Gaines Street
Imagine a destination district near downtown, between FAMU and FSU, with restaurants, residences and shops, where people stroll down wide sidewalks and get a true taste of all that Tallahassee has to offer. This is part of the vision for the Gaines Street Corridor as created by Tallahassee business owners, citizens and city government.
Approximately, nine years ago, the City of Tallahassee adopted the Gaines Street Revitalization Plan, with the goal of revitalizing the Gaines Street corridor and creating a pedestrian friendly street with a blend of commercial, residential and cultural uses.
As part of the plan, Gaines Street is being rebuilt from a 2-way, 4-lane road to a 2-way, 2-lane street, with limited on-street parking from Woodward Avenue to Monroe Street. The work along Gaines Street is part of the City Commission's goal to create an 18-hour, pedestrian friendly downtown. During the coming years, as the economy improves and development demand increases, this vital link between both local universities and downtown will become an urban corridor with public art displays, businesses and live/work spaces.
Gaines Street Flash Mob Video
Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TJcdJG-y0w
Take a look and please share the video with friends and family to help spread the word that changes are coming to Gaines Street!
Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNChPPCuhmQ
What is a flash mob dance and what does it have to do with Gaines Street? A flash mob is when a large group of people assemble and perform in a public place -- often doing a dance of some kind that seems rather spontaneous. In Tallahassee, the future center for creativity, culture, arts, entertainment and dancing will be the Gaines Street District. What better location than Gaines Street to tape a flash mob dance that illustrates that changes are coming and to spread the excitement?
In addition, the transformation of Gaines Street will mean mean more than a year of construction, traffic changes and inconvenience. The video is designed to help bring attention to the fact that the changes are beginning, but the end result will be an incredible district near the heart of the city. And what's more, the video features more than 150 volunteers who gave hours of their time to be a part of the Gaines Street Flash Mob! We hope you'll love these videos and send them onto your family, friends and associates.
Work
Road Construction
Gaines Street itself will receive a redesign to fulfill the goals of the Gaines Street Vitalization Plan. The updated Gaines Street will feature two lanes, with limited on-street parking between Woodward Avenue and Monroe Street.
Construction is taking place from just east of Railroad Avenue east to Monroe Street. Work is currently taking place on the south side of the street (eastbound lanes), and the two lanes on the north side (westbound lanes) are open to traffic, one in each direction. Construction includes:
- Reducing the number of traffic lanes from four to two;
- Replacing curb, gutter and sidewalks, including wider sidewalks in many places to encourage pedestrian activity;
- Repaving the street;
- Upgrading traffic signals;
- Adding median islands and landscaping, including constructing rain gardens where possible;
- Installing enhanced crosswalks (both at signalized and mid-block locations);
- Installing special lighting and street signs to designate the Gaines Street District; and
- Maximizing the availability of on-street parking.
Take a look at the future features and visions for Gaines Street.
Access to local businesses along Gaines Street will be maintained at all times. Alternate routes around the construction zone will be clearly marked. Motorists are asked to allow more time for their travels in the affected areas and exercise caution on all roadways.
Later this year, the City will bid out similar work to take place from Railroad Avenue west to Woodward Avenue, with plans for that phase of construction to begin in the fall of this year. The work will continue throughout the length of Gaines Street, with completion anticipated by December 2011, weather permitting.
Utilities
Electrical lines and poles have been moved, where possible, from the Gaines Street right-of-way to mid-block locations.
New water and sewer lines have also been installed. The new lines replaced the deteriorating older system and are necessary to support the new development that is anticipated within the Gaines Street corridor.
Traffic Changes
Traffic flow from just east of Railroad Avenue to Monroe Street has been permanently reduced to two lanes. Work is currently taking place on the south side of the street (eastbound lanes), and the two lanes on the north side (westbound lanes) are open to traffic, one in each direction. Once the work is completed along the south side of the street, construction will shift to the north side and traffic will be shifted to the south side of the street.
Some motorists will begin using alternate routes, as the road currently services approximately 36,000 cars per day and will only have the capacity for approximately 16,000 cars per day when the project is completed. Motorists are encouraged to try alternate routes prior to the change to determine what corridor will work best for them and to get a feel for the available options.
Contact/Update Information
Citizens can receive updates on the project via:
- the Talgov.com subscription service,
- by following GainesStreet on Twitter, or
- by liking Gaines Street on Facebook.
Contact us by email for more information.