Planners are taking a fresh look at Broad Street from the Tennessee Aquarium to M.L. King Boulevard and embarking on a block-by-block study of the key downtown Chattanooga artery.
The effort will allow Chattanoogans to shape the future of Broad with a goal of having a plan ready to present in late spring 2023, said Emily Mack, the president and chief executive of River City Co.
"As we move through the process, needs for improvement will be identified that will open opportunities for a variety of funding sources," said the head of the city's downtown nonprofit redevelopment group in an email.
Called "Reimagining Broad Street," the initiative will build off of the One Riverfront plan finished last year that proposed the biggest remake to downtown's riverfront in nearly two decades.
Options for Broad Street in that plan included a narrowing from four to two lanes of traffic with turn lanes at major intersections from the aquarium to Fourth Street. Also, the road could offer wide sidewalks, bike paths and on-street parking to Fourth, the plan said.
But One Riverfront had community support for a more comprehensive and visionary plan for Broad than just the waterfront area, according to River City.
The new study will look at potential public and multimodal improvements while integrating technology and green infrastructure, along with eyeing parking and economic development opportunities, the nonprofit said.
Dawn Hjelseth, RiverCity's vice president of marketing and communications, said earlier feedback indicated people wanted "a cohesive feel all the way down Broad Street to M.L. King."
"There definitely can be improvements to Broad Street," she said in a telephone interview. "We want the community identifying what elements are needed on that corridor."
Through Nov. 30, River City is seeking input from people to guide improvements on Broad. An online survey is available at broadstreetcha.com.
Also, River City and the Chattanooga Design Studio will offer design gatherings, lunchtime listening sessions, online forums and input sessions at neighborhood and organization meetings, according to the nonprofit.
Funding for the planning effort is provided by the Lyndhurst Foundation, Benwood Foundation, the city and River City. The cost wasn't disclosed.
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said as the city grows, it's important to ensure downtown develops in a way that's environmentally sustainable, economically productive and inclusive.
He said in a statement that the effort can create "a visionary plan for (Broad Street's) redevelopment that supports smart growth for our downtown and meets the needs of our residents."
A takeaway from the One Riverfront plan was the waterfront district's streets -- especially Riverfront Parkway, Broad and Fourth streets -- aren't perceived as friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Broad Street is "a certain candidate for a road diet as it currently carries around 8,000 cars per day but has enough lanes to serve upward of 30,000 cars per day," that plan said.
The plan said that 60% of Broad between Aquarium Way and Fourth Street can currently be characterized by "non-active frontage," noting the road "is not only overly-wide, but it also features nearly full city blocks of blank facades and surface parking lots."
Also, One Riverfront said bike lanes run adjacent to the curb on both sides of Broad and while they're a protected facility, the design hasn't been well-received by all users.
"The curbing is a tripping hazard for pedestrians," the plan said. "A better curb-to-curb design solution is required for Broad Street."
One Riverfront also called for more affordable housing and businesses, enhancing public space and renewing the Tennessee Riverwalk.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.