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BELLEFONTE -- Bellefonte Borough Council addressed several urban planning affairs at its meeting this week.
This included the construction of a new traffic light, new composting facility policies and spring brush and leaf collection.
After yet another motor-vehicle accident at the intersection of Parkview Boulevard and Zion Road (state Route 550), on Monday night Councilwoman Rita Purnell requested an update on the progress of the ongoing traffic light construction project there.
In 2022, after public comment about the dangers of the intersection and several injury-causing motor-vehicle crashes, council approved asking PennDOT to conduct a traffic study to see if a traffic light was warranted.
After surveying the intersection's traffic patterns, PennDOT determined construction of a traffic light was justified, and since, the project has been in the design stage.
"The project is nearing the end of the design phase and should be submitted to PennDOT as a preliminary submission next week," said Borough Manager Ralph Stewart
Once PennDOT approves the preliminary submission, the borough will submit a package for contractors to bid on. Stewart was unable to provide a timeline on how long the rest of the process will take.
"The good news is we already have a turning lane there, and it's a relatively simple intersection to install a traffic light or traffic signal," said Stewart. However, the project is complicated by the Bellefonte Area School District's planned construction of a new elementary school on Airport Road, which will require its own traffic light.
"We know we're going to have two lights close by, and typically these lights talk to each other with electronics. We're just making sure everything is compatible," said Stewart.
Councilwoman Joanne Tosti-Vasey asked for clarification about whether compatibility considerations with the school district's traffic signal project would delay construction or if the projects would continue to operate on separate timelines.
Stewart assured there is no reason the lights would need to be installed simultaneously, meaning the borough's project can begin immediately once bidding is finalized.
On Saturday, April 6, the Borough of Bellefonte's Composting Facility at 264 Musser Lane will offer demonstrations of the facility's new compost bagging machine.
Borough residents may visit anytime between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to see the equipment in operation and learn how the borough generates compost from its residents. Visitors will receive a free 35-pound bag of compost to take home with them.
From April 6 through Nov. 23, the compost facility will be open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
During the meeting, council members weighed in on compost distribution policies. The council resolved that bags of compost will be available for purchase at $5 per bag, however, residents who wish to load un-bagged compost into their vehicles may continue to do so for free as they have in the past.
Council shared that brush container pick up will commence for the season again today. Residents may set their brush and grass containers at the curbside on Wednesdays for collection. The council shared the spring leaf collection dates are yet to be determined. Leaf collection will take place over the period of one week with pickup planned on residents normal trash collection day. It was also announced that shade trees will be delivered to the borough on April 10 and planted in town on April 12.