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PITTSTON &#8212; At a meeting Wednesday night, the city council announced it will request a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for the Main Street Streetscape Project.A grant of approximately $1 million will be requested to complete the streetscape project from the Columbus Statue, which is at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and South Main Street, to Winter Street, adjacent to the Sunoco and Dunkin Donuts.The project may include traffic signals, as well.The council designated Joseph Chacke, executive director of Community Development, as the city official to execute all documents and agreements, and assist in obtaining the grant.For the past several years, the council has been discussing vacating Spring Alley, which runs between the Tomato Bar and Bistro and the parking lot used for the Tomato Festival. The street is a safety hazard, City Administrator Joe Moskowitz said. At the meeting, the council approved a resolution for the city solicitor to prepare all necessary documentation to vacate the alley. The alley would be turned over to the parking authority.The council also approved a traffic study, which will be done by Reilly and Associates, to change a portion of Cron Street to a one-way street. Cron Street is located behind the new Geisinger Health System building on North Main Street. The street would run from north to south.Also on Cron Street, the council authorized bid specifications for the resurfacing of a portion of the street. Due to an unknown water main, the city will pick up the cost of the project.In other business:&#8226; The council approved the payment for Phase 1 of the Energy Savings Contract in the amount of $214,136 to Johnson Construction for the lighting project. The city has approximately 300 lights, Moskowitz said, and approximately 30 percent of those lights have been changed.&#8226; The council will request the approval from PennDOT for a banner to hang over South Main Street for the annual Pittston Tomato Festival in August and the Paint Pittston Pink event in October.&#8226; The city will close Church Street between William and Broad Streets from 4 to 11 p.m. between August 6 and 8 for the St. John the Evangelist Parish Community Bazaar.&#8226; Tomato Festival Drive and Kennedy Street, between Charles Street and the Tomato Festival Drive, will be closed from Aug. 20 through Aug. 23 for the Pittston Tomato Festival.The next meeting of the city council will be held on Aug. 19. Council meetings are held in the court room of City Hall.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Nick Wagnernwagner@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick</shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston City Council will seek $1M grant for South Main Street streetscape project