One of downtown Boise's most iconic streets will soon be permanently designed for pedestrians and cyclists rather than cars.
On Tuesday, the Boise City Council approved a new design for the two blocks of 8th Street between Main and Bannock Streets. This second phase of construction in the area completes the city's plans to make the two-block area car-free after it was hastily remodeled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to create more space for patio dining. The area is the only road in the City of Boise controlled directly by city officials rather than the Ada County Highway District, giving Boise politicians complete control over the vision for the two blocks.
The design, developed after the city conducted an online survey, collected in-person feedback and met with business owners, will add more public seating to the area and make it a more flexible venue for events. It also addresses accessibility challenges for users with disabilities who require temporary ramps to get people over the curb and into stores, as well as conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians moving through the area at different speeds.
Chad Rietze, an urban planner working on the project, said the goal is to make the area a place for events, not just dining and strolling.
“The adaptability makes the space more flexible and could be freed up for an event,” he said. “More permanent infrastructure in this space could limit usable space and would not provide as much room for programming.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026 and will be completed before the peak of the patio dining season. The rough cost estimate for the project is $3 million, which could be partially covered by grant funding.
What will the design look like?
The way pedestrians flow through the area will change after the renovation.
Right now, pedestrians and cyclists move through the blocks with no rhyme or reason to walk through or stop to visit restaurants and shops. The new design removes the curbs and creates a completely flat space, eliminating the need for ramps to get from the street to the sidewalk shops. The majority of the street will remain as it is today, allowing people to move freely. However, there will also be a strip on one side of the street dedicated to pedestrians who wish to move through the area in a straight, direct path.
This pedestrian area is particularly helpful for people with visual impairments or mobility issues who are not as comfortable on the main stretch of street where people move unpredictably. It will be marked by a signpost strip with a different texture to make it easier for people to find and help them stay on their travel path.
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There will be sections of the block dedicated to movable furniture, like the tables and chairs at Cherie Buckner-Webb Park, which can be rearranged or removed for events on 8th Street. Additional trees are placed in movable but secure planters, allowing the space to be further transformed. Permanent bicycle parking and street lights will be provided in other areas of the street near the intersection.
String lights are hung over the blocks for lighting and decoration. This design also reduces patio space, so restaurants and businesses will still have more patio space than before COVID-19, but a larger portion of the block will be returned to the public. Signposts will also be located at the ends of the blocks directing visitors to nearby Boise businesses and attractions. This eliminates the need for framed signs that currently advertise businesses in the middle of the street and impede walking and cycling.
A large, park-like public seating area with more trees will be placed in the middle of the block between Main and Idaho Streets at the base of the escalator of the Main + Marketplace building.
“This would be a design step towards creating a street for people and consciously moving away from a street for cars,” said Rietze. “It would create a subtle sense of meandering as you approach the center of this block. This central area would be further activated by public seating, suggesting people slow down or sit here rather than walk through.”
“Very dynamic space”
City council members enthusiastically welcomed the proposal, but also had a few suggestions.
City Council member Jimmy Hallyburton said the city should follow the recommendation of a previous Youth Climate Action Council and provide places where people can stay hydrated.
“I will continue to advocate for drinking fountains in the area,” he said. “We had our youth climate action team talk about heat islands and the people who are homeless and finding water to drink. I would still push for water to be made available to people, whether at gas stations or drinking fountains.”
There are currently three drinking fountains along the two-block stretch.
City Council member Jordan Morales said the city should examine how public seating on the blocks is being used, and if it becomes more space for private businesses, the city should consider compensation.
“If it's a more private business use, are we subsidizing that business or are there fees that we should consider, similar to valet parking that takes up space that might be intended for cars?” he said. “That’s what we demand, what about people on legs and bikes?”
City Council President Pro Tem Meredith Stead praised city staff for all the public input they provided in developing the design.
“I know everyone will appreciate it and it’s a very dynamic space,” she said. “It appears the recommendations capture many of our residents’ goals.”