Dormont Safe Mobility Commission Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Dormont Safe Mobility Commission (SMC) met at 6:00 PM on February 17, 2026, to discuss intersection safety upgrades, a recently awarded federal traffic safety grant, the Dormont/Dwight playground and Dormont Avenue demonstration project, accessibility projects, and GIS/official maps.

Minutes Approval

• The commission approved the prior meeting minutes by voice vote after a correction about a member's reappointment date.

Old Business

• An old-business item about past meeting agendas and videos not being available on the borough website was marked complete and removed from the agenda.

Prototype Intersection Upgrades / Kelton Crossing

• A commissioner asked for an update on the engineer's review and cost estimate for the prototype intersection upgrade.
• A cost estimate for the intersection came back at $124,000, driven by slope adjustments, curbs, inlets and catch basins, ADA ramps, and stormwater management work.
• The intersection involves three jurisdictions—Dormont, Mount Lebanon, and the school district—so the commission discussed cost-sharing (roughly $41,000 per entity if split three ways) and seeking a joint CDBG or similar grant.
• Several commissioners questioned spending $124,000 on a single demonstration and suggested finding lower-cost intersections where paint and signage alone could work. One commissioner argued the expensive project should be seen through as a complex case, while another noted there are about 60 crosswalks on one side of town and only about four on the other.
• The commission agreed to invite Gateway engineers to the next SMC meeting to discuss this project and a broader set of low-cost crossing upgrades.
• The Kelton crossing topic was covered in this same discussion because the location sits on the Kelton/Dormont boundary.

Dormont/Dwight Playground and SS4A Demonstration

• The Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant will fund a demonstration project on Dormont Avenue; grant award documents have not been signed, so no money can be spent yet.
• The playground coordination committee recommended a schematic, and borough council plans to adopt it at the March voting meeting.
• Projected timetable: an RFP opens for roughly 45 days; proposals are opened and scored around May 15-18; an award is expected at the June meeting; groundbreaking is planned for Dormont Day in July; construction is estimated at nine months, with a spring 2027 opening.
• The commission agreed to schedule the Dormont Avenue demonstration for early/mid-2027, near the playground opening, so it captures expected traffic; design work with Gateway would begin in the fall.

Accessibility Projects

• Two CDBG accessibility projects were discussed: a new ADA-accessible parking/loading space at the Dormont Park pavilion, approved and scheduled for this summer, and ADA accommodations for the Beg Snyder playground, estimated at $100,000-$200,000, with funding still uncertain.
• A commissioner noted that the new community garden is not on an accessible route and called that a miss; there is currently no plan to fix it.

Petitions and Council Meeting Report

• No petitions were pending. A council meeting report noted a commission member's reappointment was approved on January 31.

Federal Grant for Traffic Safety Improvements

• The commission discussed the recently awarded traffic safety grant. The agenda lists it as $208,000, while the transcript references about $200,000; the group is waiting for grant documents to clarify the exact amount and terms.
• An SS4A email indicates the funding can cover a new action plan, supplemental planning, and demonstration activities, but staff need the signed grant award and a project manager assignment. A first meeting with the SS4A project manager was being scheduled.
• The commission noted the grant appears to have three years to use the funds, to be confirmed.

Official Maps and GIS

• No official map has been produced; it should have accompanied the zoning ordinance rewrite, but it is not considered an urgent priority.
• The borough is building an ArcGIS system with a public-facing component. The first overlays, including asset management, sanitary/storm sewer, utilities, and a permitting module, are projected to be ready by May or June 2026.
• Commissioners suggested adding school walking routes and snow-maintenance routes to the GIS.

Active Transportation Plan Outreach

• Commissioners were encouraged to attend public open houses on Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Dormont library from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, Mount Lebanon library in the morning, and East End Brewing in the evening. Safe routes to school are a major component.

Borough-Wide Crossing Upgrade Program / Intersection Audit

• Staff are waiting on proposals from Michael Baker International and another consultant for a borough-wide intersection audit; a comparison should be ready for next month's SMC meeting.

Ordinance Update Process and Granicus Training

• The ordinance update is still being drafted; the draft will be sent to the SMC for comment.
• Granicus training is being scheduled in one in-person and one virtual session, with a screen recording option; dates will be circulated.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved by voice vote.
• The completed old-business item on missing meeting agendas/videos was removed from the agenda.
• Gateway engineers will be invited to the next SMC meeting to discuss low-cost intersection options.
• The Dormont Avenue demonstration is planned for early/mid-2027 after the playground opening.
• The commission will continue to await signed SS4A grant documents and the consultant proposals for the intersection audit.
• A draft ordinance update and Granicus training dates will be provided to the SMC.
• No formal votes were taken on discussion items; decisions were made by consensus.