Commuters using Route 19 in the South Hills soon may be getting relief from traffic congestion through a new regional signaling system.

Peters council last night approved an agreement with Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park for a joint project to synchronize traffic signals along Route 19.

The $533,000 project recently received a grant from the state to help ease traffic congestion significantly.

"The goal is to improve the efficiency of the signals by 10 to 25 percent," Peters Manager Michael Silvestri said.

Peters has the largest number of traffic signals and will pay $38,856 towards the improvements.

The township's share would have been closer to $100,000, but a developer has agreed to synchronize five traffic signals along a one-mile stretch of Route 19 between Donaldson's Crossroads and Waterdam Road at no cost to the township.

Those signals will be coordinated with the new signaling system, which will stretch approximately 12 miles.

The existing signals along the route will be upgraded to work in tandem to ease congestion during peak hours. Currently, the signals operate individually with timers.

Work is expected to begin soon and should be minimally invasive, Mr. Silvestri said.