BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and even school children alike are expected to have a safer experience along Bethlehem’s West Broad Street as part of a $9.9 million grant, officials said Monday.
Safety and roadway improvements are planned to include protected bike lanes, intersection investments and broader public transportation offerings, according to a Monday news release from the offices of U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., John Fetterman, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley.
West Side residents and visitors also can expect enhanced crosswalks with increased signage, as well as bump-outs/curb extensions to cut down the crossing distance at some of the wider lanes of West Broad Street, officials said.
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said in a Monday news conference that most of the 1.5 miles of phased intersection improvements planned for First Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue should be completed during 2025.
Preliminary planning should start in 2024, and initial construction could begin later in the year.
"We want more people to walk from your avenues over to the Rose Garden, walk from the avenues downtown, to walk back and forth, to be able to make it so businesses on this corridor are able to provide more services for the people in the neighborhood and surrounding areas," Reynolds said.
The federal money from the U.S Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The improvements complement both of Bethlehem’s “Vision Zero” and Broad Street Activation plans, according to the release.
"Vision Zero" has a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2030.
A collaborative effort
The mayor said the funding wouldn't be possible without all the work behind the scenes and beyond, thanks to staff from the city's police department, health bureau, planning and zoning, public works, equity and inclusion, and more.
It's been a long time coming, he said.
Some steps leading up to this point included:
- 2016: The city completing the state's first Vision Zero Plan
- 2020: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission completing the Walk/Roll LV Active Transportation Plan, naming Broad Street improvements as a good starting point
- 2021: The city completing the Broad Street Active Transportation Plan
- 2022: Congress passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; the city updating the Vision Zero Plan; the city applying for the Safe Streets for All grant but not receiving funding
- 2023: The city getting state Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation funding, allocating CDBG funds to improvements at East Broad Street
- 2023: Department of Transportation accepting second round of applicants for Safe Streets for All grants; Bethlehem secures funding this time around
Reynolds said the only other city in the state that received one of the Safe Streets and Roads for All grants was Philadelphia.
But what about the kids?
Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva said Bethlehem, especially the West Side, is a walkable community that identifies with its neighborhood schools.
BASD and the city identified seven schools and its students in that area that likely would benefit most from the intersection changes and more, with officials naming Clearview Elementary, Calypso Elementary and Nitschmann Middle schools as examples.
"When you have better or easier transportation to school, your attendance rate improves, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities improves, which makes you a better citizen. And then, ultimately, your academic success improves."Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva
"Let's not underestimate the challenge that walking to school presents to children," Silva said.
"When you have better or easier transportation to school, your attendance rate improves, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities improves, which makes you a better citizen.
"And then, ultimately, your academic success improves."
'A street built for people'
“Because of the infrastructure law, we are building a Pennsylvania which is safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike,” Casey said. “Investments that help our students get to and from school safely is a win for our communities.
“I was proud to advocate for this funding to make key safety improvements along West Broad Street, one of the busiest corridors in the Lehigh Valley.”
“I twice supported the City of Bethlehem’s application for this key funding to transform the West Broad Street corridor, and I will continue pushing to bring home federal investments to build safer communities in every part of PA-07.”U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild
“The bottom line is that we are facing a street safety crisis in America — and in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “The thousands of lives we lose due to unsafe streets is unacceptable, and it’s long past time we in Washington do something about it.
“This funding will provide the city of Bethlehem with the resources they need to make streets safer for everyone on the roads.”
Wild said, “This critical grant funding will improve Bethlehem’s infrastructure and make our roads and streets safer places for everyone — whether you’re a pedestrian, driver, or cyclist.
“I twice supported the City of Bethlehem’s application for this key funding to transform the West Broad Street corridor, and I will continue pushing to bring home federal investments to build safer communities in every part of PA-07.”
"We are transforming one of the busiest corridors in our community from a street built for cars into a street built for people.”Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
Mayor Reynolds offered thanks for the support from the Biden administration and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
“The $10 million Safe Streets For All grant will make our community safer and more sustainable for generations,” Reynolds said. “We are transforming one of the busiest corridors in our community from a street built for cars into a street built for people.”
