Historic Downtown Kalamazoo Gets Major Makeover with Streets For All Infrastructure Project

The City of Kalamazoo is moving forward with a comprehensive streets improvement project that will transform downtown Kalamazoo into a more welcoming, safe, and accessible destination for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.

The Streets For All initiative includes converting Kalamazoo Avenue from a one-way street into a two-way thoroughfare as part of a larger plan to redesign multiple downtown corridors.

The City of Kalamazoo approved a $165,900 contract Monday with Wightman and Associates, Inc. to design Kalamazoo Avenue's two-way street conversion ahead of their spring 2026-2027 project timeline, according to city commission meeting files.

What Streets For All Entails

Streets For All is a City of Kalamazoo initiative to make downtown more welcoming for everyone, easier and safer to navigate, and overall more "lively and fun," according to the city. At the end of the project, Streets For All is meant to attract more people on foot, by bike and with public transport to downtown.

Streets For All Projects Include:

  • Michikal Street (partially completed)
  • West Main Street/Douglas Avenue (scheduled to start this year)
  • Kalamazoo Avenue (scheduled to start this year)
  • Michigan Avenue (scheduled to start 2028)

Kalamazoo Avenue Transformation Plans

For Kalamazoo Avenue, city plans include:

  • A new roadway surface
  • Conversion to two-way traffic
  • New street lighting, including overhead roadway lights for vehicles and pedestrian-scale post-top lights along sidewalks
  • Modern traffic signals mounted on mast arms (instead of hanging from overhead wires)
  • Removal of overhead electric and communication lines
  • Removal and consolidation of utility poles where possible
  • New sidewalks
  • New street trees and landscaping
  • Replacement of the existing water main and water service lines
  • Replacement and upgrades to most of the storm sewer system
  • Installation of new communication infrastructure for traffic signal interconnection
  • Moving the electric system underground, replacing current overhead lines

Work is set to start on the eastern end of Kalamazoo Avenue this spring, according to city officials.

Public Transit Impact

The county's public transportation system has 45 full-size buses that provide about 5,000 rides to people each workday on fixed routes that radiate from downtown Kalamazoo. About half of those riders start or end their trips downtown.

Sean McBride, executive director of Kalamazoo Metro Transit, said the construction work at the Transportation Center has been significant.

We're pretty torn up at our Transportation Center, McBride said, referring to the county's train and bus hub, which it oversees.

Metro Transit will use the Mystop app and its Facebook page to help communicate changes in its bus routes as the Streets For All plan is implemented downtown.

Consumers Energy Utility Work

Consumers Energy is also working to improve some of its underground gas mains in support of the growth in downtown facilities. This work has required construction teams to narrow part of busy Kalamazoo Avenue from three lanes of vehicle traffic to two.

One of our priorities working with Consumers Energy is trying to make sure people who are accessing the facility, whether it's being dropped off in a car or walking or maybe they use an assisted mobility device, is how do we make sure there is a connection, McBride said.

New Entertainment Venue

The Kalamazoo Event Center, which will have the capacity to seat up to 8,000 patrons for sporting events and shows, is expected to be completed as early as this July. The facility sits at 411 W. Kalamazoo Ave.

WMU's basketball, ice hockey, and other sports teams will be major users of the entertainment venue. Metro Transit is in discussions with Western Michigan University and others on how to service the facility as they adjust routes for both all-day use but also for bigger, special events.

Community Engagement

The city has created public engagement opportunities to explain the work being done. Plans will outline the proposed street configuration for the two-way conversion plus locations for transit upgrades, pedestrian improvements, and other streetscape amenities like curb bump outs, benches, lighting, and street trees.

Development since 2022, the Streets For All plan is intended to slow motor-vehicle traffic and enhance bicycle lanes, walkways, and public transit lines. Major efforts that are starting this year include converting several one-way streets into two-way thoroughfares. That includes two of the downtown's biggest traffic arteries — Kalamazoo Avenue in 2026-27 and Michigan Avenue by 2028.

There's a lot going on and many different parts, says Sean McBride, executive director of Kalamazoo Metro Transit.

Timeline and Construction

The work started about a month ago and will continue over the next few years. Construction sites are likely to be familiar fixtures as several one-way streets are converted and traffic flow changes in downtown Kalamazoo.

The conversion of parts of West Main Street and Douglas Avenue into two-way streets will also be part of the project. The conversion of Kalamazoo Avenue from a one-way street into a two-way thoroughfare is set to start on the eastern end of the street this spring.

We're moving along with construction really fast, McBride said. I think it will be a great amenity for our community.

Long-Term Vision

While short-term construction projects will require adjustments, McBride said redesigning bus routes to fit the east- and west-flow of traffic on Kalamazoo Avenue and points beyond will be a significant challenge. But he believes the impact will be positive for riders.

For public transit, they are in discussions with Western Michigan University and others on how to service the facility as they adjust routes for both all-day use but also for bigger, special events.

I think the impact will be positive for the riders, McBride said.