The potential installation of a proposed traffic signal near the new Lehighton school remains unresolved.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Monday agreed not to take any action on the proposed signal at Ninth and Bridge streets until the borough hears back from the district on a memorandum of understanding.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said the borough received an email from the state Department of Transportation on May 12 concerning revised concepts for both the Ninth and Bridge and Ninth and Union streets.Under the revised layout, the two spaces in front of Blocker Enterprises Inc., at 497 S. Ninth St, would be eliminated, however, the parking to the north would be preserved, Beckett said.However, the school district has not gotten back to the borough, Beckett said.It was stated at February's council meeting that the borough and district should consider a memorandum of understanding and escrow for traffic signal maintenance.Beckett said at last month's council meeting that borough officials met with PennDOT earlier in the day over the proposed traffic signal.She said PennDOT wanted to see a revised plan on a proposed traffic signal near the new school, and planned to ask the district to revise the plan on South Ninth Street in an attempt to create additional parking from the original design.Beckett said the borough is working with the district to continue moving forward with the project while representing the concerns of the business owners and residents.She said they discussed evaluating additional parking on Bridge Street, and that with the new signal and crosswalks, the intersection will be improved for safety to pedestrians.In March, council authorized Beckett to meet with PennDOT officials to review the details of the proposed traffic signal.A pair of business owners told council at that time they don't want to lose their parking spaces as a result of the proposed traffic signal.Beckett said she had spoken with PennDOT, which stated at that time the design in place was the safest.Based on the requests from the property owners, the school district had requested providing a shadow transition area instead of the southbound left-hand turning lane, Beckett said.However, PennDOT stated it is not in a position to eliminate the southbound left-turn lane, but are willing to look at a reduced storage lane.The proposed design, with the southbound left-hand turning lane, is the safest, according to PennDOT.There was a suggestion to consider replacing parking on the 1000 block of Bridge Street, said Beckett, who added the intersection would have signals, therefore creating a safe pedestrian crossing at Ninth and Bridge.School district officials have approved $33 million for the construction of a K-5 elementary center on the district's main campus.The district would be responsible for the construction of the traffic light and cost of construction, while the borough would be responsible for the maintenance of the light and take ownership once constructed.The four corners of the intersection would be handicapped accessible, officials said.In January, council agreed to have its solicitor, Jim Nanovic, draft an ordinance for a "right-turn only" restriction on Ninth Street from Union Street to improve safety at an intersection used by students to leave the high school campus.But Beckett said the ordinance has been put on hold.Borough Police Chief Brian Biechy said some form of traffic control is needed.Beckett said delineators have been installed to direct traffic to the right, along with signs posted for right turns only.There is only one exit from the district due to construction of the new elementary center, creating even more of a concern, she said.