Scranton is ready to begin a sweeping $27.3 million plan to change downtown traffic patterns, signals and streetscapes to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety, Mayor Paige G. Cognetti announced Monday.

Some of the major changes of the proposal to occur over time include:

• Replacing several traffic signals with four-way stop signs.

• Reverting some one-way streets to two-way, including restoring two-way traffic around Lackawanna County Courthouse Square for the first time since the 1960s.

• Creating curb bump-outs and narrowing driving lanes to slow down vehicles and mitigate severity of crashes.

“Safety is the primary goal of our streetscape projects,” Cognetti said in the announcement. “The work will also help us build a more inviting and vibrant downtown full of growing business and living opportunities.”

The announcement coincides with Cognetti presenting to Scranton City Council three separate ordinances to carry out different parts of the plan, and which are on council’s agenda for its meeting Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for votes on introductions. The ordinances involve authorizing parking changes, converting one-way streets to two-way streets, and changing traffic signals to all-way or two-way stops at specific intersections.

Right before this regular, weekly council meeting, the mayor and members of her administration are expected to attend a council caucus Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall to explain the proposals.

Walk this way

The idea for making fundamental traffic changes downtown generally stems from a December 2018 lecture, organized by then-Councilman Wayne Evans and held at the University of Scranton, and featuring urban design expert Jeff Speck, a city planner, consultant and author of the 2012 book “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time.”

Cognetti, who took office in 2020, followed up by pursuing a “Downtown Scranton Connectivity Plan,” also called a walkability study, that was completed in June 2023 by Speck and transportation planning firm NelsonNygaard. In April of 2024, the mayor, Speck and city engineers held a forum at Lackawanna College as a step toward walking the public through the concepts and ideas for changes. One of the takeaways of that session was that downtown traffic signals, patterns and flow developed over generations have generally prioritized vehicles over pedestrians — such as one-way streets, cars speeding to get to the next green traffic light ahead, vehicles too close to curbs, too many turning lanes and not enough parking spaces.

Now, with the administration presenting legislation to council to implement changes, Cognetti said the downtown stands “on the cusp of a generational transformation” for improved safety and traffic flow and creating nearly 70 new street parking spaces.

The plan aims to achieve: shorter walking distances and more time for pedestrians to cross downtown streets; clearer turning radiuses for drivers around Lackawanna County Courthouse Square; improved and more uniform street lighting; calmer traffic and more safety measures; more trees; and fewer overhead wires, according to the announcement.

Parts of the 2023 Connectivity study have been modified based upon additional traffic studies and feedback from stakeholders, including the Lackawanna County commissioners, the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS), real estate developers, the Grow America and Car Park firms that jointly oversee and operate the city’s on-street parking spaces and garages, downtown business owners and the Lackawanna Blind Association.

In a letter of support, association Executive Director Mary Ann Iezzi said, “The Lackawanna Blind Association looks forward to continued collaboration and remains ready to assist in making Scranton a safer, more walkable city for everyone.”

Details unveiled

Major planks of the walkability plan call for the following:

Convert one-way streets to two-way roads

• Biden Street, from Adams to Franklin avenues.

• Linden Street, from Penn to Jefferson avenues.

• Adams Avenue, from Lackawanna Avenue to Vine Street.

• North Washington Avenue, from Olive Street to Lackawanna Avenue.

Replace traffic signals with all-way stop signs

• Biden Street, at Wyoming and Penn avenues.

• Linden Street, from Penn to Adams avenues.

• Vine Street, from Jefferson to North Washington avenues.

Replace traffic signals with two-way stop signs

• Biden Street and Franklin Avenue.

• Linden Street and Franklin Avenue.

• Vine Street and Penn Avenue.

• Olive Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Reduce lanes on certain streets

Studies show there is not enough traffic on some roads to require two lanes of traffic in a single direction. “Road diet” reduction in lanes are planned on:

• Wyoming Avenue, from Lackawanna Avenue to Mulberry Street.

• Lackawanna Avenue, between Adams and Mifflin avenues.

• Adams Avenue, from Vine to Olive streets.

Streetscapes doubling as traffic control

• In September, council approved Cognetti legislation authorizing a $1.8 million contract with Multiscape for the first phase of the Lackawanna Avenue streetscape project of period lighting, new sidewalks, relocation of a bus shelter and more, from Adams Avenue to Biden Street near the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel. Additional Lackawanna Avenue paving is planned from Adams to Wyoming avenues. The city also approved a $171,836 contract with Kriger Construction for paving the north side of Lackawanna Avenue, while Loop Internet will be responsible for paving the south portion of the road following utility work.

• Undertake streetscape improvements on parts of Adams, Jefferson, North Washington and Wyoming avenues and Biden and Linden streets to assist pedestrians in crossing streets.

• Use extended sidewalk corners, called curb bump-outs, to reduce the width of streets at intersections and create 69 more street parking spaces downtown.

• Install advanced signals to alert pedestrians to begin crossing before traffic lights turn green.

• Remove city-owned utility poles and relocate overhead wires to run underground.

Concerns raised

Council approval of the three ordinances is needed to implement their changes.

Members of council and the public have raised concerns about facets of the plan, including removing traffic lights and visual/audible crosswalk signals at some intersections and replacing them with stop signs. Proponents of stop signs say such swaps seem counterintuitive, but stop signs calm traffic down and actually make intersections safer for pedestrians and vehicles.

Some remain unconvinced. At the Oct. 7 council meeting, resident Les Spindler called it “a ridiculous idea;” and Councilman Mark McAndrew said, “I’m still not in favor of switching out street lights with stop signs. I can’t wrap my head around it,” according to an Electric City simulcast and video of the meeting posted on YouTube.

Improve entry points

Meanwhile, the plan also envisions improving streetscapes at key entry points:

• South Scranton: A project underway on Cedar Avenue, from the exit of the President Biden Expressway on Orchard Street to Alder Street, aims to revitalize a primary entry to South Side that has great potential as another retail corridor.

• West Scranton: A Main Avenue streetscape from the North Scranton Expressway to Gibbons Street, calls for new sidewalks, lighting and possibly one of several new neighborhood gateway signs welcoming people to the highly residential area.

Paying for projects

The total estimate for past, present and future pedestrian and street safety projects, including crosswalk repainting and street sign replacement, is $27.3 million, which is partly funded with nearly $14 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, as well as other federal, state and local money.