The Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency on Oct. 23 approved $5,000,000 to build new sidewalks, a 10-foot multi-use path, curb-and-gutter, enclosed drainage and street trees along Meridian Street from Orange Avenue to Magnolia Drive.

Agency staff said the roughly half-mile project would close open roadside ditches, provide continuous pedestrian and bicycle facilities adjacent to a high concentration of multifamily housing and tie into nearby projects including the Southside Transit Center and Blueprint’s East Drainage Ditch multi-use trail. "This project will transform a neighborhood collector roadway," said Jenna Duncan, a city public-infrastructure staff member. "It provides residents with various means of safe mobility and an improved infrastructure system."

The CRA packet described the corridor as bordered by redevelopment subareas that call for streetscaping, and staff said the roadway is listed on the Tallahassee-Leon County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan as a neighborhood network route. Molly Levesque, who the board identified as being with the public infrastructure engineering division, described existing conditions as a rural-style road with ditches and few walkable connections: "This is a rural typical section. This isn't what we design when we're creating for a built urban environment," she said.

Board members cited safety and connectivity as primary rationales. "People are still facing those same challenges, today," Board member Matlow said, noting local history and frequent use of the corridor by pedestrians. The board asked staff to evaluate decorative lighting consistent with nearby projects and to coordinate schedules and designs with Blueprint’s East Drainage Ditch improvements to seek cost efficiencies.

Staff told the board a preliminary timeline anticipates two years for design (2026–2028) and construction in 2028–2029. The preliminary cost estimate of $5,000,000 includes construction, design fees, contingencies and construction administration; staff said the estimate assumes substantial drainage, curb-and-gutter work and the multi-use path.

The board approved the staff recommendation by voice vote. No roll-call tally was provided in the meeting transcript.

The project will be designed to meet Tallahassee’s Multimodal Transportation District requirements; staff said the multi-use path is proposed in lieu of on-street bike lanes because of right-of-way constraints. If funded and scheduled together with Blueprint’s adjacent projects, staff said there would be potential to reduce costs and limit disruption by using one contractor and one construction timeline.