Division Street
A Harrisburg roadway is slated for pedestrian and traffic safety updates.
The city plans to make improvements to Division Street, between N. 2nd and 7th streets, a corridor that currently lacks pedestrian infrastructure and often experiences speeding motorists, the city engineer explained.
The project is still in the preliminary design phase, but will likely include traffic calming measures, as well as crosswalks and possible bike lanes.
City Engineer Joel Seiders said that improvements to Division Street have long been a priority for Mayor Wanda Williams. The wide roadway often encourages speeding since the stretch has few traffic lights interrupting the flow, Seiders said. There is also little pedestrian infrastructure, which is needed as the area is residential and includes Italian Lake Park.
Last week, the city held a public meeting to show residents four preliminary design concepts and solicit feedback. Seiders said that some residents showed interest in the concept of bike lanes, and some were concerned about the timeline of the project, which is slated to take four years.
The current proposed designs each feature a slightly different idea. Some include protected or shared road bike lanes, one includes a landscaped median, and all include on-street parking spaces. Seiders said that those added parking spots would help reduce the width of the traffic lanes.
One of the four of the city’s proposed design concepts for Division Street.
Curb bump outs, roundabouts and raised pedestrian crosswalks may be included in the final design as well. Additionally, there is a proposed option to realign N. 3rd Street before Division Street so that it is better aligned the section of the road at the Division Street intersection, near Italian Lake.
The city is currently conducting a survey to find out which design elements the public would like to see.
“The public can say what they like, what they don’t like,” Seiders said.
Then the city will “mix and match” ideas to create a final design, which will be brought forward for public review in late summer.
Seiders said that the project design will take around two years, with another two years to complete construction, putting the project completion about four years out. That timeline is also dependent on securing funding, he said.
He explained the lengthy timeline is needed to ensure quality work that is also cost-effective.
In the meantime, he said that the city will see if there is anything temporary that can be done to make the road safer until permanent upgrades are made.
To take the city’s Division Street survey and to see the proposed designs, click here.
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