Thanks to Mansfield Rising, plans are underway to transform Mansfield’s downtown, creating a more vibrant space for all and making a better front door entrance to the community.
As the streetscape project is making headway, lots of questions can be answered to give the public more insight into what the next couple years will look like in order to reach the finish line.
A partnership with K.E. McCartney and Associates (KEM)
The city of Mansfield and KEM have been collaborating to create a more welcoming, pedestrian-friendly downtown environment.
The process of choosing KEM as the consultant for this project started with a required quality based selection process by the city in 2020. Many candidates submitted their qualifications, but ultimately KEM was the most qualified for this project.
“KEM has experienced engineers on staff who have done this kind of work many times before. A professional product has been delivered at each stage of the project thus far. We anticipate the same with stage three plan submission,” Mansfield City Engineer Bob Bianchi said.
The vision of making downtown Mansfield more of an attraction to the community, businesses and travelers was beginning to become a reality when this partnership came to fruition.
Project schedule
Talk about the streetscape project began in 2017, but authorization for work began in June 2021. Stage one submission was completed Oct. 2021 and just five months later, 60% of the plans were submitted in March 2022.
As deadlines are approaching, the team is working fervently to meet the project’s milestones.
By April 3, they expect 90% of the planning stage will be complete.
With several components in play, including the schedule, Director of Transportation Engineering at KEM Jason Burgholder highlighted the importance of keeping the public informed on the progress.
“We started this project in 2017, looking at the impacts and benefits in going from one-way traffic to two-way,” he said. “Now we are about to complete the plans and prepare for the construction phase.”
The project’s scope is significant, stretching from First to Sixth Street. The initiative stems from the Mansfield Rising plan, aimed at revitalizing the city’s core.
Renderings showcase sandstone features and seating walls, a revitalized fountain in the bank plaza, two lighted arches over Main Street, a new mid-block lighted crosswalk to help reconnect Central Park, planting strips to separate pedestrian corridors from the street, crosswalks made from salvaged bricks from the last brick road in Mansfield, Columbia Ave., and more. Traffic signals will also be coordinated to create a safer environment for those on foot.
“Main Street, our main artery, did not reflect who we were as a community. We are moving into a much more beautiful, pedestrian-friendly corridor,” Mayor Jodie Perry said.
Construction is slated to begin in Feb. 2025 starting with water line replacements followed by block-by-block work. During this time traffic will be detoured, assuring continued access to businesses.
“Our goal will be to communicate with owners, tenants and the public as much as we can, so everyone understands where we are headed with construction,” Bianchi said.
Funding updates
The length of time spent on the streetscape project may seem laborious, but when state and federal funding is involved, processes do take longer.
Part of the slowdown is following the acquisition guidelines in order to acquire property, which can take up to 18 months. Despite the necessary tedious steps taken in the last few years, the timeline of the project has barely wavered.
“Things are really moving along and it is amazing we are at this point in the process,” Bianchi said.
To date, roughly $14.7 million in grants have been secured though 7 different agencies. The current estimate for the entire project is just over $14.7 million.
The streetscape project represents a collective effort to shape Mansfield’s future.
“It’s about creating a destination, improving the feel for pedestrians, and breathing new life into our community,” President/Owner of KEM Brian McCartney said.
To learn more about K.E. McCartney and Associates, visit their website. For more updates on the streetscape project, follow this four-part quarterly series to stay informed.
