A Harrisburg crosswalk that has earned a reputation for being dangerous is about to become a lot safer.
The Market Street Transfer Center in downtown Harrisburg, where travelers board buses, has undergone a safety makeover to protect pedestrians, bus drivers, and local motorists, officials said on Tuesday.
The intersection of Second and Market streets has been historically known as one of the more dangerous places for pedestrians to cross in the city, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. The city worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Capital Area Transit to redesign how buses entered and exited the center, as well as where pedestrians were allowed to cross the street.
“These improvements enhance safety for pedestrians, bus riders and drivers alike,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary of Multimodal Transportation Jennie Granger.
Some of the safety measures include improved signals, signage, ADA ramps, a new crosswalk at the Second Street driveway entrance, updated bus loading zones, leaning rails, and new bus shelters.
Construction improvements cost $840,000 and were paid for using state transportation funds.
Improvements to pedestrian safety have been made at the Capital Area Transit Market Square Transfer Center at Second and Market streets in Harrisburg. May 4, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
“Public transit connects people to their communities, transports them to medical appointments, and for their COVID vaccines, to shopping, and to visit loved ones,” she said. “Additionally, transportation should never be an impediment to medical care, or like I said, receiving your COVID-19 vaccine.”
The sign and signal adjustments were updated to ensure motorists don’t turn right on red from the east-shore bus lane onto the eastbound side of Market Street. Illuminated pedestrian warning signals were also added to indicate that a bus may be approaching.
The changes are part of a bigger picture, known as the multi-year plan entitled Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate pedestrian fatalities caused by automobiles and buses, Papenfuse said. About two years ago, there was a fatal crash in the intersection.
“Every transportation project that we take on, in any corridor of this city, fundamentally puts walkability, bike-ability at the front and center, as well as bus routes and improvements,” he said.
Five ADA ramps, three crosswalks, and chains to keep pedestrians within crosswalks were also added to minimize mid-block crossing.
“This intersection was problematic,” Papenfuse said. “We’ve seen a great improvement in how people are crossing the street. The wall of planters, behind me, is keeping people away from the buses. And, the bollards do the same thing. The [5 second] lead times give them extra time before the light turns green, all make for a much safer experience for people downtown.”
Existing brick pavers were also re-set to provide a smoother surface for pedestrians and bus lane operations, and various electrical updates were made on devices in the area, according to the city.
The project is an example of Capital Area Transit’s “mission of mobility,” said CAT chairman Eric Bugaile.
Improvements to pedestrian safety have been made at the Capital Area Transit Market Square Transfer Center at Second and Market streets in Harrisburg. May 4, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
“Having the efficient well-run transit system here in the state capitol is really important, symbolic, but it’s also necessary for commerce and state employees,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be getting those state employees back and as our customers here directly.”
The investments and efforts put forth in transportation can move a region forward, Bugaile said.
“With transit, every trip begins and ends with walking,” he said. “Also, multiple modes come together here. Walkers, bicyclists, transit riders, we’re mindful that not only are we connecting these modes, but protecting those who utilize those modes for mobility. It’s critical that our infrastructure, transit hubs like these, are safe and attractive for pedestrians to board our vehicles.”
CAT employees have been there to serve essential workers since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, said CAT Executive Director Rich Farr. Pre-COVID, the system was servicing 1,000 people a day at the Harrisburg location, he said.
Now, CAT has extended opportunities for individuals, senior citizens, and people with disabilities to receive their COVID-19 shots, he said.
“On Feb. 16, we began offering free-shared ride trips to local vaccine sites,” he said. “Since that time, CAT and Rabbitransit together have completed more than 2,000 paratransit trips to local vaccine sites. Safety is our core value and we hold that true on every level.”
CAT has been a sponsor to the newly designed transfer center. And, since its construction, there haven’t been any reported near misses of pedestrians being struck or crashes, Farr said.
Improvements to pedestrian safety have been made at the Capital Area Transit Market Square Transfer Center at Second and Market streets in Harrisburg. May 4, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
“We want everybody to be safe,” he said.
Later this summer, the city will begin working on State Street improvements, followed by also making safer the intersection of Foster and Front streets.
“Those two routes have been identified as the least safe intersections in Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said.
Shared-ride options
Shared-ride programs, which are paid for using Lottery and Act 44 funds, are available in every county for seniors ages 65 and older and individuals with disabilities.
The Senior Shared Ride program enables all individuals age 65 and older to use curb-to-curb shared-ride services, and only pay a small portion of the regular shared-ride fare.
Individuals with disabilities ages 18-64 may access transportation through the Persons with Disabilities Program.
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