Three Centre County police departments have received Pennsylvania Department of Transportation grants to increase the enforcement of speeding, driving under the influence and seat-belt violations.

The State College, Ferguson Township and Spring Township police departments received $42,100 from PennDOT as part of the corridor safety initiative.

The program is aimed at reducing the number and severity of accidents in selected areas. The three departments will join forces today to increase enforcement along state Route 26. The program will continue for the next year and a half.

"I think the program will have a positive impact in that the additional funding permits us to increase our enforcement efforts and visibility," State College Police Chief Tom King said in a news release. "Police visibility can contribute significantly to making the roads safer and possibly reducing the number of accidents."

The State College Police Department received $18,700 for enforcement in the borough and College Township. The Ferguson and Spring township departments received $12,100 and $11,300 respectively.

Spring Township police Chief Ronald Tressler Jr. said the funding will allow his department to put more officers and vehicles in areas with higher traffic volumes.

"It isn't often that Spring Township can get three officers and three cars on the road at once to enforce along Route 26," Tressler said in a news release.

State College police will also target the intersections where Pollock Road, Allen Street, University Drive and Branch Road meet Atherton Street. Police will continue enforcing at these accident-prone intersections for the 18-month grant period.

"We're always getting citizen requests to do extra enforcement and this gives us the opportunity to fulfill some of those requests," King said.

The police departments will also use the money for new speed-timing devices, upgrades for existing devices, training and accident investigation equipment.