Public Works News: Full Article

September 22, 2023

All of the decorative concrete crosswalks have been constructed on Rayen Avenue. The crosswalks on West Rayen Avenue have cured and traffic has been restored from Fifth Avenue to Wick Avenue. The crosswalk that spans the south end of the North Champion Street and East Rayen Avenue intersection is still curing, so the adjacent block of North Champion Street remains closed to traffic.

The final application of asphalt and painting/striping still remain to be done.

Construction on Rayen Avenue, between Fifth Avenue and North Walnut Street, is part of Phase 2 of the SMART2 project. These blocks have been redesigned to be safer and more accessible for users of multiple modes of transportation, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders. Project design features include the following:

• Road Diet: Reducing the existing 4 vehicular lanes to 1 in each direction, plus left turn lanes, as needed.
• Protected bike lanes.
• Bus pull-outs
• Safety and aesthetic improvements to existing crosswalks.
• The addition of an intra-block crosswalk.
• Energy efficient and aesthetic street lighting.