PORT ALLEGANY — ​The Port Allegany Borough Council discussed the Route 6 Betterment Project during the council meeting Monday evening.

The project includes several possible efforts geared toward the improvement of Route 6. Some of the aspects mentioned included a signal study, emergency services preemption, radar approach detection and risers to level off manhole covers.  

Council members voted to move forward with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to begin the process of implementing the improvements.

The signal study is needed to determine if the Route 6/Route 155 intersection at the north end of town needs a stoplight, while the emergency services preemption is a feature within the traffic lights that would allow them to “hear” sirens of emergency vehicles. This would allow the light to maintain a green light or expedite the transition from red to green so the emergency vehicle can get through the intersection sooner.

The radar approach detection would allow the light to expedite traffic patterns based on which way traffic is approaching. The manhole risers will allow the borough to bring the manholes and road surface up to the same level.

Council members also discussed the pressing need for part-time police officers. Port Allegany pays part-time police officers $16.23 an hour and the hours are somewhat flexible, council members noted.

​The borough now also accepts electronic payments (e-checks) through the billing software for water and sewer bills. There is no fee to the customer for this service, and they can sign up for a one-time payment, or to have their bill automatically deducted from their account each due date.

Customers can register online on the borough’s website, PortAlleganyPA.org.

​The council will meet for its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 5.