Travelers through Oakmont might be able to get to their destinations faster come 2027.
The borough is beginning a project to update the traffic light system at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard, Allegheny Avenue and Hulton Road.
Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the area has long been a headache for drivers coming through town. He said traffic regularly bottlenecks at the intersection just past the Hulton Bridge with commuters trying to make it home, pass through the borough or avoid Route 28. The growth of companies along Allegheny Avenue has added to the traffic with increased shipments being driven through the area.
“We recognized the traffic issue there,” Fodi said. “We can’t use Windows 95 for something that needs Windows 10 to work.”
He said new traffic signal software will be able to adapt to real-time traffic situations using artificial intelligence and cameras. Fodi said the technology should be able to help avoid backups along each road.
“It adjusts green lights, prioritizes for emergency vehicles and it’s just better for mobility,” Fodi said.
He said the new tech will help the borough follow its green thumb initiatives by decreasing idling time and lowering vehicle emissions.
“Right now, the system works off of sensors and timing,” Fodi said.
The current light system was installed when the Hulton Bridge was built in 2015.
“They’re all interconnected in terms of sequencing,” Fodi said.
There’s no timeline for the project yet. Fodi said the work is still in its infancy and the project is being designed and discussed with PennDOT.
The timeline is dependent on the project being designed, PennDOT’s approval and contracts for the work being put out for bid.
The borough was awarded a little over $195,000 for the project from a Green Light-Go state grant. The grant requires the borough to match just under $49,000.
