Streets for All

Kalamazoo’s neighborhoods, university campuses and downtown are currently divided by several wide, high-traffic one-way streets. This creates barriers for pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists. Converting to a two-way street will calm the speed of vehicles to make room for other modes of transportation and cultivate a community that can be enjoyed by all. Read more about the background here.

Enhances Safety: By reducing the number of lanes, lane conversions can decrease vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points, leading to fewer crashes. Improves Livability: Creating space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation users. Calms Traffic: Slowing vehicle speeds and making streets more pleasant for residents and visitors.

Fewer lanes mean fewer conflict points for vehicles, reducing the risk of crashes. Additionally, it will create safer pedestrian crossings and improved visibility at intersections.

Overall, well-designed streets can attract visitors and boost economic activity. Easier access to local shops and restaurants encourage foot traffic.

The City of Kalamazoo has been awarded an unprecedented level of federal funding to transform our downtown streets. In the last few years, we’ve secured more than $80 million to invest in making streets that are safer, more inviting, and that support a vibrant downtown. These grants won’t just improve our streets, but also fund major work on Arcadia Creek to prevent flooding and other utility improvements to modernize and protect our new infrastructure. The $2.6 million the City is providing is just 3% of this total investment that will vastly improve our community!

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