The Eldridge Pilot Project added improvements along Eldridge Avenue from Broadway to Nequalicum, enhancing safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. The project involved removing street parking to install 5-foot wide marked bike lanes with 2-foot buffers, along with significant improvements to four pedestrian crossings.
Project Status – May 2025: Based on post-project data showing increased pedestrian and bicycle usage, City staff recommend permanent adoption of the Eldridge Pilot Project improvements. A City Council vote on this recommendation is tentatively scheduled for June 23, 2025.
We want your feedback!
To share your opinion and feedback about the project and staff recommendations, please visit our Engage Bellingham page and complete the Eldridge Avenue Bike Lane Post Project Survey by June 8, 2025. Your input is vital in informing the City Council’s decision.
Learn more
We conducted pre- and post-project studies to understand the pilot’s impact on traffic speed, bicycle and pedestrian usage, as well as parking availability along Eldridge. Here’s a summary of what we found (the full report is available here):
Speed
Average vehicle speeds didn’t significantly change after parking removal. Contrary to some concerns, we saw no increase in speeding. In fact, instances of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph or more actually decreased by about 5%.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Usage
Comparing pre-project data from June 2023 to post-project data from April and June 2024, results show a ~30% increase in both pedestrian and bicycle usage. We anticipate the buffered bike lanes and enhanced crossings have also significantly reduced stress levels for people walking and biking by providing better separation and visibility.
Parking
Side street parking availability remains adequate. While some residents are now farther from on-street parking, the average walk for the most impacted residents to available parking on the public right-of-way is around 2 minutes. Post-project parking observations of Eldridge side streets (Madrona to Walnut) revealed:
- Jaeger was the only side street with average utilization over 85%.
- Madrona, Cherry, West, Washington, Lynn, Henry, and Madison had average utilization between 50% and 85%.
- Lafayette, Monroe, Keesling, Williams, Utter, and Walnut had utilization under 50%.
- Parking was most utilized in the evening and early morning, with both Madrona and Jaeger exceeding 85% utilization during evening hours.
Addition of bike lanes
As part of the pilot, parking was removed to make way for buffered bike lanes. The Eldridge corridor now features two 5-ft bike lanes with 2-ft painted buffers and reflective markers, alongside two 11-ft travel lanes. Shared lane markings were added to establish bicycle boulevards on Lafayette-Monroe to Meridian Street and West Street to West North.
Intersection of Eldridge and Nequalicum
This intersection was modified to expand pedestrian space on the northwest corner and set curbs for the planned northbound bike lanes. The unwarranted right-turn pocket was removed, improving sight distance down the bridge for drivers and cyclists. A new ADA-compliant crossing was installed at Eldridge Avenue and Henry Street, west of Carl Lobe Park.
Why remove street parking?
To add the bike lanes, it was necessary to remove parking on both sides. Keeping parking on one side would have required curb modifications to meet buffer requirements. Due to the need for future utility upgrades, the project did not include paving.
Eldridge Avenue between Broadway and Nequalicum Avenue intersections is a secondary arterial collector route and before improvements for the pilot were complete, the road had two 11-ft travel lanes and two 7-ft parking lanes. Before the project, the only marked crossing within the corridor (besides at the traffic signal on Broadway) was at Victor Street.
The Westside Non-Motorized Improvements Project (ES563) was awarded by City Council at the July 10, 2023 meeting to Colacurcio Brothers for $1,675,874. These improvements are funded by City Street funds and the voter-approved Bellingham Transportation Fund. Upgrades are part of the Westside Non-Motorized Improvements, enhancing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across 15 Bellingham locations.
Contact
General project questions: AskPW@cob.org
Media inquiries: Email pwmedia@cob.org
Project Engineer
Jessica Bennett, P.E.
Phone: (360) 778-7923
Email: jjbennett@cob.org
