Allentown officials gathered on the bustling Hanover Avenue Wednesday to announce the launch of its ‘Safe Streets for All’ program, a multi-million dollar investment in traffic and transportation safety. The program represents a comprehensive ‘action’ plan for traffic safety improvements citywide, with the ambitious goal of achieving zero traffic deaths by 2030.
Mayor Matt Tuerk shared personal stories of friends lost in traffic accidents and poignantly referenced the tragic death of Angela Youwakim, a paraprofessional at Dieruff High School, in 2022. ‘Those losses for me weren’t just personal,’ Tuerk said. ‘They were a call for change. We should not have to accept unsafe streets as the norm in places where we live.’
In 2023 alone, Allentown recorded a staggering 4,085 traffic crashes, including 136 pedestrian accidents, 71 serious injuries, and 11 fatalities, five of which involved pedestrians. The location of the city’s press conference, the 400 block of Hanover Avenue, served as a stark reminder of the need for such investments. Despite the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, vehicles routinely exceeded that speed, and the absence of nearby crosswalks made crossing the street as a pedestrian hazardous.
Data analysis identified the city’s most accident-prone intersections as Seventh and Union streets, Lehigh Street and Martin Luther King Jr Drive, American Parkway and Irving Street, and 13th and Hamilton streets. In response, Allentown city staff has initiated a survey to gather resident input on areas that require better pedestrian and biking infrastructure. A series of meetings will also be held throughout the city to solicit additional feedback.
The action plan will outline a comprehensive series of investments designed to achieve ‘Vision Zero,’ signifying the city’s commitment to eliminating traffic-related fatalities by 2030. City staff and consultants from Michael Baker will incorporate resident feedback into the comprehensive plan, which City Council is expected to approve in early 2025. Allentown officials will subsequently pursue federal, state, and private grants to secure funding for these crucial investments.
The city has already secured $1.15 million from a Pennsylvania state grant to enhance Hanover Avenue between South Carlisle Street and North Irving Street. These improvements will include dedicated bike lanes in both directions and a center turn lane. Construction is anticipated to commence in fall 2025. Additionally, Allentown received $1.125 million from Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office for similar improvements at Lehigh and Union streets. The project is currently out for bid, as per a city news release.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.
