Challenge

Lancaster, Pennsylvania has a rich history, even serving for a time as one of the earliest capitals of the United States. Its downtown is walkable, but a transportation network established in colonial days left the city with narrow streets and little room for other forms of transportation. One of the top priorities of the 2019 Lancaster Active Transportation Plan was to create high-quality eastbound and westbound bicycle routes through downtown Lancaster. The eastbound street identified in the plan, Chestnut Street, was too narrow to accommodate a separated bike lane without removing a motor vehicle lane or a parking lane, so a more creative solution was needed.

Solution

Kittelson collaborated with the City of Lancaster to establish low-stress bike route for cyclists traveling eastbound through downtown, complemented by Walnut Street for westbound travel. The project involved assessing parallel routes and integrating segments of five streets into the preferred option, utilizing various bicycle facilities to maintain a low-stress environment. Parking-separated bike lanes were predominantly chosen, with considerations for different street characteristics. Public engagement played a vital role and involved four public meetings and a field walk with local bicycle advocates, influencing the design and leading to post-implementation enhancements on Walnut Street. The final design incorporated safety measures such as corner daylighting, bend-outs, high-emphasis green paint, bicycle boxes, and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at a key intersection, optimizing intersection safety for both cyclists and pedestrians.