Franklin Street: McCaskey Campus Safe Routes to School Project

We want your input!

We're excited to share the next phase of plans to increase safety for students accessing JP McCaskey, Wickersham Elementary, Lincoln Middle and McCaskey East campuses.

What is being proposed?

The City is proposing improvements along Franklin Street, from New Holland Avenue to Reservoir Street. Proposed improvements as a part of this project include:

Shared Use Path: The two travel lanes and center turning lane on Franklin Street will be narrowed to 11’ to provide space a separated, two-way, shared use path on the northbound side of Franklin Street. This shared use path will provide a safer and more comfortable connection between the schools, and the Ross neighborhood, for students who walk, bike, or use other mobility devices. The shared use path is proposed on the northbound side of Franklin Street because observations show it as the primary travel route for students.

Franklin Street and Reservoir Street Intersection:

• All-way stop control is proposed, along with the removal of the two lane approach on Reservoir Street. All-way stop intersections have been shown to improve safety, and reducing the Reservoir Street approach to a single lane will shorten the pedestrian crossing distance. Traffic analysis indicates that, with these changes, the intersection will continue to operate at a similar level of service to existing conditions.
• Bumpouts are proposed at all corners of the intersection. which will shorten the pedestrian crossing distances, increase visibility between pedestrians and drivers, and help calm traffic. The City has been working with the School District of Lancaster to ensure that buses and other school deliveries are accommodated with these changes.
• The Shared Use Path will provide a direct connection to McCaskey High School and the curb ramps will be designed to accommodate a future extension of the shared use path continuing south along Franklin Street.
• Enhanced pavement markings will improve visibility and intersection navigation
• Green Infrastructure opportunities at the intersection are being evaluated by the City to help manage stormwater and enhance the streetscape.

Franklin Street and New Holland Avenue Intersection:

• Improved signal operations with an emphasis on safety countermeasures included leading pedestrian intervals and a review of signal timings, including yellow, red and pedestrian intervals with regard to current standards.
• Widened curb ramps on the southern side of the intersection are proposed to better accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and other mobility device users.
• Shorter pedestrian crossing across the south leg of the intersection (Franklin Street) shortens the conflict area between pedestrians and motor vehicles.
• New enhanced pavement markings, including high-emphasis green bike crossings, will be added to alert motorists to the presence of bicycles at intersections, driveways, and other conflict locations.

McDonald’s Driveway: with the close proximity of the McDonald’s Driveway to the proposed shared use path, the concept is currently proposing speed bumps to slow vehicles where the driveway crosses the path. As the project progresses in design the City will work with McDonald’s on other potential treatments including:

• Changes to landscaping to enhance visibility,
• Enhanced Signing and Pavement Markings,
• Tactile feedback options other than speed bumps,
• Reducing the driveway width,
• And narrowing the shared use path width to increase the space between the path and the drive-thru window.

Roadway Resurfacing: Roadway resurfacing is not included as part of this project, however it is planned within this project limits as part of a future planned City project.

The first drawing below shows the proposed changes to the intersection of Franklin and Reservoir Streets. The next drawing shows technical details related to adding a "shared use path" between Reservoir Street and New Holland Avenue. TWe welcome your comments and questions. Your input will be used to develop Final Concepts.

The City is working with the School District of Lancaster to ensure that buses and other local deliveries are accommodated with all of the proposed changes.

Your input will be used to develop Final Concepts.

Please note this timeline is subject to change.