Project Overview
The Lincoln-Maple Signal & Non-Motorized Improvements Project (ET034) will construct a full traffic signal at Lincoln/E Maple to improve intersection operation and safety and break the 0.86-mile corridor in half by providing a protected pedestrian crossing. The scope of the project has been expanded to include other improvements in the corridor:
- Lincoln Street will be re-channelized from 5 lanes to 3 lanes with a center turn lane.
- Existing bike lanes will become buffer-protected bike lanes.
- A flashing crosswalk and transit island will be constructed at Lincoln/Viking Circle.
- A 5-foot-wide sidewalk will be constructed along the west side of Ashley/E Maple between Lincoln and Consolidation.
Project Status – September 2024
The project is complete. Thank you for your patience during construction!
More Information
The planned improvements are covered in Projects 12 & 18 of the Six-Year (2023-2028) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A future phase 2 will look at extending these improvements to the Lincoln/Lakeway intersection but requires additional work.
Research indicates that the intersection at Lincoln St/E Maple St requires the planned traffic signal to improve safety. This was confirmed in three recent independent traffic impact analyses (TIAs) for private residential development and in the 2020-2021 Lincoln-Lakeway Multimodal Transportation Study conducted by the City, WSDOT, WTA, and WCOG.
Several hundred student apartments and significant commercial development has been approved or is under construction along both sides of Lincoln Street and E Maple. This intersection also abuts the WWU Lincoln Creek Park-N-Ride and WTA high-frequency transit service to WWU campus.
The traffic signal is supported by a Transportation Improvement Board grant of $480,000 and street funds including money from private development (Transportation Impact Fee and SEPA mitigation fees). The non-motorized improvements are funded by the voter-approved Bellingham Transportation Fund.
Contact
Jessica J. Bennett, Project Engineer
Phone: (360) 778-7923
Email: jjbennett@cob.org
Media inquiries: Email pwmedia@cob.org
