Municipal Complex Pedestrian Routing Plan
Summary of Project
The Municipal Complex Pedestrian Routing Plan, being prepared by consultant firm Russell + Mills Studios, recommends improvements to the pedestrian connections and the environment from 20th Street to 22nd Street including the Municipal Building, north parking lot, as well as pedestrian connections to the Civic Commons and to Pioneer Ave.
The pedestrian routes and open space area between the two Civic Center Front Doors, the Municipal Building’s north parking lot, the Laramie County Library, Burke High Rise, Cox Parking Garage and the Senior Activity Center could be improved with wider more naturally flowing sidewalks, enhanced landscaping that reduces overall water usage, improved pedestrian level lighting, way-finding signs, consolidated memorial plaza, outdoor beer garden for civic use and large events, etc.
To view the latest updates to this plan (June 2020), click here.
Goals for the project include:
- Enhance connections within the Municipal Complex and to destinations beyond
- Increase overall pedestrian safety, comfort, and function
- Continue to establish municipal complex character and identity
New major projects in the vicinity are pushing the need for a planning project to recommend pedestrian facility improvements within and adjacent to the vacated Thomes ROW between 20th and 22nd Streets. West of the Municipal Building is the new Civic Commons.
The goals of that project include flood mitigation while creating a public outdoor space within downtown. This new detention facility and park displaced 186 parking spaces, which have been absorbed by the North Parking Lot, Cox Parking Garage and/or on-street. Many Civic Center patrons and participants that parked in this West Lot now park elsewhere in the Municipal Complex area. A Cheyenne Municipal Area Parking Study was prepared in 2016 to address this parking displacement issue. (View the Cheyenne Municipal Area Parking Study)
Secondly, Laramie County has completed the construction of an addition to the Laramie County Detention Facility. The new project added 112 new prison beds to the existing 350. This jail expansion expanded the building generally on the west. The northwestern side of the building is 5 stories plus the mechanical equipment. This addition impacted parking for Sheriff employees. A small parking lot at the corner of 20th and Thomes was removed for the building expansion.
Many people that attend Civic Center events and concerts park in the Cox Parking Garage. However, some patrons avoid the parking garage and prefer to use the North Parking Lot, other nearby lots or on-street. Larger crowd could use the County Library Parking lot, north of 22nd Street.
The existing loop drive adjacent to the North Lot in front of the Burke creates a disconnected pedestrian connection for patrons of the Civic Center that are parking in the Laramie County Library and along W 22nd Street. Improvements to both the lot circulation as well as new wide pedestrian sidewalks create not only a more direct and safer connection but also increase the available parking in the North Parking Lot. In addition to the safer sidewalk connections, improved water-wise landscaping, new pedestrian level lighting and way-finding signs create a more navigable municipal space.
This study develops a plan for an improved pedestrian connection and environment from the 20th Street intersection to 22nd Street including the Municipal Building North Parking lot and the areas west to O’Neil Ave. and east to Pioneer Ave. The consultant, Russell + Mills Studios has considered improvements through and around the North Parking Lot and provided graphic or video representations of the proposals with detailed specifications, itemized quantities and cost estimates.