Burlington Great Streets Initiative Update: First Phase Completed

Suisman Urban Design has been working closely with the City of Burlington for the past year on the city’s Great Streets Initiative. SUD and team has just recently completed the first phase of the Initiative, which includes developing new downtown-wide street design standards, a concept plan for eight blocks of Main St. and St Paul St., and a concept plan for City Hall Park.

The first project of the Great Streets Initiative is to develop a set of standards for rebuilding Burlington’s downtown public streets. These will help the city plan for long-term sustainability and transform their streets into dynamic public spaces, while ensuring that renovations and improvements can be responsibly maintained for decades to come. The standards will guide the rebuilding of the streets according to four values articulated by the residents of Burlington: walkable and bikeable; sustainable; vibrant; and functional.

The concept plan for Main Street/St. Paul is about balancing all of the uses of the public right of way; it optimizes the roadway by converting diagonal parking to parallel. This change allows for the introduction of wider sidewalks, appropriately sized tree belts to support tree health and stormwater management, and a protected bike lane. Each intersection includes opportunities for outdoor seating, public art, views of the lake, or bike parking.

City Hall Park has been part of downtown’s urban fabric since the founding of Burlington. The concept plan prioritizes a healthy, functioning urban park; accessibility for all users, in all seasons; and the enhancement of the historic park to meet the modern needs of our community.

SUD and team will now move into the next phase of the Great Streets Initiative, which entails developing construction documents for City Hall Park and St. Paul Street.

Read and see more about our work with the Great Streets Initiative on their website.