Scranton council advances downtown streetscape steps, including signal removals and two-way conversions, amid safety debate

Council members advanced sections of a proposed downtown streetscape plan on Oct. 15, introducing measures that would remove or replace some traffic signals with all-way stop controls and convert certain one-way streets to two-way, while proponents said the work addresses aging infrastructure and pedestrian safety.

The council read by title an ordinance to install all-way stops at specified downtown intersections and read by title a separate ordinance to convert certain downtown streets from one-way to two-way (and vice versa) as outlined in the plan. Both measures were moved forward after debate; council members said a 90-day trial period would allow the city to assess and adjust changes where warranted.

Why it matters: The plan combines pedestrian-safety work—curb improvements, bump-outs, and crossings—with traffic-control changes and stormwater and sidewalk repairs. Supporters say the package is intended to calm traffic, make downtown more walkable for residents and visitors, and address a backlog of aging downtown infrastructure. Opponents warned the changes could slow emergency response, reduce diagonal parking on sections of Penn Avenue and complicate turning movements for large vehicles.

What council and proponents said: Leslie Collins, president and CEO of Scranton Tomorrow, told the council her organization supports the plan, noting prior public forums with urban planner Jeff Speck and outreach with downtown businesses about stormwater, vaults under sidewalks and curb treatments. "This plan addresses outdated infrastructure and challenging traffic patterns," Collins said.

Council members described the plan as a package. "Not all intersections are switching to stop signs," Councilman King said during debate; he described a 90-day implementation window to evaluate unintended consequences and make adjustments. Councilman Shuster and Dr. Rothschild said some intersections with higher volumes or safety risks would retain signals.

Community concerns raised at public comment: Multiple residents with long experience in urban infrastructure and emergency services urged caution. A resident identifying himself as a former city engineer described a 400+ page study submitted to PennDOT and cited the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), warning that stop signs are not meant for speed control and that signal warrants may still be appropriate at some intersections. "Where traffic control signals are justified, the multi-way stop is an interim measure," he said, quoting the MUTCD.

Several commenters, including downtown business owners and residents near Dixon Avenue, said stop signs and bump-outs could impede large vehicle turning radii and delivery trucks and make crossing more difficult for people using wheelchairs or walkers. "If they change Penn Avenue to two-way, what's going to happen to all that diagonal parking down there? That's going to be a loss of a lot of parking," one commenter said.

Supporters, including local residents and downtown advocates, argued the plan could attract residents who prefer walkable places and improve business visibility. "Traffic needs to be calmed in some manner so that [downtown businesses] can be visualized in a better manner," Leslie Collins said, and an independent resident cited national research that properly designed stop controls can improve pedestrian safety in some settings.

Technical and permitting questions: Multiple speakers asked whether the engineering team had analyzed turning movements for fire apparatus, buses and tractor-trailers and whether changes would comply with PennDOT permit requirements. Councilmembers asked staff to follow up with the fire chief to confirm turning templates and whether stop-control changes would slow emergency response times in specific routes. Administration staff told council the plan was developed in coordination with engineers and PennDOT and that signal changes reflect traffic volumes and warrants, but councilmembers said outreach clarity varied and some downtown business owners reported limited contact.

What passed and next steps: Council members voted to move the all-way stop ordinance and the one-way/two-way conversion ordinance forward after reading by title; the measures will return for later readings and potential adoption. Council members emphasized that signal retention or reinstallation remains possible if operational problems emerge during the trial period. Separately, city staff and council signaled they will follow up on technical questions about curb radii, vaults under sidewalks and parking impacts.

Ending: With debate continuing and a mix of strong opinions from downtown businesses, pedestrian-advocacy voices and residents, the council advanced the package while instructing staff to monitor effects in a short-term implementation window and report back on any necessary adjustments.