Type: Tactical Urbanism Demonstration Project
Size: Three City Blocks (about 1,375 feet in length)
Status: Complete
The Poughkeepsie City Center Connectivity Project is focused on developing improvements to the downtown street network that will enhance mobility and support the city’s broader efforts to revitalize its downtown and promote economic development. The project is being led by the City of Poughkeepsie in collaboration with Sam Schwartz Engineering and the Street Plans Collaborative, and is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority(NYSERDA).
The project kicked off in the summer of 2016 with an analysis of mobility and traffic patterns in the city center. Public engagement has included a “mobile office” on Market Street, two Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings, and a Tactical Urbanism demonstration project.
The demonstration project, dubbed Market Street Connect, was held on Friday, October 7th. Street Plans worked with local volunteers and Sam Schwartz Engineering to re-imagine Market Street in Poughkeepsie, NY ’s downtown core for one day. The project used temporary materials such as hay bales, corn starch paint, plants, artificial turf, and movable furniture to experiment with traffic calming strategies, and reclaim space in the right-of-way for gathering.
Building on feedback from the October demonstration, the project team has now developed several new design options for key streets in the downtown network. The project team then led a public workshop on February 2nd to gather input for a preferred design option to present to the Common Council this spring.
