Gaines Street

As the oldest paved road in the City of Tallahassee, Gaines Street was once a bustling industrial corridor adjacent to the railroad. However, despite its significance as a vital transportation corridor that links downtown Tallahassee, Florida State University, the State Capitol, and Tallahassee Regional Airport, Gaines Street had been in decline for several years.

The project area consisted of a 1.5 mile, four-lane roadway with existing businesses and historic warehouse buildings flanking the Street. The objective of the revitalization project was to create a sense of place in the corridor. This would be achieved by rebuilding the roadway with new infrastructure, two-vehicle use lanes, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly amenities, and landscaping.

The project was divided into three segments. Halff first completed a detailed Preliminary Engineering Analysis to evaluate the potential for reducing the number of lanes; increasing utility capacity to accommodate future growth; addressing chronic street flooding along the corridor; and creating the sense of place desired by the City – all without impacting existing businesses along the right of way. Following the completion of the PE report, Halff completed the detailed planning, design and permitting of all segments in the project.

The completed segments of the award-winning Gaines Street feature expanded sidewalks, street furnishings and lighting, on-street parking, sharrows, landscaped medians and bioswales, and public art. The public sector investment in the project has resulted in significant private sector investment and development in the corridor and surrounding areas.