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S. Fayette applies for ‘smart’ traffic lights

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South Fayette township applied for an adaptive traffic light system through PennDOT that would replace eight signals along Route 50 and Washington Pike in an attempt to ease traffic congestion.

Manager Ryan Eggleston presented documents at the March 10 board of commissioners’ committee meeting showing the $762,782 project would be halved to $381,391 by way of matching funds through PennDOT’s Green Light-Go program if the organization approves the project.

“We expect to hear back from PennDOT in May on this,” Eggleston said.

Seven of the eight signals are in South Fayette, with the last light on the border of Bridgeville at the intersection of Chartiers Street and Washington Pike by Rite Aid. The signals would use various cameras, sensors and radar to gauge where green and red lights are needed most to keep traffic from becoming congested.

“With the Southern Beltway opening in 2019, volumes (on Route 50) can be expected to increase,” read the letter to PennDOT. It also detailed support from Upper St. Clair Township and Bridgeville Borough, citing shared concerns over traffic congestion at the three-legged intersection of Millers Run Road with I-79.

In other business, the board heard complaints from residents John and Stacy Kosky their request to rezone about 45 percent of their 553-acre plot that’s currently zoned residential hasn’t been taken up by the planning commission quickly enough. The two, who first filed the appeal in 2013, joined over two dozen individuals and businesses that year in filing a lawsuit against the township over allegations that areas designated for future industrial use were arbitrarily reduced in size. The Koskys are seeking to have a major portion of the plot along Cecil-Sturgeon Road to be re-zoned to allow for future residential or mixed-used development, according to documents filed with the township.

Board president Joseph Horowitz said the appeal would likely be voted on March 18 and sent to the planning commission, the first step in allowing rezoning.

Other requests for clarification of zoning were sent by representatives from Southwest Aluminum and the Newbury residential plan.

The board also got a first look at the conditional use plan application for a satellite branch of The Watson Institute, a school serving children with disabilities, that would be built at 214 Hickory Grade Road.

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