Bethlehem public works details street conversions, paving program, stormwater upgrades and trail work in CIP

Public works staff walked the committee through street, stormwater and trail projects included in the 2026–2030 capital improvement plan, describing timelines, grant pursuits and equipment purchases intended to support the work.

For traffic and streets, staff said design and construction for Linden Street'two-way conversion is in progress with construction expected to begin in spring 2026 and an estimated project cost of about $2,000,000. Center Street is identified as a related conversion; staff said Center Street is planned in the program (currently estimated at $2,000,000) and that a Church Street study is included in the Linden Street design to assess related changes. Staff said they try to design two isolated intersections every two years and listed Club Avenue, Union Boulevard and the Pennsylvania/Easton/Union intersection among current design priorities.

On pavement maintenance, public works said the city needs roughly $2.5 million per year to maintain streets and highlighted the disruption and additional costs caused by utility excavations. The department plans a new paver purchase in 2026 and a milling machine in 2027 to improve efficiency; staff said the city placed over 11,000 tons of pavement this year.

Stormwater projects presented included a Steffco drainage swale rehabilitation, routine repairs to smaller drainage basins (budgeted around $200,000 per year), and the East Boulevard detention basin, a multi-jurisdictional project coordinated with Bethlehem Township. Staff said the township had pursued a FEMA grant for about $5 million that now appears uncertain; the project includes six detention basins, four in the township and two in the city, with the city bearing roughly 31% of the project costs as presented.

Trail and multimodal projects discussed include the Menonkassie Way Trail phase 2 (design complete; construction expected soon), South Bethlehem Greenway (design procurement and multiple grants including DCNR and county funding; construction targeted for 2026), and sidewalk improvements on Gap Street and Gutter Street tied to grant applications and income-restricted areas.

Staff emphasized that many projects depend on external grant funding and that the five-year plan remains flexible; any project timelines and costs shown in the CIP are estimates subject to grant awards and bid results. The presentation was informational; no vote was taken.