CRANBERRY TWP — A new traffic light at the junction of Route 19 and Progress Avenue will be funded, at least in part, by a state grant.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced PennDOT awarded $300,000 to Cranberry Township for the “new warranted” signal at the Route 19 intersection as part of a PennDOT traffic-safety grant program.

The grant, through the Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE), is funded by fines from red-light violations at 32 intersections in Philadelphia. In addition to Cranberry, 21 other municipalities received funding for 27 additional safety projects.

Wolf's announcement added that the program is aimed toward improving safety at intersections “by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue,” although there is not currently a traffic signal at that intersection.

Kelly Maurer, the township public works director, said the improvement should add safety at the intersection, which currently is three ways with a curb-cut on the east side of Route 19.

“This is a really important grant, because it is for safety,” she said. “That's what these ARLE grants are for, they are for safety measures.”

The developer working on the eastern side of Route 19 at that location had previously received a $250,000 grant for designing the intersection. Maurer said the township will, along with the developer, work on design and permitting during 2022, with construction likely beginning in 2023.

In total, the project will cost nearly $1 million, Maurer said. Cranberry also plans on putting a left-turn lane on Progress Avenue at the Route 19 intersection.

“This piece does go a long way,” Maurer said. “We will also be utilizing traffic impact fees, which are applicable, for a turn lane on Progress.”