After accelerating its roads program by five years in 2020 through the use of low-interest bonds, Jackson Township isn't slowing down in its capital improvements plan.

Among other improvements, the township has outlined in its proposed 2021 budget a traffic light at Northgate Plaza and pedestrian improvements near Scholars Run.

At Northgate, just north of Zelienople, the township hopes a traffic light will improve any traffic issues that may have occurred or may occur in the future due to sporadically planned commercial growth in the area.

Township manager Chris Rearick said Jackson is working with nearby property owners to see how it can implement the signal without wreaking havoc on the traffic patterns, not only along Route 19 but in the parking lots as well.

“The Northgate light project was initially ground in its scope, to result in a safer outcome and much better product whereby we are working to tie together the majority, if not all of the properties, or at least provide those properties with the opportunity of the planned traffic light,” Rearick said. “We're working with private property owners on that (east) side to find mutually beneficial solutions to tie those properties into the light without major disruptions.”

While that creates more work in the present, Rearick believes it will keep some issues from popping up in the future and keep traffic flowing along the state highway.

“The long-term planning is that it is anticipated to be the only traffic light,” he said. “With our ability to provide the opportunity for access, likely among most if not all properties along that corridor, there will likely be no need to add traffic lights in the future.”

Pedestrian improvements

While keeping traffic flowing — and doing so safely — is the goal of the Northgate light project, another, closely related, project aims to keep pedestrians safe and make Northgate more accessible to nearby residents.

The township received in September another grant aimed at constructing a parking area, creating accessible areas and installing play equipment at Reservoir Park. Combined with a grant it received in November 2019 to install the Northgate light and connect residential neighborhood foot traffic to Route 19 retail, Jackson intends to make some big pedestrian moves.

A pedestrian bridge over Scholars Run would be part of that, and Rearick said that improvement would help connect the township with more pedestrian-friendly boroughs.

“It's designed to link together Harmony and Zelienople boroughs' and the township's residential areas with commercial areas, and it's also designed to tie in with the trails on property maintained by Wild Waterways on the east side of Route 19,” he said.