E Broad St - Intersection Now for Bike Lane Later

E Broad St has received funding for the proposals listed in the Activate Broad Street Plan (linked below). These improvements include updated pedestrian crossing traffic signals, enhanced bus stops, high visibility crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and curb bump-outs (also called curb extension, for ease of reading this proposal will use the term “curb bump-out”).

A curb bump-out is an extension of the sidewalk at the intersection. It reduces the amount of road space a pedestrian has to cross and promotes visibility to drivers. Curb bump-outs are planned for Broad & Linden, Broad & Maple, and Broad & Elm. Here’s a sample of a curb bump-out intersection design from the Activate Broad St Plan:

I propose we change the design to floating curb bump-outs at the three planned intersections. In addition to the benefits listed of a traditional curb bump-out, a floating curb bump-out enhances visibility and reduces the road crossing distance for cyclists. This design change would allow for the future of a parking protected bike lane. Using a diagram from NACTO's "Don't Give Up at the Intersection" (linked below), I created an illustration to show the difference:

Here are some pictures of what a floating curb bump-out looks like in different scenarios (both from NACTO):

This change will allow for a parking protected bike lane to be installed in the future. Some benefits of a parking protected bike lane on E Broad St:

• Reduce travel lane width from Stefko Blvd to Linden St for vehicles which prevents excess speed (see John Hopkins Study on Lane Narrowing for more info & Walk/ Roll LV Broad St recommendations)
• Safer access via walk and bike to LANTAs EBS blue stop on Stefko Blvd and the Minsi Trail Bridge
• Protected bike facilities encourage bicycle ridership and the presence of bicycles make vehicles slow down

I think it is important to use this opportunity to plan for the future and make all of Broad St a place safe for walking and biking. Since the report was made in 2019, there has been the addition of an apartment building with a 116 units and LANTAs EBS blue line service has begun. Let's make these changes to reflect the recent past and plan for the future. Let's build these three floating curb bump-outs now using the resources provided, so we can build a bike lane later. 

Note: This plan would narrow the crossing distance between bump-outs to 24 ft. A pedestrian refuge island may not be practical.

Thanks!

Activate Broad St Plan: https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/CityOfBethlehem/media/DCED-Media-Library/PlanningZoning/CommunityPlans/Broad-Street-Active-Transportation-Plan.pdf  

• see pages 21-24 for existing conditions (note conditions reflect 2019) of Center St to Stefko Blvd
• see pages 54 & 55 for improvements suggested from Linden St to Stefko Blvd
• see Appendix A for bikeway intersection sample designs (GIF created uses this image)
• see Appendix B for implementation metrics and project description list

John Hopkins Study on Lane Narrowing: https://narrowlanes.americanhealth.jhu.edu

NACTO "Don't Give Up at the Intersection": https://nacto.org/publication/dont-give-up-at-the-intersection/minor-street-crossings/

NACTO One-Way Protected Cycle Track (another name for Parking Protected Bike Lane): https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bikeway-design-guide/cycle-tracks/one-way-protected-cycle-tracks/#:~:text=Description,the%20motor%20vehicle%20travel%20lane.

Walk Roll LV Plan - https://lvpc.org/pdf/2020/WalkRoll/WalkRoll%20Reduced.pdf

• see pages 114-115 for Broad Street Plan