Mayor plugs improvements

WILKES-BARRE – By the middle of September, buses and taxis will no longer be seen on Public Square.

That’s when Mayor Tom Leighton expects the new $25 million Intermodal Transportation Center to open – bringing 752 new parking spaces to the downtown and alleviating traffic congestion from Public Square.

Leighton told about 50 people gathered at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday that the Intermodal and several other projects have made a dramatic and positive change in the city.

“Each of these projects will make the city of Wilkes-Barre a safer, more prosperous place to live, work and do business,” Leighton said. “To appreciate progress and future plans, we must remember what the city used to be like five years ago when I took office.”

The Intermodal is connected to the existing Park & Lock Central, bringing the total number of parking spaces in the block between South Main and South Washington streets to over 1,000.

Leighton said the city streets are cleaner now. He said more than a ton of trash is removed from city sidewalks each month. He said graffiti is removed quickly once discovered and flower pots and new signage have made the city more presentable.

New streetlights have replaced temporary fixtures, making the streets brighter. The $7.3 million Downtown Streetlight and Streetscape Enhancement Project has changed the appearance of downtown, Leighton said.

“Business has replaced blight,” Leighton said. “More businesses are opening than closing in downtown Wilkes-Barre.”

He said in the last three months, stores such as The Beehive Gift Shop (owned by Leighton’s wife, Patty) and Verizon Wireless have opened. He said Blue Chip Gourmet will open its doors at the corner of Northampton and Main soon and Gage Bar will open at the corner of East Union and North Main streets.

Pronto Via Pizzeria, operated by the owners of Caf� Toscana, will open in the walkway leading to the Intermodal, he added, and work continues on the Wilkes Bar and Grille at South Main and Ross streets.

Leighton said the public fields, courts and ice rink at the new $13.7 million Coal Street Park will open in the fall.

“This impressive project is transforming the 31-acre park from a blighted nuisance to a state-of-the-art public recreational facility,” Leighton said.

Coal Street will have two lighted basketball courts, an ADA accessible playground, multi-use sports fields, improved parking, landscaping, lighting and security cameras.

Leighton said the $2 million citywide surveillance camera system will be up and running this year. The project calls for 150 cameras to be installed in city parks, school zones, neighborhoods, parking garages, intersections and other public areas.

“This state-of-the-art system will enhance every other project in the city by increasing safety and security,” he said.

In the spring of 2010, construction will begin on the $18 million Coal Street Road Extension. The project will create direct access from Interstate 81 to downtown Wilkes-Barre and will improve traffic flow for some of the 14,000 commuters who work in downtown Wilkes-Barre each day.

Todd Vonderheid, president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Partnership, said Leighton’s steadfast determination and consistent voice have been the keys to the city’s resurgence.