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Borough plans for riverside bicycle path

By Derek Danneker 2 min read

The Montoursville Borough Council voted to spend $444,830 in grant money to widen Mill Street, Monday.

"It will widen to have a bike lane all the way down to the river," said Eric Greenway, council member.

Mill Street extends from Broad Street on the borough's side of the green bridge and wraps behind the Williamsport Regional Airport.

The multi-modal grant, received in 2017, will be spent with Hammaker East LTD, who was the lowest bidder.

In other business, the borough council voted to spend up to $8,000 on a traffic study to ensure a safe crossing of Loyalsock Avenue into Indian Park.

The study will determine if a simple crosswalk, stop sign or traffic lights would be the best method, said Chris Lucas, board member, who added that a study must be completed if any physical work is to be done.

In this way, the borough will not be held libel in the event of an accident.

"Really, the goal for me is to provide safe access and egress to and from our park for our kids, any joggers or anyone," he said.

Neither of the main entrances have a safe access point, he said.

"The study would tell us exactly what we need, its not going to put a crosswalk in but it may be as simple as that," he said.

Although the avenue is patrolled by police who conduct speed traps, people still drive at excessive speeds, Lucas said.

Gas extraction taxes, community development block grants or excess money from other projects could be used to fund both the study and the project as a whole, he added.

Without any invitation to cross Loyalsock Avenue, people are only liable to themselves if they are hit by a vehicle, however if the study is completed and the council realizes the project is too expensive, then the idea could be dropped, said Lucas.

In new business, the council:

• Sold a Saltdogg hydraulic conveyor chain spreader for $500.

• Sold a 2013 Dodge Charger for $5,810.

• Purchased a 2020 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicle for $30,600 through New Holland Auto Group and police vehicle components and installation through Keystone Communications for $5,426.

• Appointed James Vanik to the Civil Service Commission member position.

All members were present.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 6 in the John Dorin Municipal Building, 617 N. Loyalsock Ave.

Starting at /week.