After months of discussion, the Gettysburg Borough Council approved creating a construction design for a project that would make Racehorse Alley run one-way from Washington St. to Buford Ave.
The alley currently allows two-way traffic but requires vehicles to drive on private property in order to pass.
The decision was made quickly after the council extensively discussed but then rejected what was the highest rated-option in their prior traffic study, the so-called “Franklin Funnel,” in which the alley would have run one-way from Washington St. to Franklin St. and one-way from Buford Ave. to Franklin St.
When councilmembers Judie Butterfield, John Lawver, Chris Berger, and President Wes Heyser voted against the “funnel” option, the councilmembers went back to another option, the “Oneway west with contraflow lane and additional right of way,” which they said had been ranked second in terms of benefits in the traffic study.
This option would make Racehorse Alley one-way from Washington St. to Buford Ave. but allow a “contraflow” option for bicycles to go both ways. Still to be determined would be the status of existing parking spaces on Racehorse Alley and some right-of-way that would need to be obtained.
The vote for approval was 6 to 1 with Lawver dissenting.
Lawver said he voted against the Franklin Funnel plan because he had concerns regarding traffic flow on Chambersburg St. at Franklin St. Gettysburg Police Chief Robert Glenny said he agreed that there would be more backups at that corner if the funnel plan was implemented.
Glenny said the police used the alley when Chambersburg St. was busy.
Heyser also expressed disapproval of the funnel plan and said it would be difficult, due to state regulations, to easily change the project back to two-way if the project didn’t work out as expected.
Noting that Healthy Adams Bicycle Pedestrian Inc. (HABPI) had supported changes to the alley and paid for an initial design, Heyser said he didn’t think changing the alley was going to create a “bicycle-pedestrian oasis.” I really don’t see it,” he said. Heyser also said he did not think the argument that the alley would be safer after the changes held water.
“After this is over there are going to be a lot of people who are upset,” said Heyser. “The complete lack of public input has been striking,” he said.
Councilmember Chris Berger said he was against the funnel plan and in favor of the approved one-way plan.
Council member Chad-Alan Carr said he was in favor of the funnel project and had heard primarily positive feedback from the public. He said he thought the project would beautify the town. “The fact remains that the alley should not be a cut-through. That’s not what they are made for,” he said.
The borough said given constraints on the use of grant money, construction on the project would likely begin next year
The borough also approved a recycling development and implementation grant in the amount of $306,895 from the PA Dept of Environmental Protection for the development of recycling in the borough.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
Wasn’t this all in the GIL phase one? Didn’t money already get spent on green space curbs and sidewalk construction- a lot of money?
A different way of thinking is needed for The Borough and Surrounding Area….which ties in on the Alley thoughts.. getysburg is lucky so far they have not encountered the severe ravages of climate change. But it’s only a matter of time. Preparation to mitigate the extreme circumstances that are coming… there actually is no time to waste https://youtu.be/9Sslrl1ZDWA
So they agreed with the funnel while bike advocates were present & then completely reversed themselves when none were in the room. Real lack of leadership on the part of the Borough Council.
https://youtu.be/MMaH8M7avNU