Des Moines is considering an ambitious complete streets makeover of its downtown streets.
Kim Norvell reports on the Connect Downtown plan under consideration in Des Moines, ahead of an expected adoption by the City Council in fall of 2017. The plan has been made public in a round of public open houses this month, with street changes proposed to increase safety and street life.
"Planners hope the changes, slated to be complete by 2030, will create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists, which in turn will encourage business growth and attract young, creative professionals who want to commute to their jobs on foot or by bike," explains Norvell.
The draft version of the plan could affect "[n]early every street in the downtown core would be touched," explains Norvell. The plan would convert existing one-way streets to two-way traffic, reduce traffic lanes on some streets, and create protected bike lanes for a "connected bike network."
Jeff Speck, well known to Planetizen readers as the author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, led a team of planners from San Francisco on a year of study prior to this point.
FULL STORY: Plan cuts downtown one-way streets, adds protected bike lanes
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research