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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHT
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
TCAPWA Mark Miller Tennessee PW Project of the Year
Johnson City’s West Walnut Street

The 2025 Mark Miller Tennessee Public models, and citizen
Works Project of the Year Award recognizes input all were
a project that epitomizes outstanding important factors in
planning, construction and management. the final traffic flow.
In partnership with the City of Johnson A traffic signal and
City, LDA Engineering submitted the West left turn movement
Walnut Street Corridor Redevelopment was removed from the
Project in the transportation category. West end and a new
They received this Project of the connection was made
Year Award at the TCAPWA Annual to State of Franklin.
Conference in Memphis in September. Continued Interest
This $33 million, multi-year in Increasing
infrastructure investment transformed a Biking Mobility:
blighted industrial corridor into a vibrant, After a review of
multimodal urban boulevard, linking development density
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and traffic pattern, a Representing LDA Engineering were Reuben Robertson, Principal Engineer,
to the heart of downtown Johnson City. protected cycle track and Jason Brooks, CEO.
The project stands as a model of public (two-way) was placed
works excellence, grounded in visionary on the north side of Walnut Street. This neighborhoods previously segmented by
planning, innovative engineering, and protected track creates a link from the aging infrastructure. The finished project
resilient execution. historic neighborhood to the south, the reflects a commitment to creating a
more walkable, livable, and economically
University to the West, the Parks to the
Project Highlights North, and the Downtown to the East. vibrant city core.
Geometry and Streetscape: The Urban Pocket Parks: 600 feet of What began as a public infrastructure
project required improvements to two roadway was closed and replaced with project grew into a flagship economic
miles of streetscape along a corridor that an urban pocket park. This roadway development corridor for the City of
faced several challenges. Its horizontal connection had been underutilized, and Johnson City. New restaurants, retail
geometry was excessively straight and the new park now generates trips to the spaces, mixed-use buildings, and
flat, resulting in higher traffic speeds and corridor, provides a gathering space for pedestrian activity now energize the
inadequate drainage. To address these community events, reduces impermeable corridor daily.
issues, the vertical and horizontal profiles surfaces, and creates valuable shade in the Business access is improved, residential
were revised, improving both safety and urban corridor. One-hundred-year-old density is increasing, and the quality
stormwater management. utilities were completely replaced without of the improved corridor is attracting
Sidewalks ranging from 4 to 8 feet loss of service, the high-service electrical investment from both private developers
in width were added throughout the overhead was placed underground, and and public partners. Importantly, the
corridor. Reverse curves were introduced fiber providers were added to the corridor project created an inviting public space—
before intersections to transition from during conduit installation. balancing the needs of drivers, cyclists,
the on-street parking cross section to the Stormwater: Significant conveyance students, business owners, and residents
intersection cross section. By eliminating capacity was provided by large diameter throughout the community.
parking near intersections, sight distances pipes throughout the project. A blighted
were improved, and sidewalk bump- building was purchased by the City to Conclusion
outs were created to enhance pedestrian create a stormwater park on the west The West Walnut Street Corridor
comfort and support nearby businesses. end. A dual 42" bore under the railroad Redevelopment Project exemplifies
Traffic Flow: Poor traffic flow entering also was performed on the east end of the very best of what public works can
and exiting the corridor presented the project. Permeable pavers also were achieve: legacy utility upgrades, seamless
dangerous conditions. A transportation utilized to reduce peak flows. multimodal infrastructure, environmental
study modeled existing conditions at all sensitivity, and economic vitality—
intersections throughout the corridor and Economic and Civic Impact delivered under the most complex of
adjacent major intersections. The corridor now serves as a catalyst construction conditions, and most
Scenarios modeled future conditions for downtown revitalization, encouraging importantly, a vote of confidence in the
with three alternatives provided in the private development, improving access community to take this investment and
master plan. Johnson City crash data, to existing businesses, and reconnecting grow it.

18 TPW November/December 2025