SCRANTON, PA – Scranton City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti's sweeping plan to dramatically alter downtown streetscapes, a project valued at $27.3 million.
The vote, which split the council, approved two ordinances that will implement changes including replacing some traffic lights with stop signs and reverting several one-way streets to two-way traffic.
Council President Gerald Smurl, along with Commissioners Bill King and Jessica Rothchild, voted in favor, securing the plan's passage. Commissioners Mark McAndrew and Tom Schuster cast the dissenting votes, mirroring their opposition in previous meetings.
Mayor Cognetti and supporters view the plan as a rare opportunity, largely funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to improve infrastructure and safety. They argue that the plan, which addresses traffic patterns historically prioritizing vehicles, is essential to making the downtown safer for pedestrians and more attractive for businesses and residents.
The concept originated with a 2018 lecture by urban design expert Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, and was followed by the city's 2023 "Downtown Scranton Connectivity Plan."
"I do believe there is a pedestrian safety issue within Scranton. … I also don’t believe that the status quo is working," said Commissioner Rothchild. Commissioner King added, "I will be voting for progress."
Former Mayor Wayne Evans offered an impassioned plea for full implementation, submitting letters of support from major downtown developers. Council President Smurl stressed that the extensive, PennDOT-approved plan would be jeopardized by any delay or change, noting that the ARPA funds must be committed and spent by October 2026.
The two dissenting commissioners, McAndrew and Schuster, voiced support for sidewalk and stormwater upgrades included in the plan, but expressed significant doubts about the core traffic changes. Their concerns centered on whether replacing traffic lights with stop signs and creating two-way streets would genuinely promote safety, the overall financial cost, and the adequacy of public awareness and input.