COLUMBUS INNERBELT Healing the Divide
COLUMBUS INNERBELT
Healing the Divide
Stitching Neighborhoods Together
Since the 1950’s, the Interstate highway system linked together major cities from coast to coast, but many urban freeways slice through downtowns, bisect communities, and divide the urban fabric of our cities thus creating barriers for our neighborhoods. Many of these interstates were built through Black, Brown, and lower-income communities. Cities like Seattle, Dallas, and Columbus have recognized the negative impacts this separation of their downtown cores caused to the vitality of surrounding districts and sought to mend their neighborhood connections.
The most effective approach to this has been the creation of “caps” or “lids” over depressed freeways and the substantial improvement of over and underpass bridge connections, or “stitches.” Freeway capping reclaims the space lost to the freeway and transforms it into usable public space. Freeway stiches consist of greatly enhanced bridge connections that emphasize multimodal connectivity, safety, and comfort. In some cases, these projects result in new urban parks, civic uses, or commercial space. These $100+ million dollar projects across the country have been the products of great civic investments with the support of public and private partners and the community.
In Columbus, MKSK led the effort to reconnect multiple neighborhoods with the Downtown as part of the Innerbelt reconstruction effort that began in 2001. Rather than invest substantial public funds into one cap location to connect one district like Seattle and Dallas, MKSK responded to stakeholder direction and worked with ODOT and Columbus to spread these same public dollars around the entire Innerbelt system with stiches and mini-caps to connect ALL neighborhoods in a meaningful and responsive way.
Rebuilt Connections
I-670 Construction/ Widening in High Street Area Begins ODOT I-70/71 South Innerbelt Study Begins Milestone: Over 100 Community Meetings I-670 Innerbelt Project Complete + High Street Cap Opens Federal Highway Admin Approves Plans Community Ranks Bridges Planned & Designed Connections
DOWNTOWN
COLUMBUS
ENGAGEMENT Community-Driven Design
MKSK led the community conversations to create design enhancement manuals to guide the $1.6+ billion ODOT series of Innerbelt projects.
The Columbus Innerbelt projects (I-670, Columbus Crossroads, Ramp-Up) were one of the largest collaborative efforts ever conducted in the City of Columbus. It involved multiple levels of government agencies from local to state to federal, city officials and organizations, private engineering and design consultants, major downtown institutions and corporations, non-profit organizations, district and neighborhood groups, and the general public. Because of the vast scale of this project and number of communities impacted by the freeway, special attention was taken to thoroughly engage and communicate with the residents of Columbus’s neighborhoods. Led by an Advisory Committee of approximately 50 organizations, the community was involved from the beginning of the project from evaluating freeway alignment alternatives to prioritizing bridge crossings to shaping the design elements of the corridor. MKSK led or participated in over 100 public meetings in its first four years, and since has reached more than 500 meetings to-date collecting thousands of public comments.
Milo Grogan
Italian Village
Bronzeville
Olde Towne East Southern Orchards
Milo Grogan
DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS
Community-Driven Design
The neighborhoods asked for the limited enhancement funding to benefit connections to ALL neighborhoods, not just one.
Community-Driven Design
Engagement covered the entire region surrounding Downtown and included over 50 organizations, institutions, businesses, and neighborhood associations.
SYSTEMS
A Holistic Approach
City-Wide Impacts
Through the MKSK-led meetings, the community provided strong design direction. Investment in repairing the interstate was secondary to them. They insisted that funding and design effort be spent at the city street, neighborhood, and bridge crossing level to reconnect and repair the damage done in the 1960’s.They wanted equal focus on addressing needs of the people that live and work here, not just those traveling through.
Five principles resulted for the bridge crossings: 1) hide the freeway, 2) make the crossing inviting for all through Complete Street principles, 3) remove the high speed ramps, 4) reflect the local neighborhood character, and 5) reinforce the walls adjacent to the bridges to be “cap capable” for future development.
MKSK worked to incorporate these principals in the design of all of our bridge crossings. The result has been, and will continue to be, transformational.
Healing the wound created in our cities by the interstate system
RECONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DOWNTOWN
SHARE THE PROSPERITY IN THE RENAISSANCE OF DOWNTOWN
RESTORE WHAT WAS TAKEN AWAY BY PAST TRANSPORTATION POLICIES
CELEBRATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY
Freeway “Stitches”
MKSK developed three general categories of enhanced bridge overpass “stitches” to guide ODOT, City of Columbus, and community conversations. These typologies reflect methods to effectively reconnect the neighborhoods at a fraction of the cost of block-long caps.
Each of the rebuilt bridge crossings are one of these types of stitches. Built examples of each include The Cap at Union Station - a Building Cap that carries High Street over I-670 that reconnects the Short North with the Convention Center; the Long Street Bridge and Cultural Wall - a Park Cap that carries Long Street over I-71; and Spring Street - an Enhanced Bridge Stitch connecting the KingLincoln/Bronzeville neighborhood with Downtown.
More bridges are planned and under construction (dashed lines on map) representing additional Building Cap, Park Cap, and Enhanced Bridge Stitches.
The Cap at Union Station
Spring Street Bridge
Long Street Bridge + Cultural Wall
“Stitching”
with Bridges + Caps
Re-Connecting Neighborhoods
Where the bridge caps and stitches have been completed, the result has been nothing short of community-changing - with vitality and reinvestment occurring in each location. With the success of the first caps stitches, eight more are designed or under construction – spreading the impact around the close-in neighborhoods of Columbus.
Today, rather than two districts, the Short North has grown seamlessly into the Convention Center/Arena District downtown because of the success of the High Street Building Cap. The crossing is safe, inviting, and lined with active retail. In fact, a majority of people have no idea they are walking over a freeway. This connection has made it the most active spot in Downtown.
The construction of the Spring and Long Street Bridge stitches immediately stabilized the King-Lincoln District, and since its opening in 2014, has led to renewed investment, renovation, and infill along the corridor. The neighborhood has gone from one in slow decline to one that is now being rejuvenated as a mixed income community. On the Downtown side of the bridge stitches, expanses of surface parking are being redeveloped into mixed use housing, closing what has been a great divide since 1962.
Olde Towne East
Topiary Park Neighborhood
BEFORE
Short North to Downtown AFTER
Short North to Downtown
Victorian Village Brewery District Arena District
Streets as Linear Parks
As part of the twenty-year Innerbelt Project, MKSK has designed a number of streets for ODOT and the City of Columbus. In each case, MKSK has advanced Complete Street principles and worked to incorporate better and wider sidewalks, bicycle facilities, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, street trees, landscape, and amenity spaces. In fact, MKSK’s design approach to streets is that they are linear parks – the largest and most important spaces cities are able to directly improve.
This is reflected in the Elijah Pierce, Lester Drive, Mound and Fulton Streets, and Livingston urban avenues that are being rebuilt as part of the 7071 project. This philosophy and impact can also be seen in the MKSK-designed signature streetscapes such as North High Street, Nationwide Boulevard; streetscapes related to the Scioto Greenways, the one-way to two-way conversion of Gay Street, Front Street, and Civic Center Drive; and the new streets in the Scioto Peninsula. Additionally, MKSK is focused on integrating transit better into our downtowns. MKSK is leading the downtown design integration of the LinkUS Bus Rapid Transit System’s first three lines: the West Broad, East Main, and Northwest Corridors.
Olentangy River Road
N/W BRT
New Lester Drive
Civic Center Drive
Livingston Avenue
LinkUS BRT Corridors
Public Space Placemaking
While designing park caps and linear park streets as part of the Innerbelt projects, MKSK has also been addressing the western edge of Downtown through transformational park and greenspace projects along the Scioto River. This too has been an almost 30year effort working from MKSK-led master plans for the Downtown and Riverfront to design and construct signature, national award-winning parks that have become the post cards of Columbus.
This includes the Scioto Mile and Greenways that involved the removal of a low head dam to recapture 30 acres of new riverfront park; the creation of fountains and children playgrounds that are a melting pot for the city in Bicentennial Park and Dorrian Green; special event venues and attractions such as North Bank Park, McFerson Commons, Columbus Commons, and Topiary Gardens; and the first urban Metropark in Scioto Audubon Metropark. MKSK has been careful to integrate sustainability, water quality, habitat restoration, ADA accessibility, and regional trail connectivity as park of these park placemaking projects.
Scioto Greenways
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Topiary Park + Columbus Metropolitan Library
Dorrian Green
Scioto Greenways
Goodale Park
McFerson Commons
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Public Parks Dedicated Bike Lanes Bike Trail
Victorian Village Brewery District Arena District
East Franklinton
Placemaking with Parks & Trails PUBLIC SPACES
King Lincoln / Bronzeville
Mount Vernon
PROCESS + OUTCOMES
Design Enhancement Process
Gain a foundational understanding of & develop resolutions to large scale structural, community & design elements
Define Project Parameters & Process
Constituent Committees
Develop community elements framework & design enhancement concepts
Working Group
Public Open House
Share & review Design Enhancement Concepts with general public
Constituent Committees
Design Enhancement Bridge Prioritization
Working Group preliminary project design
Advance Vision Plan from Concepts to Preliminary Design Enhancement Plan
Develop detailed design of highway appearance, urban avenue streetscape, and bridge crossings
Stakeholders & Design Consultant Team reviews structural components recommendations Recommendations & Concepts Review
Selection of preferred alternatives to advance & refinement of roadway design and geometry
Define Design Enhancements Parameters
Working Group
Develop & Review Detailed Design Enhancements Guidelines for Main Line Freeway, Urban Avenues & Bridge Crossings
Stakeholders
Example Catalytic Project Outcome: Long Street Bridge + Cultural Wall
The Long Street Bridge connects the historic King LincolnBronzeville Neighborhood with Downtown Columbus. The 240-foot long Cultural Wall public art piece tells the story of the people and places of the Bronzeville neighborhood and serves as a source of community pride.
I-670 High Street Cap | 2005
An early win reconnecting two Downtown Columbus districts.
Since its completion in 2005, the High Street Cap has been nationally and internationally recognized for its integration of urban design and freeway design. As a result of a successful public/private partnership, this cap bridges the eight-lane section of I-670 freeway below. Buildings flanking either side of High Street pay homage to the former Union Train Station that occupied the site and create a pedestrian-friendly block that seamlessly blend the Short North District into Downtown Columbus. The Cap was one of the first freeway caps to include retail development, providing 25,496 square feet of retail space and now host to popular dining destinations.
I-70/71 South Innerbelt Corridor Study
2003-2006
Transportation study explores innovative solutions.
Beginning in 2003, the I-70/I-71 Innerbelt Corridor Study set the foundation for the Innerbelt Design Enhancement Project by exploring innovative ways to address this overcrowded 1.9-mile downtown interstate corridor. This stretch of the freeway is one of the most congested and dangerous in the region, with over 1,000 accidents per year. The study developed an extensive public engagement process to ensure that this major reconstruction endeavor thoroughly involved the communities that it would impact. Analysis focused on impacts that the different proposed freeway design alternatives would have on the built environment and selected the design that best accomplished safety and urban design goals within a limited enhancement budget.
Enhanced Innerbelt Design
Additional travel lanes, enhanced urban avenues, and enlarged bridge crossings.
Development Opportunity
Expanded bridge crossings have the potential to support development in the future.
Potential Plaza Cap
Bridge crossings may be enlarged to create larger green spaces across the freeway trench.
Columbus Crossroads I-70/71
Innerbelt Project | 2003-Present
A unique city-wide opportunity to mend damage to urban neighborhoods caused by the initial interstate construction.
FREEWAY TRENCH
MKSK’s engagement on the Columbus Crossroads I-70/71 Innerbelt Project has spanned the arc of the project, including the initial extensive Public Process - involving hundreds of public meetings focusing on the entire corridor vision, through evaluation of the potential alternatives, to narrowing to the preferred alternative. MKSK authored the “Design Enhancement Manual” for the entire project. This memorialized community direction and agency agreements and established the design intent and vocabulary for the entire project before it was divided into many phases to be built by multiple project teams over several decades.
Recognition:
2012 OCEC-OH Grand Award for the I-70/71 Design Enhancement Manual
2014 Central Ohio ASHE Project of the Year Awards for Outstanding Highway Project: Over $5M Construction Cost & Peers Choice for Project of the Year for Phase 1: I-71/670 Interchange
URBAN AVENUES
GATEWAYS
BRIDGE CROSSINGS & CAPS
LONG STREET BRIDGE
Catalytic
Project
The Long Street Bridge design consists of a green space cap and public art “Cultural Wall.” The cap is designed to serve as a green space park but could also accommodate a future building with private development interest. Rather than chain link safety fencing, the MKSK team designed a polycarbonate wall system in its place that is used for the Cultural Wall. The art wall consists of a series of large illuminated panels that display important figures and moments in the neighborhood’s history. The wall is now a source of community pride and a true gateway connecting the historic King Lincoln-Bronzeville Neighborhood with Downtown. Wider sidewalks for pedestrian comfort and safety, bike lanes, on-street parking, and trees and landscape in irrigated planters are all part of the complete street design that invites all modes to cross and experience the community while hiding the freeway below.
“ThecoverofthisBudgetHighlightsdepictstheLongStreetbridgein Columbus,Ohio,whichrestoredconnectionbetweentheKing-Lincoln District,aneighborhoodthatwascutoffinthe1960sbyconstructionof aninterstatehighwayfromthecity’scenterandeconomicopportunity. Thisefforttoreconnectandrevitalizeacommunitydividedbypast transportationpoliciesisacompellingexampleofhowtransportationcan createoreliminateopportunitygapsinourNation.Weneedtobringpeople, neighborhoods,communities,andregionstogetherbydesignandwemust recognizetheimportantroletransportationcanplayindoingso.”
- Anthony Fox, Former USDOT Secretary
Long Street Bridge + Cultural Wall | 2014
This placemaking transportation investment bridges the divide between Downtown and a historic neighborhood with green space, meaningful art, and Complete Street design.
Long Street Bridge & Cultural Wall | 2014
Celebrating a historic neighborhood.
The new Long Street Bridge “Green Cap,” the first of its kind in Columbus, provides civic greenspace and seating areas for neighborhood and community events. It is surrounded by a public art collage spanning over 60 years of history and leaders of the King-Lincoln District (formerly “Bronzeville”) and Near East Side neighborhoods, which is meant to inspire future generations. The 240-foot mural along the bridge features 60 internally-illuminated screen wall panels with 139 images of faces and landmarks from the surrounding neighborhoods. Photographer Kojo Kamau, a lifelong resident of the area, captured the photographs, and local artist Larry Winston Collins hand-crafted and printed captured photographs onto linoleum block panels that were reproduced in 2-D.
CH2M HILL
On the evening of July 10, 2014, MKSK joined the City of Columbus and the Ohio Department of Transportation in celebrating the opening of the Long Street Bridge and unveiling of the Cultural Wall, recognizing the history and leaders of the King-Lincoln District and Near East Side neighborhoods. Among the crowd of more than 1,500 attendees were Mayor Michael B. Coleman, ODOT Director Jerry Wray, State Senator Charleta Tavares and Representative Kevin Boyce, wall honorees Larry Winston Collins and Kojo Kamau, and many other notable local public figures. This opening night brought together residents, community leaders, city officials, and the public as they celebrated another milestone for the revolutionary I-70/71 Innerbelt Project.
COLUMBUS INNERBELT
Healing the Divide
Case Study Summary
Our worked spanned 23 years and counting, working with a multitude of diverse neighborhoods and major downtown institutions, in an effort that has so far spanned four (4) ODOT directors, two (2) city administrations, and the involvement of hundreds of invested residents. MKSK has partnered with four major engineering firms across six (6) major phases of the Columbus Innerbelt projects representing almost $2B in overall investment. The result to date has not only been the improved safety and operation of the Interstate system in Downtown, but as importantly to the community, the improved physical and psychological connection of Downtown with its surrounding neighborhoods and districts - Healing the Divide created by the original interstate construction.
