The Wichita City Council has approved a 10-year, $17.4 million plan to improve safety and increase mobility options for getting to, around and from the downtown area.
Between now and 2027, the city plans to convert Main, Market, Topeka, Emporia and English from one-way streets to two-way. The project will also optimize traffic signals on those streets.
From 2028 to 2032, Broadway and Water will be reconfigured, by narrowing or eliminating travel lanes to calm traffic and increase safety for all roadway users.
The city says each project will undergo a preliminary design, using input from adjacent property owners, tenants, and advisory boards, before being presented to the council for review and approval.
Council member Becky Tuttle says in addition to making the streets safer, it will drive economic development in the area as well.
The plan is forecast to meet current needs and future changes of the downtown and will accommodate a variety of transportation modes, including walking and biking.
Work on the Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan began in 2018, but the brakes were pumped in 2020 due to the pandemic. Renewed engagement on the plan began last year.