Allentown eyes millions in grants for traffic, pedestrian upgrades

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown officials hope to land almost $4 million in state funding to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.

City Council on Wednesday authorized Mayor Matt Tuerk to submit three million-dollar grant applications and two smaller requests for financial support.

The administration is asking the state Transportation Department for $1 million to fund pedestrian safety improvements at Hamilton Street's intersections with 12th, 13th and 14th streets.

Tuerk and his officials also are seeking a million-dollar "Green Light Go" state Transportation Department grant that would help replace aging and potentially dangerous traffic signals at 19th and Roth streets.

Meanwhile, a million-dollar grant from the state Community and Economic Development department could pave the way for a wider road and new traffic signals on both Lehigh and Union streets.

Two further grant applications could net Allentown $500,000 for vehicular and pedestrian upgrades at Hanover Avenue and Linden Street and $300,000 to buy a new truck, trailer and "paint eradicator" to maintain crosswalks throughout the city, according to the resolutions council passed Wednesday.

The administration is set to also apply for $1 million in state funding to support a 1.2-mile extension of the Martin Luther King Drive trail.

That project would close a "critical gap" between the MLK trail and Little Lehigh Parkway Path , creating an eight-mile network, according to city officials.

It's set to cost about $2.3 million to complete, with city officials hopeful of banking a seven-figure check after winning a $250,000 grant.