Project Overview
The Downtown Signalized Intersection Accessibility & Safety Improvements project will replace and upgrade six intersections in downtown (Cornwall and Railroad at Magnolia, Holly, and Chestnut) with new traffic signals and curb treatments to improve accessibility and safety.
Currently, the six intersections in question are not equipped with the necessary ADA accommodations including accessible pedestrian signals and detectable warning systems. In addition to ADA improvements, the project will implement leading pedestrian interval (LPI) at the signals. Implementation of LPIs can result in up to a 13 percent reduction in pedestrian-vehicle crashes alone.

Project Status 2025
This project is included in the City’s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.
Project Background
This project was identified as one of four Transportation Planning and Engineering Safety Projects in the 2024 Local Road Safety Plan [Bellingham_2024_LRSP_2-1-24.pdf (cob.org)] to help address a high concentration of crashes in downtown Bellingham. The project also responds to requests that the City has received from visually- and hearing-impaired residents, as well as residents with physical mobility challenges, to upgrade existing traffic signals associated with this project.
Funding
This project is currently shown as funded in the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.
Project Timeline
- Project design start: 02/2025
- Contract awarded date: TBD
- Expected construction start date: TBD
- Expected construction end date: TBD
Contact
General project questions: AskPW@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org