Raised Crosswalks Raise Visibility for 

Pedestrians in Harrisburg

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

KEY ELEMENTS:

Improved visibility

Increase in yielding

Near-miss incidents in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

raised awareness of pedestrian safety at mid-block 

crossings in the heart of the Capitol. The Pennsylvania 

Department of Transportation (PennDOT) studied key 

corridors and implemented a series of improvements, 

such as raised crosswalks, to increase pedestrian 

visibility and reduce vehicle speeds.

Figure 1. An officer directs traffic at the intersection of 

Commonwealth Avenue and North Street during peak hours.1

IMPLEMENTATION 

The traffic study’s stakeholder committee 

included: PennDOT, City of Harrisburg, the 

Department of General Services (entity 

responsible for maintaining the Capitol 

grounds), and the Historic Preservation 

Committee. The study recommended 

improvements to increase the visibility of 

pedestrians, reduce vehicle speeds, shorten 

pedestrian crossing distances, and provide 

space for bicyclists. 

Specific countermeasures and 

accommodations included: 

• Intersection improvements (bulb-outs)

at Forster Street and Commonwealth

Avenue.

• Six raised crosswalks at key midblock

locations along Commonwealth Avenue

and North Street.

• A Road Diet that reduced travel lanes

from two to one on one-way North Street,

to provide space for a bicycle lane.

• A raised intersection at Commonwealth

Avenue and North Street—the busiest

intersection in the project site (a Capitol

Police Officer directs traffic during the

morning and afternoon rush).

• Intersection and pedestrian crossing

improvements throughout the project site,

including in front of the Capitol steps.

For more information, please contact:

PennDOT Multimodal Office, 717-787-8197 or www.penndot.gov/

 SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERY PEDESTRIAN CASE STUDY
EDC-4 STEP: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/step.cfm

Case Study: Raised Crosswalks Raise Visibility for Pedestrians in Harrisburg

References

1. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 

• Sidewalk widening along a two-block 

segment of Aberdeen Street that 

becomes Commonwealth Avenue and 

connects the Harrisburg Transportation 

Center to the Capitol Complex.

• Lighting, sidewalk, and ramp repair for 

the Market Street Underpass.

• ADA-compliant curb ramps throughout 

the project site.

Once the project was complete, PennDOT 

conducted a lunch hour education 

campaign two to three times a week. 

Staff and interns wearing matching t-shirts 

distributed safety tips and reminded people 

to use the crosswalks. 

RESULTS

The project’s performance has not been 

formally assessed since it opened in 2016. 

However, PennDOT staff and other users 

have reported that most people are using 

the crosswalks and drivers are yielding for 

pedestrians waiting to use the crosswalks. 

State transit funds completely covered 

the $2.8 million project cost of the project 

because of the connection to the train 

station and multiple bus stops throughout 

the project site.

“These improvements will not only increase 

safety for travelers, but also provide a 

connection to the transportation center that will 

benefit commuters and Capitol visitors alike.” 

–Leslie Richard, PennDOT Secretary

Figure 2. Raised pedestrian crossing with in-street signage.1