First Friday and other downtown events in the City of Williamsport next year may be even more secure as the city administration under Mayor Derek Slaughter seeks a grant to pay for an estimated $300,000 in permanent bollards that will cover this and other outdoor events’ footprints.

These bollards have the capacity to stop moving vehicles and add a measure of security to prevent injury and death as has been seen across the world with vehicles driving into crowds. To obtain the bollards, the city is seeking $290,403 in Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Multimodal Transportation Funds (MTF) for the Williamsport 4th Street Bollard Project.

The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth, said Melanie Shutt, city grants administrator.

The project will install 150 retractable bollards downtown, allowing the city to close an approximately 0.25-mile stretch of Fourth Street for downtown events, she noted.

The permanent bollards are a versatile and effective solution to perimeter security, Shutt said.

Currently, the city closes off a portion of the downtown for events with water barricades. Barricades are necessary for the safety of eventgoers but these barriers are very costly for the city as set up takes three full days. They also provide a significant concern for lack of vehicular access during emergencies. Retractable bollards will address both of these issues, she said.

Council is especially grateful for the grant application and hoping the city is awarded it. Scott Livermore, director of Streets and Parks, said it will lessen the cost of the installation and time and effort it takes to put these barriers into place.

The events will continue with the existing measures in place, up and until, the notice of the grant award is received and the bollards can be ordered and installed.