Dana Street Living Street Pilot

Streets make up the largest volume of public space in almost every city — Wilkes-Barre is no exception to this. But there are many streets that do not perform very well and are of little value added to the communities that they are located within. It is time to reimagine what very low-volume, low parking requirement streets look like and how this space can be better utilized to serve our community. One way of doing this is through “living streets”

DEFINITION

A living street is defined as a street designed with the interests of pedestrians and cyclists in mind by providing enriching and experiential spaces. Living streets also act as social spaces, allowing children to play and encouraging social interactions on a human scale, safely and legally. Typically a living street adds design elements that enhances the space, such as platers, parklets, benches, trees, etc. As well as incorporates chicanes into the design, reducing straight-line paths so as to slow traffic.

BENEFITS

According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), benefits include reducing driving speed and increasing safety, creating a more efficient use of space, increasing socialization and activities, creating a more attractive street, increasing natural surveillance (which helps deter crime), and better quality of life…