The arrangement, character, extent, width, grade and location of all streets shall conform to the Comprehensive Plan and shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, topographical conditions, public convenience and safety and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of the land to be served by such streets. In all cases, streets shall be designed to meet the needs of all users, including not only motor vehicles but also pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users of all ages and abilities. This shall apply to all new streets and to the reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance of existing streets.
(a) Where such is not shown in the Comprehensive Plan, the arrangement of streets in a subdivision shall either:
(1) Provide for the continuation or appropriate projection of existing streets and surrounding areas;
(2) Conform to a plan for the neighborhood or planning district prepared by the Planning Commission where topographical or other conditions exist that make continuance of or conformation to existing streets impractical; or
(3) Conform, in the case of multi-family housing projects, industrial developments, commercial districts, unit group projects and the like to a plan approved by the Planning Commission.
(b) No residential street shall be laid out in such a way as to permit or encourage its use by through traffic.
(c) Where a subdivision abuts or contains an arterial street shown on the Comprehensive Plan, the Commission may require a non-access reservation or “buffer strip” containing screen planting along the rear property line, deep lots with rear service ways or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and will afford separation of thru and local traffic.
(d) Where a subdivision borders along or contains a controlled access highway right-of-way as shown on the general street plan for the location of streets (Ord. 2888, 8-24-1961, and all future locations), the Commission may require a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of the intervening land. Portions of such width shall be greater where approach grades and future grade separations require additional width.
(e) Reserve strips controlling the access to streets shall be prohibited except where their control is definitely placed under the jurisdiction of the city with conditions approved by the Commission.
(f) Street jogs with centerline offsets of less than 125 feet shall be avoided; residential streets shall intersect collector streets at “T” street intersections if possible.
(g) A tangent at least 50 feet long shall be introduced between reverse curves on residential streets.
(h) When connecting street lines deflect from each other at any one point, they shall be connected by radial curves adequate to ensure a sight distance of not less than 100 feet for collector streets, 50 feet for residential streets and of such greater radii as the Commission determines for special cases.
(i) Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, and no street shall intersect any other street at less than 60 degrees. Not more than two streets shall converge at one intersection.
(j) Street intersections shall be rounded with radii of:
Street Type | Radii (Feet) |
Arterial | 50 |
Collector | 35 |
Lane or alley | 10 |
Local | 15 |
Marginal access | 15 |
(k) Street right-of-way widths, pavement and sidewalk widths shall be the minimum specified hereafter.
Street Type | Right-of-Way Width (Feet) | Pavement Width (Feet)* | Width of Paved Sidewalk (Feet) |
Street Type | Right-of-Way Width (Feet) | Pavement Width (Feet)* | Width of Paved Sidewalk (Feet) |
Arterial | Pa. Department of Transportation | None | |
Collector | 60 | 42 | 5 residential area |
10 commercial area | |||
Cul-de-sac | 50*** | 26** | 4 |
Lane or alley | 20 | 20 | None |
Local | 50 | 26** | 4 |
Marginal access | 40 | 20 | 4 |
Pedestrian way | 20 | - | 4 |
NOTES TO TABLE: *Measured from face of curb to face of curb for vertical curbs and from beginning of taper or roll for built-up rolled curbs. **In areas where off-street parking requirements cannot be met, the pavement width shall be increased 10 feet. ***See subsection (m) hereof for turnaround requirements. | |||
(l) Half streets shall be prohibited, except where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision in conformity with the other requirements of these regulations and where the Commission finds it will be practicable to require the dedication of the other half when the adjoining property is subdivided. Wherever a half street is adjacent to a tract to be subdivided, the other half of the street shall be platted within such tract. Where the subdivision abuts on an existing street, developers shall allow a right-of-way from the center of such road equal to one-half that required by the classification into which such road falls, as outlined herein.
(m) Cul-de-sac streets shall not normally be longer than 600 feet. All cul-de-sacs shall be provided at the closed end with a turnaround having an outside right-of-way diameter of at least 90 feet and a cartway diameter of 56 feet. Where cul-de-sac streets exceed 600 feet, larger turnarounds and additional turnarounds may be required.
(n) No street names shall be used which will duplicate or be confused with the names of existing streets. Street names shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.
(o) Streets shall not have a grade of less than 1%, nor exceed the following grades unless approved by the Engineering Department.
Street Type | Percent of Grade |
Arterial | As required by Commonwealth Standards |
Collector | 10 |
Lane or alley | 12 |
Local | 12 |
Marginal access | 12 |
Pedestrian way | 15 |
(p) When a street designated as an official bike route by resolution of City Council is resurfaced, repainted, reconstructed, repaired or otherwise rehabilitated, City Council may require that appropriate bicycle markings be incorporated into the street design.
(q) The Engineering Department and Public Works Department shall consult the most current editions of the following engineering manuals as design guidelines to accommodate all street users:
(1) Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares, Institute of Transportation Engineers;
(2) Urban Street Design Guide, National Association of City Transportation Officials;
(3) Urban Bikeway Design Guide, National Association of City Transportation Officials.
(Ord. 4486, approved 10-14-1971; Ord. 5023, approved 1-31-1980; Ord. 6328, approved 6-8-2017)