As Scranton takes a step towards reshaping its downtown traffic landscape, drivers will witness a significant shift starting Monday. The introduction of flashing red lights and stop signs at 13 pivotal intersections marks the commencement of a trial phase that could redefine the city’s traffic management.
The initiative, announced by city officials, aims to assess the feasibility of eliminating some traffic signals downtown. “We’ll be evaluating throughout that period if that works,” stated Mayor Paige Cognetti last week. This change requires drivers to treat flashing red signals as they would stop signs.
The city’s effort to enhance walkability and curb traffic speeds stems from the Downtown Scranton Connectivity Plan, developed with input from city planner Jeff Speck. This plan, initiated during Wayne Evans’ tenure as mayor, is part of a broader strategy to upgrade Scranton’s aging sidewalk and infrastructure system. For more details on the sidewalk project, which is nearing completion, click here.
Affected Intersections
Starting October 19, the following intersections will be impacted:
- Franklin Avenue at Biden Street
- Biden Street and Penn Avenue
- Biden Street and Wyoming Avenue
- Franklin Avenue at Linden Street
- Linden Street and Penn Avenue
- Linden Street and Wyoming Avenue
- Linden Street and North Washington Avenue
- Linden Street and Adams Avenue
- North Washington Avenue and Vine Street
- Vine Street and Adams Avenue
- Penn Avenue at Vine Street
- Vine Street and Jefferson Avenue
- Olive Street at Jefferson Avenue
Last year, the city council faced a split decision on the proposal to replace traffic lights with stop signs and convert some one-way streets into two-way roads. Despite the division, the proposal was approved. Details of the council’s decision can be found here.
Changing Lanes
In conjunction with the new stop signs, several streets will narrow to a single lane:
- North Washington Avenue will narrow between Mulberry and Linden Street, requiring a stop at Linden before returning to two lanes.
- Biden Street will reduce to one lane until Penn Avenue.
- Adams Avenue will narrow to one lane from Biden to Linden streets, continuing as one lane to Mulberry Street.
The Road Ahead
Following a 30-day period with flashing red lights, the signals will be covered, leaving the stop signs in place for 60 days. During this time, the city will also introduce two-way traffic patterns on certain streets:
- Biden Street, from Wyoming Avenue to Franklin Avenue
- Linden Street, from Penn Avenue to Jefferson Avenue
- Adams Avenue, from Linden Street to Mulberry Street
- North Washington Avenue, from Olive Street to Mulberry Street
The remaining sections of these streets will convert to two-way traffic if the trial proves successful and stop signs replace traffic lights by early 2027.
Further information is available at www.scrantonpa.gov/traffic/.
