2 Westmoreland municipalities awarded funding to improve intersections

Hempfield and Sewickley townships are receiving funds as part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Automated Red Light Enforcement funding, money that will go toward 50 safety projects across the state.

The $15.4 million project impacts 38 municipalities across the state, aimed at improving safety at intersections by upgrading traffic signals and speed warning devices.

In Westmoreland County, Hempfield is receiving $70,000, which will upgrade speed warning devices in school zones. Sewickley was awarded $53,000 to improve safety at Yough Senior High School by installing speed limit signs with flashing lights.

“This program helps communities across the state make investments in traffic flow and safety,” Wolf said in a release. “These improvements complement the many road, bridge, and multi-modal projects happening in Pennsylvania.”

In Allegheny County, seven municipalities received funds including Churchill Borough ($107,000), Pittsburgh ($165,000), McKeesport ($344,000), Mt. Lebanon ($268,149), Richland ($164,000), Springdale ($505,500) and Swissvale ($60,000).

Money awarded to those municipalities will be used to improve intersections and increase safety on roads across Allegheny County.

With more than 130 applications, totaling $38 million in requests, an eight-person committee selected winners by weighing cost, local and regional impact, cost sharing and benefits and effectiveness. Funds for the grant are collected from red light violation fines at 30 Philadelphia intersections.

Across the state municipalities in Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Columbia, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Potter, Washington and York counties received funds from the project.

Started in 2010, the project has provided almost $78.5 million to municipalities, and funding over 415 projects.