Millburn, NJ, adopted a Complete Streets program in 2014, outlining a series of goals and objectives to make the streets safer for pedestrians, improve traffic flow, address intersection congestion, and slow traffic where appropriate. A three-phase implementation plan was developed with a robust series of traffic calming and other improvements that include road-diets, curb bump-outs,…Continue reading
Demolition of a downtown shopping mall in Muskegon, MI, several years ago created a gap in the retail fabric of the city center. This year, the city and Downtown Muskegon Now filled the vacant block with small prefab retail spaces in an effort to create more connectivity for pedestrians. Six buildings were constructed over the…Continue reading
A pilot program providing free bus passes to select downtown employees has been successful enough to inspire a broader, four-year program offering free public transit to all city center workers in Columbus, OH. In 2015, the Capital Crossroads & Discovery Special Improvement Districts won a grant from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to provide four…Continue reading
The streetscape project currently underway in Rosslyn, VA, aims to strengthen the city’s brand, decrease visual clutter, and improve the pedestrian experience. A formal inventory of everything on the streets revealed that the BID had "quite a mish-mash of elements, just hundreds of various pieces that didn’t match, and that adds to visual clutter," says…Continue reading
This summer, Maine’s Gardiner Main Street program partnered with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Augusta to bring a StoryWalk downtown. The goals for the event were two-fold: to promote family literacy and to introduce people to downtown businesses. StoryWalks have taken place in all 50 states and 11 countries. For the basic event, laminated pages from…Continue reading
The presence of street vendors downtown can add or detract from the area’s image, depending upon the quality of the product, service, and presentation. That’s the premise behind the Downtown Boston BID’s street vending program for the Downtown Crossing district in Boston, MA. Street vending has a long history in the area. "From a planning…Continue reading
An integrated marketing campaign in Berwyn, IL, is attracting new residents and businesses, and changing public perceptions of what a small suburb close to one of the country’s largest cities can provide in terms of amenities and lifestyle opportunities. Berwyn’s success comes in part from promoting its inclusiveness. The city sets itself apart "because we…Continue reading
Cities nationwide are considering bans on smoking in select areas downtown, and in Fort Collins, CO, the existing smoking restrictions have been expanded. Smoking is prohibited in Old Town Square, all city-owned or operated facilities, grounds, parks, trails, and natural areas, and most city-approved events and festivals. Eugene, OR, is also looking to expand current…Continue reading
Downtown Madness in Pueblo, CO, is highlighting the city center dining scene and helping restaurants attract new customers. Structured much like basketball’s March Madness, this popular campaign pits 16 restaurants against each other in a good-natured elimination-style competition that narrows the brackets down to eight, then four, and finally two, before the "Chompian" is selected.…Continue reading
In light of Federal Highway Administration concerns about safety, some cities are prohibiting artistically painted crosswalks. That’s the case in St. Louis, MO, where the city has prohibited future crosswalk art projects. Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration explains the safety concerns to Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter, "the road surface needs to look consistent…Continue reading
