Bath Borough has seen an increase in truck traffic as warehouses continue to develop in surrounding municipalities. Borough officials have been searching for a solution to the traffic spike.

Mike McGuire and Steve Giampolo attended the March 2 Bath Borough Council meeting. McGuire, from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and Giampolo, from McMahon Transportation Engineers, presented PennDOT’s preliminary plan for the Route 248 realignment project.

The realignment project includes the widening of Route 248 at certain points and the alignment of Main and Northampton streets. A goal is to redirect some truck traffic and allow for greater efficiency of truck throughput out of the borough. The plan requires some eminent domain requests from PennDOT. Although not a total solution, the project is expected to result in lessening traffic congestion.

PennDOT’s realignment project is coordinated with the borough transportation improvement project. Council developed the plan to address truck traffic and general traffic in the heart of Bath. The project was announced earlier this year, and the preliminary planning stage has been completed. The project will progress to its next phase in the coming months.

In other business, Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito presented a proclamation honoring Bath firefighter John Ashworth.

During a devastating house fire Jan. 3, Ashworth assisted two young persons out of the burning house to safety. For his heroism, Reginelli-Mirabito proclaimed his valor and declared John Ashworth Day Jan. 3, 2021, in the borough.

The first batch of the long-awaited parking meters is being installed in Bath. Borough Manager Bradley Flynn said the parking meters officially start May 1.

“The meters are for use Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The fee is $1 per hour. Saturday and Sunday and borough holidays are free,” Flynn said.

Users will have the choice of depositing quarters or using the Mobile Now app on a smartphone.

Jessica O’Donnell, executive vice president of affiliated chambers for Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, requested council consider decreasing insurance requirements of small business vendors at the annual Spuds & Suds celebration. This request was prompted to increase the number of local vendors at the event, planned for Aug. 29. Council plans to take up the request.

Marena Rasmus, office administrator, noted there have been no issues with the new trash hauler, Advanced Disposal.

Council passed resolutions appointing Barry Isett and Associates as code enforcement and for building code inspections and Kraft Code Services as the third-party agency to cover the same if needed.

Another resolution adopted was a certificate of appropriateness from the Historical Architectural Review Board for Mattie’s Strudel Haus.

The next council meeting is 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Bath Borough Hall, 121 S. Walnut St.