Honesdale Officials Propose Redesign to Make Main Street Safer for Pedestrians and Drivers

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HONESDALE, PA — Borough officials in Honesdale are exploring a redesign of parts of Main Street aimed at improving safety for people walking, driving, and visiting local businesses, according to reporting by The River Reporter. The project focuses on the stretch between 12th and 10th streets, where sightlines for both pedestrians and drivers are currently limited.

The redesign would remove some parking spaces along Main Street, a controversial move in a town where parking is already at a premium. To compensate, borough planners are considering converting certain side streets, including 10th and 11th streets, to one-way traffic. This change would allow for angled parking on those streets, potentially increasing the total number of parking spots in the area by about 20%, from 39 to 47, reporter Liam Mayo explained.

The proposed changes also aim to enhance pedestrian safety. Officials plan to upgrade crosswalks, including the 40-foot-long crossing at 10th Street, and add “bump outs” — extensions of the sidewalk into the street that reduce the distance pedestrians must travel exposed to traffic.

Consultants advising the borough note that converting side streets to one-way traffic could prevent risky maneuvers, such as drivers attempting to cross multiple lanes to make turns, which have been a recurring hazard in the current configuration.

While the current project covers only a two-block section of Main Street, borough officials hope it will serve as a model for future improvements further down the corridor, potentially extending to Fourth Street as more funding becomes available.

Funding for the initial phase has been largely secured through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, with nearly $2 million earmarked for the project.

Image: This intersection has Chapel Street (opposite the camera) and 10th Street (behind the camera) feed into Main Street (perpendicular to the camera). The current intersection layout has a number of safety issues. The crosswalk crosses Main Street at an angle, increasing the distance and the length of time pedestrians spend vulnerable to traffic. Cars cross two lanes of traffic to get from Chapel Street to 10th Street, and do the same in reverse, which requires them to drive briefly against traffic. (Liam Mayo / River Reporter)