The prospective installation of a proposed traffic signal near the new Lehighton school has inched its way closer to reality.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council at a special meeting Monday approved a memorandum of understanding between the borough and the school district. Councilman Joe Flickinger was absent.The memorandum establishes the terms and conditions under which the traffic signal will be constructed and maintained at the intersection of Ninth and Bridge streets. The four corners of the intersection would be handicapped accessible, officials said.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.Also as part of the memorandum, the district will put $10,000 in an escrow account, and once the account is exhausted, the borough would be responsible for any future maintenance costs.Before council's vote, Kim DePue, owner of Kim DePue Insurance Agency at 499 S. Ninth St., said he was there to express his "objection to the light."DePue wondered how the state Department of Transportation "can be so powerful" with what it wants to do."I was down on that corner before it was (ever) a state road," DePue said. "I was there longer than it was a state road."DePue added, "I think you and I know what they've proposed isn't going to work."He then thanked council for their efforts, but noted it will affect his business and will create a hardship.Councilman Scott Rehrig said he understood, but added, "I think the bottom line is it will be a safer, more controlled intersection."Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said at last month's meeting that the borough received an email from PennDOT 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.Beckett 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 worked 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 didn't want to lose their parking spaces as a result of the proposed traffic signal.Beckett said she had spoken with PennDOT officials, who stated at that time the design in place was the safest.Based on the requests from the property owners, the district had requested providing a shadow transition area instead of the southbound left-hand turning lane, Beckett said.However, PennDOT said it is not in a position to eliminate the southbound left-turn lane, but is 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.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.The ordinance has been put on hold.There is only one exit from the district due to construction of the new elementary center, creating even more of a concern, she said.