Lehighton Borough Council on Monday approved a resolution for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program for Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard reconstruction.

Before the vote, borough Manager Dane DeWire said he applied for $3 million back in the spring from the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program, but the borough won’t hear on that application until later this year.

Since the borough is uncertain if it will receive all, some, or none of that funding, DeWire said it was at the recommendation of Barry Isett & Associates to apply for the same money through the Department of Community and Economic Development MTF Grant program.

DeWire said after the meeting that was “in hopes to stack the funding and/or stack our odds.”

He added that Barry Isett & Associates was hired as the borough’s special project engineer last year for the first time, and that they were reappointed this year.

“Retaining Barry Isett & Associates as a special projects engineer affords the borough up to 50 non-billable hours of grant-writing expertise in return for naming Barry Isett & Associates the project manager, should the project be funded and come to fruition,” DeWire said.

Councilman Steve Hawk and Councilwoman Jordyn Miller were absent.

In November, DeWire applied for a $2 million grant in 2024 for the removal of all concrete roadway constructed in the 1980s between Bankway Street and Lehigh Valley Health Network Pediatrics.

However, DeWire noted at that time the $2 million requested in 2024 through the Department of Community and Economic Development was not granted.

As a result, he said the borough is requesting $3 million from the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program.

DeWire said that typically a 30% match is required, but Barry Isett & Associates was working on a waiver request that if granted, would be at no additional cost to the borough.

He said that to make the application more attractive for the multimodal review team, Barry Isett & Associates has suggested adding bus stops and bicycle accommodations.

The project would consist of removing 3,200 linear feet of deteriorated concrete roadway along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, the installation of new subbase stone, an asphalt base course, an asphalt top course, and new roadway paint.

Additional funding was requested to repair any storm and sanitary sewers that are found in disrepair, as well as sidewalks and curbing that may be damaged. The application was submitted on July 31, 2024.

DeWire note the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard is a heavily traveled section of Route 209, which acts as the gateway between the northern and southern halves of the county.

Along with providing Lehighton and county residents with access to the neighboring municipalities, this stretch of roadway serves as a main thoroughfare for motorists accessing the Lehigh Valley, the Greater Hazleton area, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he said.

In 2023, a Traffic Calming Project geared toward traffic and pedestrian improvements was completed along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

The project included the removal of four sections of turning lane, which were replaced with depressed curbs and decorative brick pavers.

It also consisted of the installation of three ADA-compliant brick paver crosswalks at the intersection of North Main Lane, as well as the installation of a 6-foot wide asphalt path connecting the D & L Trailhead Pavilion to the Lehighton spur closer to the Weissport Bridge.