Key Projects Continued

Strategic Development and Land Investment Opportunities:
The Creamery
Railroad Right-of-Way Aquisition
Nazarene Church
Higher Education
Gateways & Wayfinding System
City Hall Relocation
Circulation System

Gateways & Wayfinding System: Currently, Downtown's edges, gateways and wayfinding system are very weak. There are very few signs (none on the north end) directing traffic to the city center. Development along Main and Meridian Road is such that there are few clues to when someone actually arrives within Downtown. These weaknesses deter development.

Gateways, using themes attractive to target markets, need to be designed and constructed at the following locations: (See red squares in graphic at left.)

• Intersection of Fairview and Main on Main, with entry signage on Cherry Lane and Fairview approaches
• Intersection of Main and Railroad line
• East side of Intersection of Pine and Meridian Road, with entry signage on Meridian Road approaches
• West side of Intersection of Pine and Third

Wayfinding signage to Downtown should be established at key intersections elsewhere in Meridian so as to guide drivers to gateways. Key intersections include: (See red circles in graphic at left.)

• Eagle Road and Franklin (all approaches)
• Fairview and Eagle Road (all approaches)
• Fairview and Main (east and west bound approaches)
• Fairview and Meridian (east and south bound approaches, directing traffic to Fairview and Main Gateway)
• I-84 off ramps
• Main and Meridian Road (directing traffic to Main ) (northbound approach)
• Meridian Road and Franklin (east, west and north bound approaches)
• Main and Franklin (east, west and north bound approaches)

City Hall Relocation: City of Meridian leaders have determined to build a new City Hall capable of containing all City administrative staff. Council and the Mayor want the location to complement Downtown revitalization and development priorities. This intent serves the community strategically. Substantial infrastructure and private sector capital investment are installed in this district. As a thriving urban core, its property values will rise and contribute substantially to the City's tax base. As a major urban center, its vitality will be a beacon for future Meridian investment. By investing in Downtown, the City will demonstrate to the private sector that local government is committed to Downtown. The signal will be clear and enticing: ‘We are bullish on the future of our city center.' Imagine the alternative of locating City Hall elsewhere. The message would be: ‘We want the private sector to invest here but we're not willing to ourselves.'

There are at least ten alternative sites in the Downtown and Transit Village districts that might host a future City Hall. Some possess more strategic advantages than others. The City has initiated a selection process that will systematically take into account the range of goals and objectives, including those related to use and to revitalization priorities.

Circulation System: One of Downtown Meridian's most severe challenges is its traffic congestion. The regional transportation system is overwhelmed with vehicles. The worst, most congested intersection in the state is in Meridian at Eagle Road and I-84 (51,600 northbound vehicles per day). Click here for average daily traffic counts in downtown Meridian. In response, drivers are seeking every possible alternative throughout the day to get “through” the city to their ultimate destinations. Downtown has become dominated and throttled by this through traffic.

The result is that Main Street through Downtown is being used as a highway. There are many drivers who, impatient for the system to catch up, want the Downtown arterials to be expanded to allow for more and faster traffic volumes. Short of widening Main Street , traffic officials have considered such “solutions” as a one-way couplet and reduced parking along this key arterial. The timing of traffic signals has already been modified to force pedestrians to wait to cross Main for as long as five minutes. As volumes increase, the quality of Downtown's pedestrian environment will continue to plummet. Efforts to improve business and the place of Downtown will remain stifled.

This conflict must be addressed strategically if Downtown Meridian is to survive as a city center. The planning team's fundamental position is that “Failure of the regional transportation network does not justify sacrificing the Heart of Your Community to through traffic.” Downtown is a destination whose nature is to serve pedestrians. A quality pedestrian environment cannot be achieved with a highway running through its core.

It is essential to relocate genuinely “through” traffic to the Downtown's edge. “To” traffic (destined for the city center) should be welcomed and directed to appropriate locations for parking. At the same time, through traffic should be encouraged to reconsider and stop to visit Downtown. This can be accomplished with streetscapes, signage, building improvements and other design mechanisms readily available and affordable. In particular, gateways and edges should be enhanced to emphasize the city center's attractiveness as a destination and to highlight its many assets – especially businesses.

Creation of a Transportation Management Strategy for Downtown Meridian should, in short, be made a top City priority.