State Secretary Visits Scranton Over Lighting Concerns
Pennsylvania's transportation secretary toured Scranton High School as the district seeks state funding to improve dark roadways and stadium areas.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll visited Scranton High School on Monday to meet with district officials and PennDOT representatives about poor lighting along Providence Road and around Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium. The district had submitted an application to the Pennsylvania Multimodal Transportation Fund the previous Friday.
Why it matters
Students and families traveling to and from evening games and after-school activities pass through poorly lit areas, and district leaders say the lighting presents a safety concern. Community members and local representatives have complained about the conditions for a long time.
The district's Multimodal Transportation Fund application was submitted Friday, and no grant amount or lighting specifications were disclosed. Whether the state will approve the request and what fixtures would be installed has not been determined.
The players
Mike Carroll
Mike Carroll is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, overseeing PennDOT and state transportation funding programs.
Scranton School District
The Scranton School District is the public school system serving the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and operates Scranton High School.
PennDOT
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for roads, highways, and transportation infrastructure across Pennsylvania.
The details
Board President Tom Borthwick and Superintendent Dr. Erin Keating raised concerns for student and family safety, prompting the district to contact city and state officials and bring Secretary Carroll into the discussion. During Bell game events, the district turns on softball field lights to add some illumination, but other areas remain dark, including the intersection at Olive Street.
Timeline
Friday: The Scranton School District submitted its Pennsylvania Multimodal Transportation Fund application.
Monday: Secretary Mike Carroll visited Scranton High School to meet with district officials and PennDOT representatives.
Season Trajectory
The district's request draws on the Pennsylvania Multimodal Transportation Fund, a state grant program for transportation improvements and safety. Its outcome will determine whether Providence Road and stadium-area lighting is upgraded before the next season of evening athletic events.
Parents and students who travel Providence Road after evening events should use well-lit routes and travel in groups where possible. Drivers should watch for pedestrians near the stadium and the Olive Street intersection during dark hours.
The takeaway
Dark roadways near schools are a practical safety issue that families can raise with their district and local officials. Checking how a grant application is funded and followed up on can help residents track whether promised improvements arrive.
Further reading
For more on school campus planning, see Secondary Education coverage in Scranton.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOLF.
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