Following the historic path that the 16th president took to deliver his Gettysburg Address, the initiative aims to revitalize Baltimore Street and Lincoln Square into safer, more accessible community spaces.
Early on a November morning in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stepped out of the three-story David Wills House onto what is now known as Lincoln Square in Gettysburg. He mounted a horse and paraded through the Borough along Baltimore Street and Steinwehr Avenue for the dedication of Soldiers’ National Cemetery, now known as the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where fallen Union troops of the Civil War battle four months earlier were buried. There, he would deliver his famous Gettysburg Address.
This historic route is at the heart of the Gettysburg Gateway Connectivity Project, an ambitious $15 to $18 million revitalization designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and the visitor experience in historic Gettysburg while encouraging more foot traffic to Baltimore Street’s numerous small businesses.
Led by Chad Clabaugh, PE, Senior Client Representative and Project Manager at C.S. Davidson, the project aims to transform Baltimore Street into a more active, more welcoming space for residents and the three million visitors who explore Gettysburg annually. The project builds upon the success of streetscape improvements on Steinwehr Avenue.
Revitalizing Baltimore Street
The Gettysburg Gateway Connectivity Project can be traced back nearly a decade to when Chad, who serves as Gettysburg Borough’s municipal engineer, began talking with Borough officials about Baltimore Street revitalization plans. At the time, Gettysburg was completing streetscape projects on Steinwehr Avenue, which were experiencing great success. However, Baltimore Street and Lincoln Square became increasingly unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.
In 2018, with funding from Main Street Gettysburg and the involvement of over 80 residents and business owners, Chad oversaw the development of a master plan for the project.
“If there’s any place in Gettysburg that deserves attention, it’s Baltimore Street,” Chad says. “It’s where Lincoln walked. It’s a connection to our history and a centerpiece of our community.”
Plans include new sidewalks, decorative streetlights, infrastructure that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a gateway feature to ease traffic congestion at the southern entrance to the Borough. Additionally, intermodal transportation improvements will connect Rabbit Transit services to a central bus transfer station.
A community-driven vision
“This is not just about aesthetics,” Chad says. “Business owners want to get more patrons into their shops, and residents want safer streets.”
Baltimore Street’s sidewalks are in disrepair and not ADA-compliant. The area is dark at night, and there have been traffic incidents resulting in multiple fatalities. This project addresses all those issues.
At the same time, the project faces several logistical and regulatory hurdles. As a federally funded initiative, approvals are required from entities such as the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Additionally, the project’s location in a historic district necessitates careful planning to balance preservation with modernization.
“The biggest challenge is funding,” Chad says. “Gettysburg has a population of about 5,000, so local funds are limited. We’ve been actively pursuing federal grants for years.”
Restoring the past for future generations
In 2020, the project received a Federal Lands Access Program grant to fund its design, which began in August 2024 and is expected to take two years, with groundbreaking anticipated in 2027.
“This is the biggest project of my career and perhaps in C.S. Davidson’s history,” says Chad, who has worked for the civil engineering firm for more than two decades. “It has national recognition and directly impacts the community we work and live in.”
By the time the project is completed in 2029, Baltimore Street will be transformed into a safer and more inviting thoroughfare honoring the area’s historic past while serving the needs of today’s residents and visitors. There’s still a long way to go, and not every aspect of the project has been unveiled to the public. Chad looks forward to sharing the upgrades for Lincoln Square in the heart of the Borough once he’s received the necessary approvals.
Through C.S. Davidson’s creative design and community collaboration, the Gettysburg Gateway Connectivity Project will bring new life to one of America’s most historic towns while ensuring it remains a thriving hub for small businesses and an enriching landmark.