BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Following the recent announcement of incoming money for upgrades to part of Bethlehem’s West Broad Street, city officials are contracting a company to also design a number of improvements to come to the thoroughfare’s eastern end.
There’s a little more than $1 million at the city’s disposal to design and complete about a half-mile of improvements from Center Street to Elm Street, which are planned to include ADA ramp upgrades, curb bump-outs, pedestrian refuge islands at intersections, lighting and restriped crosswalks.
Dedicated bike lanes also are a possibility, according to City Public Works Director Michael Alkhal.
The designs will run the city just under $94,000, following a unanimous vote from City Council on Tuesday to put Traffic Planning and Design Inc., of Pottstown, Montgomery County, to work on the pre-development measures.
Councilman Bryan Callahan was absent.
“When we take a look at both West Broad and East Broad and you hear from people in these neighborhoods, they talk about how valuable it is to be able to bike and walk — and that’s how they want to get downtown or across our city.”Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
Alkhal said the project is rolling along quickly leading up to the newest design phase.
The city plans to use $642,750 in Commonwealth grant funding to support the East Broad Street Corridor Improvements-Multimodal project.
Along with the state funding, officials are set to contribute a required 30% match of the total project cost, or $344,223, using federal money through the Community Development Block Grant program.
There’s also $30,000 in escrow money available, according to the associated city document outlining the contract.
Safety for all travelers
Councilwoman Kiera Wilhem asked Alkhal if dedicated bike lanes were possible within the scope of the new project.
“I have made that suggestion to the project team to consider; obviously we have not started the design work,” Alkhal said. “And once we do, that will be something that we consider.
“And if it’s feasible and effective, I’m sure that is the path we’ll take.”
Mayor J. William Reynolds said, “When we take a look at both West Broad and East Broad and you hear from people in these neighborhoods, they talk about how valuable it is to be able to bike and walk — and that’s how they want to get downtown or across our city.
“And we need to get it right because we very much look at what we’re doing here as hopefully a precursor to be able to do this work in other areas of our city.”
Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek said she was in favor of putting a dedicated bike lane on Broad Street’s east end, and she’d want to later see the city have similar routes on both sides of the river.
“If we’re really trying to have streets that are for everybody, not just for cars, we want to make it as smooth and frictionless as possible for cyclists to be able to stay on route."Bethlehem City Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek
At least one solid north-south cyclist transit for cyclists also would be a nice touch, Kwiatek said.
“If we’re really trying to have streets that are for everybody, not just for cars, we want to make it as smooth and frictionless as possible for cyclists to be able to stay on route,” she said.
“And it’s my firm belief that having that east-west route is sort of the beginning of really creating a bikeable city that we need.”
Resident Megan Lysowski said she thought that TPD was qualified for the project, as the company helped complete the Activate Broad Street plan back in 2021.
Lysowski had an additional thought regarding access for all modes of travel.
“Let there be a bump-out, a floating curb bump-out, so that in the future we can add a bike lane,” Lysowski said.
Improved bus stations, walkability
Wilhelm asked if Alkhal’s team planned to collaborate with the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority for improved bus stations, since the nearby area is home to the future Bethlehem Co-Op Market and a YMCA.
Alkhal said that’s a possibility he and his people could discuss further.
Councilwoman Colleen Laird said she was “extremely excited” to see the improvements come to fruition along the entirety of Broad Street.
She suggested collaborating with the Northside Alive team, which has had members do walkability audits before of the surrounding area near Center and Elm.
Alkhal said he welcomed coordination and communication, and there’s always the possibility of future public information meetings once the project gets to moving further along.
“This project specifically is pretty far along at this point,” Alkhal said. “We’re about ready to pursue the final design, but we could certainly revisit items.”
