Vancouver Main Street

Project

Year

2022-2024

Location

Vancouver, Washington

Client

City of Vancouver

The Challenge

Balancing Place & Mobility

The Main Street Promise Project in Vancouver, Washington, aims to address the longstanding need for a more walkable, vibrant, and community-focused downtown area. For years, city officials struggled to secure funding to revitalize Main Street, which has lagged behind in infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly design. To help overcome these challenges, the city hired First Forty Feet to guide the transformation. The project seeks to turn Main Street into a destination that prioritizes people over vehicles, with wider sidewalks, curbless designs, improved lighting, and enhanced pedestrian and cyclist accessibility. By addressing outdated infrastructure like sewer and water lines, and incorporating modern amenities such as electric vehicle charging stations, the project also aims to reduce the environmental footprint. Ultimately, the goal is to create a lively, culturally rich space that supports small businesses and becomes a hub for community events, improving the quality of life for Vancouver residents.

Photos from public engagement session

A proposed re-design of Main Street with parallel parking and additional pedestrian and gathering space for people.

The current state of Main Street with diagonal parking and a small percentage of the right-of-way dedicated to pedestrians and places for people to gather.

Testing some ideas

First Forty Feet Out

A new and improved edge condition includes a 'building zone' for businesses to provide space for outdoor seating, signage, and planters. It also includes directional paving, a furniture zone for bike parking and street trees, a curbless valley gutter, and parallel parking zone.

Street Furniture

Custom benches, tables, bike racks, and trash cans have been coordinated as not just a public realm amenity but also to reflect the aesthetic identity of Vancouver.

Tactile / Directional Paving

The design team worked with many stakeholders, including members of the visually impaired community. Expanding mobility opportunities to more people was an important design principle which is reflected in the use of directional pavers and textured transitions at intersections. A model was build to help test the design against how these community members would like to navigate Main Street with ease in the future.

Multi-functional curbless street

Stakeholders decided to move forward with a curbless street condition, which would allow for more versatile uses of the street, especially additional community activities.

For example, it was envisioned that the street could be closed down for market days as well as cater to arts and music festivals.

The Impact

People First Infrastructure

The Main Street Promise Project in Vancouver, Washington, is set to dramatically improve residents' quality of life by transforming Main Street into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly area filled with art, gathering spaces, and community events. By reducing the need for cars and making walking enjoyable, the project will create a more accessible and connected downtown. With infrastructure upgrades, wider sidewalks, and innovative designs like curbless walkways, Main Street will become a safer, more inviting space for everyone, including those with mobility challenges. The planned events, festivals, and enhanced public spaces will foster a strong sense of community, making Main Street not just a thoroughfare but a lively destination that enriches the daily lives of Vancouver’s residents.