M
Streets, Highways & Bridges
Goshen crafts walkable downtown after assuming control of Main Street By SARAH WRIGHT | The Municipal
The rerouting of designated state routes can sometimes open the door to new exciting possibilities. The city of Goshen, Ind., discovered this after it assumed control of its Main Street, formerly State Road 15, between Madison and Pike streets in April 2019. This transfer came with the designation of U.S. 33 moving to a new overpass and State Road 15 being rerouted to Third Street. “The city, spanning a couple administrations, saw the benefit of removing the designated state routes from Main Street,” Goshen Director of Public Works Dustin Sailor explained. “The city and the Economic Improvement District are centrally focused on maintaining a strong central city core that in turn supports the rest of the community.” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman added, “The transfer of Main Street from the state of Indiana to the city allowed us to pursue
56 THE MUNICIPAL | APRIL 2022
several physical improvements that would not have been possible prior to the transfer.” Many improvements were geared toward making Main Street and, by extension, downtown Goshen more pedestrian friendly. Since Main Street had served as a major state route, it experienced heavy truck traffic that ran counter to that mission while also serving as a deterrent for pedestrians in a downtown that has grown to offer unique businesses and restaurants while hosting major events like First Fridays. For
ABOVE: Goshen, Ind., bagged traffic signal lights at intersections along Main Street as it switched to four-way stop signs, crafting a more pedestrian-friendly downtown. Workers will remove the signal mast arms this year. (Photo provided by the city of Goshen)
the city and the EID, it was key to remove that truck traffic to strengthen Main Street’s charm. “Once the transfer of the corridor was complete, there was a short period of relief in having a long-term goal accomplished. Quickly following the transfer to local control, city staff worked to finalize plans to restore Main Street’s pavement and sidewalks. Although there was a desire to make significant changes, utilizing the community’s funds in a smart way is always a focused goal,” Sailor said. Stutsman noted, “We developed conceptual plans to show businesses and
