December 2, 2019

Planning begins for transformation of downtown main street

A new planning design effort in downtown Madera is considering ways to redefine the Yosemite Avenue (State Route 145) corridor as a car, bicyclist and pedestrian-friendly destination. Beyond Yosemite Avenue, the planning area (downtown Madera) is generally along SR 145 (Yosemite Avenue) and within the boundaries of 4th and 6th Streets (north and south) and H and High Streets (west and east). The Project is a partnership between the City and Caltrans and is funded through Caltrans’ Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant.

Officials are working to gather information and opinions about the downtown core that will help guide conceptual design alternatives to create a “Main Street” atmosphere. In part, officials are looking at ways to transform Yosemite Avenue into a safer and more attractive destination to walk, shop, bike and visit. Design options might include new lighting, lower speed limits, bike lanes, urban pocket parks, new entryway signage and updated parking. A community workshop was held in November to discuss the progress of the plan so far and solicit input from residents and stakeholders. Another workshop will be held in mid-January of 2020.

Learn more about the project by visiting madera.gov/dms. For additional questions, or to be notified of any future workshop updates, please contact Randy Bell, City Project Manager, at rbell@madera.gov, or Robert Lorenz, Mark Thomas Design Engineer, at rlorenz@markthomas.com.