Project Downtown
Overview
Project Downtown Pullman is a multi-year City-led effort to reshape Downtown Pullman’s streets and public spaces to build community, experiences, and economy. Project Downtown includes projects identified in the 2020 Downtown Master Plan that was adopted by the Pullman City Council in late 2021.
TIMELINE
2019-2025
Concept Design Phase
January - August 2022
In early 2022, the City of Pullman hired a diverse team of consultants in traffic modeling, utilities design, landscape architecture, and public engagement to develop a concept design for infrastructure that brings downtown Pullman closer to the community’s vision of a walkable downtown with vibrant retail businesses. The concept design objective was to expand to the extent possible and enhance spaces for people-centric activities.
The final concept design reflects public engagement from individual property and business owners, stakeholder groups, and the general public, as well as input from a Steering Committee of stakeholders. The concept design was approved by the Pullman City Council on August 9, 2022.
Final Design Phase
September 2022 - Summer 2023
Following approval of the concept design phase, the City of Pullman asked the same consulting team to proceed with the final design of the projects identified as a priority for Project Downtown Pullman. This detailed work involved consulting team members in landscape design, forestry, utilities design, traffic engineering, and input from the Project Downtown Pullman Steering Committee, the City of Pullman’s professional staff, and impacted stakeholder groups.
The consulting team presented the 60% complete final design of Project Downtown Pullman to the Pullman City Council on January 10, 2023. Video of that presentation is available on the City of Pullman’s YouTube channel at the following link https://youtu.be/Tx8kErwYLfE
The consulting team will use the feedback received from the City Council on January 10, as well as information provided by the Steering Committee and impacted stakeholders, to further refine the final design for Project Downtown Pullman. The consulting team presented the 90% complete final design to the Pullman City Council on Tuesday, February 28, 2023,. Video of that presentation is available on the City of Pullman's YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH0_Zf6Cc0s
On March 14, 2023, the Pullman City Council unanimously voted to modify the timeline for construction of Project Downtown Pullman. Citing factors such as timely project completion, supply chain issues, anticipated contractor availability, and the potential economic impact on downtown businesses still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pullman City Council delayed the bidding process to the fall of 2023 in anticipation of staring construction in April 2024, after the WSU Family Weekend.
The final design phase will conclude in late summer 2023, when the consulting engineering firm provides bid documents and drawings approved by the Washington State Department of Transportation for use by the City of Pullman to seek bids from contracting firms to construct the project. The bid documents will be made publicly available by the City of Pullman and advertised in accordance with purchasing requirements. Bids will be opened in the fall of 2023 and a construction contractor under contract by early February 2024.
CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Spring 2024 - Fall 2024
Once a construction contractor has been hired, and depending on spring weather, we anticipate beginning preliminary demolition to enable construction as soon as mid-April 2024. We anticipate that the project will be substantially complete with roads open to vehicular traffic and sidewalks completed by mid-August 2024, with some features like landscaping to be installed through the fall of 2024. We will have more specific information about construction phasing once a contractor is hired.
At this time and due to budget constraints, the project is anticipated to be limited to the reconstruction of Main Street between Spring Street and Grand Avenue.