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Carlisle council approves design contract for Bedford and East Street traffic-calming project after public debate
Summary
After months of public outreach, Carlisle Borough Council approved a $38,590 engineering design contract for a striping-plus-speed-humps plan on Bedford and East streets, prompting supporters and opponents to press for enforcement, greater protection and longer study.
Carlisle Borough Council voted Sept. 11 to contract Dawood Engineering Inc. for $38,590 to design a traffic-calming plan that would narrow vehicle lanes, add parking-protected bike lanes and install speed humps at select locations along Bedford and East streets.
The contract, described by staff as the “striping plus speed humps option (1.5),” passed after more than an hour of public comment. Councilor Stuve moved to enter the design contract and Councilor Shiles seconded; the mayor called the voice vote and the motion carried.
The project is a next step in a multi-year discussion that began after neighborhood concerns about traffic in 2021. Borough staff described three earlier concepts: a paint-only treatment to narrow lanes and create bike lanes; an intermediate option adding delineators and speed humps; and a larger reconstruction with curb bump-outs and a possible roundabout. The design contract approved Wednesday covers the intermediate striping-plus-speed-humps concept and is intended to produce bid-ready plans.
Supporters urged the council to move forward quickly and to build protected infrastructure. “If we had protected bike lanes on High Street and my child was riding in a bike lane with a barrier between him and traffic, that woman who broke the law … and hit a child wouldn't have done it because there would have been something to stop her,” resident Brian McDermott said, describing a recent crash his family experienced.
Other speakers emphasized enforcement and maintenance. Resident Eric Smith, who lives on East Street, said he favored a stronger package of protection and urged parking enforcement to ensure bike lanes are not blocked by vehicles. Councilor Stuve and Deputy Mayor Landis said the paint/striping is intended as a test that can be evaluated and extended later if it proves effective.
Opponents argued the changes could impede traffic flow or emergency egress. Don Smith, a longtime resident, said making Bedford two-way or removing lanes could complicate evacuation and everyday travel and urged a delay for more study.
Council members and staff noted that the contract covers design only; implementation would require bidding and separate approvals. Staff also said the chosen approach is intended to be a practical, incrementally built pilot that can be expanded if monitoring shows it improves safety and access for people walking and biking.
What passed: an engineering design services contract with Dawood Engineering Inc. for $38,590 to prepare plans for striping plus speed humps along the Bedford/East corridor. The design work will be bid out for construction later.
Councilors and staff said the council will use public feedback and post-implementation monitoring to decide whether to pursue more protective, physically separated bike lanes or additional traffic-calming measures in the corridor.
Ending: The council directed staff to move forward with the design contract and said the project will be monitored after installation; construction-phase decisions will return to the council for separate approvals.
