Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis)

Share Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) on Facebook Share Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) on Twitter Share Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) on Linkedin Email Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) link
Cyclist riding in Holly Street Bike Lanes entering downtown Bellingham

Help guide the development of this vital transportation route for downtown

Do you care about the future of the Holly Street corridor? We are seeking community input about your priorities for this corridor in preparation for the development of a final plan for Holly Street, extending from Ellis Street to Broadway Avenue. Until September 30, please share your perspective on which features you believe are the most important to prioritize in the final design using the Survey and Questions tools below. Full project details are available on the Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) project webpage.

Help guide the development of this vital transportation route for downtown

Do you care about the future of the Holly Street corridor? We are seeking community input about your priorities for this corridor in preparation for the development of a final plan for Holly Street, extending from Ellis Street to Broadway Avenue. Until September 30, please share your perspective on which features you believe are the most important to prioritize in the final design using the Survey and Questions tools below. Full project details are available on the Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) project webpage.

Why are we asking for your input?

Creating a vibrant, inclusive downtown that meets diverse transportation needs requires thoughtful planning, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to refining designs as we gather additional insights. As we begin designing the final corridor enhancements for Holly Street (from Ellis to Broadway), we’re weighing between competing priorities and project goals—such as traffic flow, placemaking opportunities, bike lane integration, and parking availability. Your feedback is an important part of the data that we’re considering to ensure the selected design reflects the community's vision for this critical piece of our transportation network. In fact, it's essential to help us find the right balance—making Holly Street safer, more comfortable, and welcoming for everyone.

What about the Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot?

This project will build on the lessons learned from the 2024 Holly Bike Lane Pilot to create a permanent bike lane that extends from Ellis Street to Broadway Avenue. During summer 2025, crews will implement interim improvements to address residents' concerns stemming from the pilot project by enhancing cyclist visibility, reducing right-turn conflicts, and encouraging safer speeds through intersections. Results from the 2024 pilot are available here.

What is the goal of the Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) project?

The 2024 Bicycle Master Plan prioritizes Holly Street from Ellis Street to Broadway as a key corridor for bicycle improvements, guided by data-driven network analysis and extensive public and stakeholder input. This project aims to fill a critical gap in the City's bike network by establishing dedicated cycling infrastructure along Holly Street. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to enhance bicyclist and pedestrian safety and comfort in the downtown area, addressing needs identified in the City’s Local Road Safety Plan. The project also aligns with Bellingham's Complete Networks Ordinance, which prioritizes the safety and accessibility of the most vulnerable users in the city's multimodal transportation system.

Want to learn more?

Additional details and background about this project and the bike lane pilot can be found on the Final Design – Holly Street Corridor (Broadway to Ellis) project webpage.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Please share any questions you have for Public Works below:

  • Share 1) Is the final design for bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people/families who use bikes? Asking because the last iteration of the pilot project seemed to be focused on the fast cyclists (“strong & fearless”) with the bending of the green bike lane at intersections – apparently to slow down cyclists. It’s the fast cyclists who skip these bending intersections & take the adjacent lane instead. This intersection design makes it unnecessarily complex for the majority to navigate (including tourists). So I’m wondering how the final design will work for the interested/concerned? 2) Are design considerations for the final project going to avoid conflict points & crossover zones? It doesn’t seem like green paint is enough. Are these examples for separating in time & space possible? • floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr • nonsimultaneous driver and ped/bike forward & turning movements at intersections • restricted RTOR (or LTOR) on Holly at intersecting streets and, where intersecting movements occur: • minimizing harm for walkers & rollers by using raised tables for drivers at alleys & driveways (from the outside edge of the bike lane – and including the width of the sidewalk). There are several examples for raised crossings on Granary & the Millworks driveway that would be possible – at a minimum. on Facebook Share 1) Is the final design for bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people/families who use bikes? Asking because the last iteration of the pilot project seemed to be focused on the fast cyclists (“strong & fearless”) with the bending of the green bike lane at intersections – apparently to slow down cyclists. It’s the fast cyclists who skip these bending intersections & take the adjacent lane instead. This intersection design makes it unnecessarily complex for the majority to navigate (including tourists). So I’m wondering how the final design will work for the interested/concerned? 2) Are design considerations for the final project going to avoid conflict points & crossover zones? It doesn’t seem like green paint is enough. Are these examples for separating in time & space possible? • floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr • nonsimultaneous driver and ped/bike forward & turning movements at intersections • restricted RTOR (or LTOR) on Holly at intersecting streets and, where intersecting movements occur: • minimizing harm for walkers & rollers by using raised tables for drivers at alleys & driveways (from the outside edge of the bike lane – and including the width of the sidewalk). There are several examples for raised crossings on Granary & the Millworks driveway that would be possible – at a minimum. on Twitter Share 1) Is the final design for bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people/families who use bikes? Asking because the last iteration of the pilot project seemed to be focused on the fast cyclists (“strong & fearless”) with the bending of the green bike lane at intersections – apparently to slow down cyclists. It’s the fast cyclists who skip these bending intersections & take the adjacent lane instead. This intersection design makes it unnecessarily complex for the majority to navigate (including tourists). So I’m wondering how the final design will work for the interested/concerned? 2) Are design considerations for the final project going to avoid conflict points & crossover zones? It doesn’t seem like green paint is enough. Are these examples for separating in time & space possible? • floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr • nonsimultaneous driver and ped/bike forward & turning movements at intersections • restricted RTOR (or LTOR) on Holly at intersecting streets and, where intersecting movements occur: • minimizing harm for walkers & rollers by using raised tables for drivers at alleys & driveways (from the outside edge of the bike lane – and including the width of the sidewalk). There are several examples for raised crossings on Granary & the Millworks driveway that would be possible – at a minimum. on Linkedin Email 1) Is the final design for bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people/families who use bikes? Asking because the last iteration of the pilot project seemed to be focused on the fast cyclists (“strong & fearless”) with the bending of the green bike lane at intersections – apparently to slow down cyclists. It’s the fast cyclists who skip these bending intersections & take the adjacent lane instead. This intersection design makes it unnecessarily complex for the majority to navigate (including tourists). So I’m wondering how the final design will work for the interested/concerned? 2) Are design considerations for the final project going to avoid conflict points & crossover zones? It doesn’t seem like green paint is enough. Are these examples for separating in time & space possible? • floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr • nonsimultaneous driver and ped/bike forward & turning movements at intersections • restricted RTOR (or LTOR) on Holly at intersecting streets and, where intersecting movements occur: • minimizing harm for walkers & rollers by using raised tables for drivers at alleys & driveways (from the outside edge of the bike lane – and including the width of the sidewalk). There are several examples for raised crossings on Granary & the Millworks driveway that would be possible – at a minimum. link

    1) Is the final design for bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people/families who use bikes? Asking because the last iteration of the pilot project seemed to be focused on the fast cyclists (“strong & fearless”) with the bending of the green bike lane at intersections – apparently to slow down cyclists. It’s the fast cyclists who skip these bending intersections & take the adjacent lane instead. This intersection design makes it unnecessarily complex for the majority to navigate (including tourists). So I’m wondering how the final design will work for the interested/concerned? 2) Are design considerations for the final project going to avoid conflict points & crossover zones? It doesn’t seem like green paint is enough. Are these examples for separating in time & space possible? • floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr • nonsimultaneous driver and ped/bike forward & turning movements at intersections • restricted RTOR (or LTOR) on Holly at intersecting streets and, where intersecting movements occur: • minimizing harm for walkers & rollers by using raised tables for drivers at alleys & driveways (from the outside edge of the bike lane – and including the width of the sidewalk). There are several examples for raised crossings on Granary & the Millworks driveway that would be possible – at a minimum.

    redwagon asked about 1 month ago

    Thank you for sharing your questions! Answers to each of your questions are outlined below:

    1. Is the final design for the bike lane intended for the “interested but concerned” group of people and families who use bikes? Yes. The Holly Street design is focused on making cycling safer and more comfortable for the “interested but concerned” riders—those who would like to bike more but are cautious about traffic. The design includes bend‑outs (not bend‑ins), which shift the bike lane slightly outward at intersections. This treatment slows bicycle speeds at crossings, places cyclists in a more visible position next to pedestrian crossings and improves safety for those less confident on a bike.

    More confident or faster cyclists (“strong and fearless”) still have the option to ride in the vehicle lane if they prefer. However, data shows that the vast majority of people biking on Holly choose to use the bike lanes.

    2. Doesn’t this intersection design make things unnecessarily complex, especially for visitors? How will it work for the “interested but concerned”? The bend‑out design is a nationally recognized safety treatment that has been in use for more than a decade. It is only applied where needed—for example, it is not used at State Street, since there are no right‑turning vehicles there. Where it is applied, the goal is to keep cyclists as visible as possible to turning drivers and reduce the likelihood of conflicts.

    3. Will the final design avoid conflict points and crossover zones? Isn’t green paint alone insufficient? To the greatest extent possible, yes. The project team is considering a range of treatments to reduce conflicts, including:

    • A potential bike signal at Bay Street to provide a dedicated crossing time.
    • Buffering or separation of bike lanes where space and budget allow.
    • Use of green paint and delineators in some locations where physical separation is not feasible due to right‑of‑way or funding constraints.

    4. Are additional separation strategies—like floating bus stops, restricted turns on red, or raised crossings—being considered? Yes, several of these ideas are under review:

    • A floating bus stop at Billy Frank Jr. Street is under consideration.
    • Nonsimultaneous movements (separating driver turning movements from pedestrian/bike crossings) are being evaluated at some intersections. Currently, signs direct bikes to use the pedestrian signal, and with Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) and advanced bike stop bars, cyclists already receive a head start at signals.
    • Raised crossings (like those at Granary and Millworks) are being considered on intersecting streets where feasible. They are not possible on Holly itself due to their impact on emergency vehicle response times.
  • Share As a Pedestrian, I felt safer crossing Holly Street BEFORE all the changes. Cars and generally bicyclists stopped at the red lights. When the cars were parked out into the street, there was not a good line of sight and pedestrians were in danger of getting hit by cars or bikes. I was disappointed that the safety of pedestrians was not in much of the conversation when changes were proposed, on Facebook Share As a Pedestrian, I felt safer crossing Holly Street BEFORE all the changes. Cars and generally bicyclists stopped at the red lights. When the cars were parked out into the street, there was not a good line of sight and pedestrians were in danger of getting hit by cars or bikes. I was disappointed that the safety of pedestrians was not in much of the conversation when changes were proposed, on Twitter Share As a Pedestrian, I felt safer crossing Holly Street BEFORE all the changes. Cars and generally bicyclists stopped at the red lights. When the cars were parked out into the street, there was not a good line of sight and pedestrians were in danger of getting hit by cars or bikes. I was disappointed that the safety of pedestrians was not in much of the conversation when changes were proposed, on Linkedin Email As a Pedestrian, I felt safer crossing Holly Street BEFORE all the changes. Cars and generally bicyclists stopped at the red lights. When the cars were parked out into the street, there was not a good line of sight and pedestrians were in danger of getting hit by cars or bikes. I was disappointed that the safety of pedestrians was not in much of the conversation when changes were proposed, link

    As a Pedestrian, I felt safer crossing Holly Street BEFORE all the changes. Cars and generally bicyclists stopped at the red lights. When the cars were parked out into the street, there was not a good line of sight and pedestrians were in danger of getting hit by cars or bikes. I was disappointed that the safety of pedestrians was not in much of the conversation when changes were proposed,

    Love our park asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback. Since the bike lanes were first installed, public feedback and data analysis have informed several project modifications, including the conversion of parking-protected bike lanes to standard buffered bike lanes in order to address sight distance concerns. Modifications were also made to allow for Leading Pedestrian Intervals at crossings while combining pedestrian and bike traffic to improve visibility and safety for all users. 

  • Share Looking at the community survey data on https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Before-After-Report-Final-Rev4.pdf it appears that the bulk of both drivers and cyclists think the setup you've created is unsafe. Why are you sticking with it? Thanks on Facebook Share Looking at the community survey data on https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Before-After-Report-Final-Rev4.pdf it appears that the bulk of both drivers and cyclists think the setup you've created is unsafe. Why are you sticking with it? Thanks on Twitter Share Looking at the community survey data on https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Before-After-Report-Final-Rev4.pdf it appears that the bulk of both drivers and cyclists think the setup you've created is unsafe. Why are you sticking with it? Thanks on Linkedin Email Looking at the community survey data on https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Before-After-Report-Final-Rev4.pdf it appears that the bulk of both drivers and cyclists think the setup you've created is unsafe. Why are you sticking with it? Thanks link

    Looking at the community survey data on https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Before-After-Report-Final-Rev4.pdf it appears that the bulk of both drivers and cyclists think the setup you've created is unsafe. Why are you sticking with it? Thanks

    ScreenName01 asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Since the original installation of the Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot Project, public feedback and data analysis together have informed several project modifications, including the re-channelization of the Bay / Prospect St intersection to improve traffic flow, reverting parking-protected bike lanes to standard buffered bike lanes to improve visibility, and adding additional protection and vertical delineators along high conflict areas, such as in front of driveways and alleys. These modifications were implemented to address public concerns centered on visibility issues and the risk of "right hook" conflicts. These iterative adjustments demonstrate the importance of ongoing community engagement and a data-driven approach to address public concerns and refine project design.

    Moving forward, the design phase for the final, permanent Holly Street corridor is now underway. This will cover its entire length, from Ellis Street to Broadway Avenue. Our process will evaluate the interim improvements from the pilot project (Ellis Street to Bay Street) and integrate those learnings with design for the remaining sections (Bay Street to Broadway Avenue) that haven’t yet received major upgrades. Community members are invited to help shape this final design by sharing feedback here on Enage Bellingham. Input submitted by September 30, 2025, will inform decisions about future priorities, including bike lane design, parking, traffic flow, and placemaking.  

     

  • Share Cars making right turns are always tricky for cyclists in bike lanes and we appreciate your creativity in finding solutions on Facebook Share Cars making right turns are always tricky for cyclists in bike lanes and we appreciate your creativity in finding solutions on Twitter Share Cars making right turns are always tricky for cyclists in bike lanes and we appreciate your creativity in finding solutions on Linkedin Email Cars making right turns are always tricky for cyclists in bike lanes and we appreciate your creativity in finding solutions link

    Cars making right turns are always tricky for cyclists in bike lanes and we appreciate your creativity in finding solutions

    Susan asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for sharing your feedback!

  • Share What's the science behind the lane changes? Considering the public input has been largely negative, why won't the city just admit their mistake and switch it back to how it was before? Why didn't you answer the questions I asked last summer after you screwed things up the first time? on Facebook Share What's the science behind the lane changes? Considering the public input has been largely negative, why won't the city just admit their mistake and switch it back to how it was before? Why didn't you answer the questions I asked last summer after you screwed things up the first time? on Twitter Share What's the science behind the lane changes? Considering the public input has been largely negative, why won't the city just admit their mistake and switch it back to how it was before? Why didn't you answer the questions I asked last summer after you screwed things up the first time? on Linkedin Email What's the science behind the lane changes? Considering the public input has been largely negative, why won't the city just admit their mistake and switch it back to how it was before? Why didn't you answer the questions I asked last summer after you screwed things up the first time? link

    What's the science behind the lane changes? Considering the public input has been largely negative, why won't the city just admit their mistake and switch it back to how it was before? Why didn't you answer the questions I asked last summer after you screwed things up the first time?

    ScreenName01 asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Throughout the Pilot, we collected extensive community feedback, which helped guide several improvements that have been implemented since the Pilot project began. For details regarding the pilot project results, community feedback, data collection, and analysis, you can review the Holly Street Bike Lane Before & After Study Report, which Public Works presented to the Bellingham City Council on January 27, 2025. 

    Recent updates were completed to enhance cyclist visibility, reduce right-turn conflicts, and encourage safer speeds through intersections. These changes respond to community feedback and concerns we heard during the initial phase of this project. Designing public spaces in a dynamic urban core is a complex balancing act—one that requires navigating diverse and often competing needs through an iterative, collaborative process. After carefully analyzing pilot data and considering community input, these adjustments reflect our commitment to creating a vibrant space that serves all modes of travel, balancing diverse needs for a safer, more connected downtown.  

Page last updated: 03 Oct 2025, 03:19 PM