announcement.

McCandless also conducted a ribbon cutting on Aug. 8 to celebrate the completion of its Perry Highway Sidewalk Project, a new 550-foot sidewalk connector. McCandless Councilman Jack Casey, Tarle, township residents and Williams attended the event.

This project was funded by a $406,048 state Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Program grant that McCandless received in 2019.

The project connects neighborhoods to North Allegheny High School and the businesses in the Wexford Flats and will offer a walkable connection to the 46-mile Rachel Carson Trail, said Casey, in an online Aug. 11 post.

“This sidewalk connection will allow for a walkable option to Vestal Park and opens the Town to the future possibility of a connection to the Ingomar section of town, Wall Park, and Potter Pond,” said Casey, who represents Ward 2, where these sidewalks are located.