A traffic signal plan required for a proposed convenience store in Hometown is moving forward.

On Thursday, Rush Township supervisors authorized Chairman Shawn Gilbert to sign documents for the signal at the intersection of Route 309 and Tide Road.

“Before a question comes from the audience, it’s the Wawa stuff,” Supervisor Robert Leibensperger said, referring to the 55,000-square-foot convenience store that will be built at 347 Claremont Ave. (Route 309).

He noted that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Wawa are working on the signal plan together.

The plan includes changes required by PennDOT.

“Because they have a grant that’s attached to that intersection,” Leibensperger explained.

A $500,000 grant from the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund was awarded to Provco Pinegood Tamaqua, the Wawa developer, to widen Claremont Avenue.

The grant will allow separate left and right turn lanes onto Tide Road to reduce traffic congestion and make the area safer for motorists and pedestrians.

Township engineer William McMullen said the plan includes changes to a right turn lane, mast arms, ramps and easement documents, as well as a lot more.

The Wawa convenience store will have six fueling stations and is across from the Hometown Commons, which includes a Walmart, Taco Bell, Dollar Tree and other stores.