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| − | + | Allentown faces tight deadline to sync stoplights with arena trafficSignals are being installed near new arena that can adjust to vehicle flow.July 30, 2014|By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning CallIt's a 12-month job that traffic engineers said would be done in four.That's what they told the authority overseeing the construction of Allentown's new arena as they discussed plans for a massive upgrade of 35 traffic lights on the way to, around and from the 8,500-seat venue.The upgrades are critical to prevent snarled traffic for the 2,600 additional vehicles expected to descend on Allentown's urban core for events at the PPL Center and other downtown attractions.But in the last two weeks, a month and a half before the arena is set to open, work on those traffic lights has just gotten underway, and permit applications for the project still remain in the hands of the state Department of Transportation, the agency that must authorize upgrades to traffic lights.Despite the delay, Allentown officials say they still expect to have the new lights running in time for the first big events scheduled for the arena."We can start the work," said Craig Messinger, acting director of public works. "We <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Red-Kate-Spade-Handbag>Red Kate Spade Handbag</a> can put up anything we want. We just can't <turn>them on]."Engineers said installation of the lights began late last week.Officials have been under the gun on the installations since they were discussed with the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority in May.Many of Allentown's downtown traffic lights, described by traffic engineers as "bottom of the barrel," were installed in the 1940s and are based on pre-timed settings rather than actual traffic flow, which is expected to spike during arena events. That timing is adjusted every year or so on the dated traffic lights, but little else can be done to accommodate changes in traffic, engineers said.The new signals, at a cost of $1.4 million, will have cameras that can detect vehicles and pedestrians, said John R. Wichner, senior project manager for McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners, which has been hired to make the improvements. Those cameras will allow signal timing to change during busy nights at the arena or revert to programmed timings for more typical traffic, he said.The new signals also will provide feedback to Allentown's Public Works Department so that workers in a traffic management center can make manual changes to signal timing based on conditions."Certainly the biggest concern or the biggest effort is for the 20-30 minute crunch of vehicles leaving after hockey games or concerts," Wichner said. "But now we can control morning peak, lunch rush, afternoon peak and weekends. It's a more sustainable effort."A permit is required for each intersection where lights will be replaced. PennDOT spokesman Ron Young said applications for the permits were filed June 9 and were handed <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Tory-Burch-Flat>Tory Burch Flat</a> back to the city with engineering comments June 25. They were later resubmitted to PennDOT. Usually plans are returned in 30 days or less, Young said.Young confirmed that the city can begin construction before the permits are complete."Their engineering firm is knowledgeable," he said. "We don't anticipate any reason why it wouldn't be done pretty soon."PennDOT has requested the city give the agency the ability to tap into Allentown's traffic light network via a virtual private network, Messinger said. Young said that is a standard request.Wichner said most of the installation work will be done above ground, causing minimal disturbance to traffic. Drivers can expect to see bucket trucks at various intersections. Lanes may be closed for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, but no detours will be necessary, he said.Installation is slated to be completed Aug. 31, Wichner said. That will give engineers seven to 10 days to calibrate the lights based on traffic all in time for the Eagles rock concert that will open the arena Sept. 12, he said.Typically, the project would take 12 months, Wichner said, due to the permit approval process, procurement of equipment and bidding. But much of that has been handled in advance, he said, and installation is in progress."We've really fast-tracked the project, and everything has come together," he said. <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Kate-Spade-Sophie>Kate Spade Bag</a> "It got the attention it needed from public works, PennDOT, all the stakeholders."Jeff Fegley, an owner of Brew Works on Hamilton Street, said the upgrades are sorely needed. Many of the city's downtown traffic problems could have been solved years ago with a more modern traffic light network, he said.The timetable for the installation will be tight, but if anyone can pull it off, it's a Neighborhood Improvement Zone contractor, Fegley said, noting that work on other projects has been completed quickly."If they can't, it should be rebid to someone who can," he said.Twitter @emilyopilo610-820-6522Featured ArticlesMore: | |
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Revision as of 13:54, 1 October 2014
Allentown faces tight deadline to sync stoplights with arena trafficSignals are being installed near new arena that can adjust to vehicle flow.July 30, 2014|By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning CallIt's a 12-month job that traffic engineers said would be done in four.That's what they told the authority overseeing the construction of Allentown's new arena as they discussed plans for a massive upgrade of 35 traffic lights on the way to, around and from the 8,500-seat venue.The upgrades are critical to prevent snarled traffic for the 2,600 additional vehicles expected to descend on Allentown's urban core for events at the PPL Center and other downtown attractions.But in the last two weeks, a month and a half before the arena is set to open, work on those traffic lights has just gotten underway, and permit applications for the project still remain in the hands of the state Department of Transportation, the agency that must authorize upgrades to traffic lights.Despite the delay, Allentown officials say they still expect to have the new lights running in time for the first big events scheduled for the arena."We can start the work," said Craig Messinger, acting director of public works. "We <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Red-Kate-Spade-Handbag>Red Kate Spade Handbag</a> can put up anything we want. We just can't <turn>them on]."Engineers said installation of the lights began late last week.Officials have been under the gun on the installations since they were discussed with the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority in May.Many of Allentown's downtown traffic lights, described by traffic engineers as "bottom of the barrel," were installed in the 1940s and are based on pre-timed settings rather than actual traffic flow, which is expected to spike during arena events. That timing is adjusted every year or so on the dated traffic lights, but little else can be done to accommodate changes in traffic, engineers said.The new signals, at a cost of $1.4 million, will have cameras that can detect vehicles and pedestrians, said John R. Wichner, senior project manager for McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners, which has been hired to make the improvements. Those cameras will allow signal timing to change during busy nights at the arena or revert to programmed timings for more typical traffic, he said.The new signals also will provide feedback to Allentown's Public Works Department so that workers in a traffic management center can make manual changes to signal timing based on conditions."Certainly the biggest concern or the biggest effort is for the 20-30 minute crunch of vehicles leaving after hockey games or concerts," Wichner said. "But now we can control morning peak, lunch rush, afternoon peak and weekends. It's a more sustainable effort."A permit is required for each intersection where lights will be replaced. PennDOT spokesman Ron Young said applications for the permits were filed June 9 and were handed <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Tory-Burch-Flat>Tory Burch Flat</a> back to the city with engineering comments June 25. They were later resubmitted to PennDOT. Usually plans are returned in 30 days or less, Young said.Young confirmed that the city can begin construction before the permits are complete."Their engineering firm is knowledgeable," he said. "We don't anticipate any reason why it wouldn't be done pretty soon."PennDOT has requested the city give the agency the ability to tap into Allentown's traffic light network via a virtual private network, Messinger said. Young said that is a standard request.Wichner said most of the installation work will be done above ground, causing minimal disturbance to traffic. Drivers can expect to see bucket trucks at various intersections. Lanes may be closed for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, but no detours will be necessary, he said.Installation is slated to be completed Aug. 31, Wichner said. That will give engineers seven to 10 days to calibrate the lights based on traffic all in time for the Eagles rock concert that will open the arena Sept. 12, he said.Typically, the project would take 12 months, Wichner said, due to the permit approval process, procurement of equipment and bidding. But much of that has been handled in advance, he said, and installation is in progress."We've really fast-tracked the project, and everything has come together," he said. <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Kate-Spade-Sophie>Kate Spade Bag</a> "It got the attention it needed from public works, PennDOT, all the stakeholders."Jeff Fegley, an owner of Brew Works on Hamilton Street, said the upgrades are sorely needed. Many of the city's downtown traffic problems could have been solved years ago with a more modern traffic light network, he said.The timetable for the installation will be tight, but if anyone can pull it off, it's a Neighborhood Improvement Zone contractor, Fegley said, noting that work on other projects has been completed quickly."If they can't, it should be rebid to someone who can," he said.Twitter @emilyopilo610-820-6522Featured ArticlesMore:
