Market District
Des Moines, IA | Water
Overview
The Market District Green Infrastructure Plan (Plan) was prepared in 2018 to provide
forward-looking sustainability solutions to support the revitalization of the Market
District in Des Moines. The District supports a mix of uses, from hospitality and office
to residential and retail, and intends to design and construct a green infrastructure
framework of street and streetscape typologies. A prime objective of the District
was to become a showcase for responsible stormwater management and green
infrastructure, as well as creating a vibrant public realm for visitors and residents alike.
In 2020, ISG was enlisted to provide project management, pre-construction, and
construction services to lead the Plan’s implementation.
ISG’s transportation and civil engineering team are assisting with Phase 1 of the Market District effort by surveying the utilities, confirming traffic impacts and improvements, and preparing the preliminary plat for the public streets and private parcels that are part of the District. To allow an equal sharing of space, ISG designed bump outs throughout the District to provide more pedestrian space and shorter crosswalk distances, allowing for cars and pedestrians to have their designated spaces while providing safe sight lines. The bump outs and curb ramps were designed to meet ADA accessibility standards, allowing pedestrians of all levels of mobility to easily travel from sidewalk, to crosswalk, and safely cross the drive lanes. The improved streetscaping will provide increased connectivity to private businesses along the street, as well as the surrounding neighborhood.
Market District offers an opportunity to create a walkable urban neighborhood that supports and supplements the on-going redevelopment of Downtown Des Moines. ISG’s planning experts will ensure the development is pedestrian-oriented to encourage walking, and that dynamic street-level activity is supported through a variety of transportation engineering services.