Officials from the City of Lancaster, regional, and state officials gathered streetside in downtown Lancaster on South Broad Street to unveil the new “Southern Gateway” project on Tuesday, October 18. The project is aimed at improving accessibility and mobility in downtown Lancaster and introduces reverse-angle parking to residents to improve safety.
The downtown project encompasses resurfacing to add a bike lane, accommodate safer parking, and repair sidewalks for ADA compliance. Additionally, the project brings a new type of parking configuration to the corridor − reverse angle parking − and active transportation infrastructure. Sidewalk improvements and curb-cut changes will improve access for those with disabilities, a welcome addition as the headquarters of the Southeast Ohio Center for Independent Living is in the area.
As downtown Lancaster continues to revitalize with projects like the “Southern Gateway,” it’s essential to consider how parking infrastructure will adapt to meet the needs of the growing community. The introduction of reverse-angle parking is a crucial step in improving safety and accessibility, but it’s also important to look toward additional solutions, such as the potential development of parking garages. These structures could help accommodate the increasing number of vehicles while reducing congestion on the streets, ensuring that residents, visitors, and businesses have easy access to the downtown area.
To further enhance the effectiveness of parking infrastructure, the addition of modern garage solutions will play a key role in supporting downtown’s revitalization. With reliable services from companies like D&L Garage Doors, which specialize in installing and maintaining high-quality garage doors, these parking structures can be equipped with advanced features to streamline access and security.
Whether it’s residential garages that provide extra parking spaces or multi-story public garages that can accommodate a high volume of cars, these solutions will help Lancaster remain a welcoming, accessible space for everyone. Incorporating smart technologies into garage systems could also improve traffic flow and ensure that parking spaces are efficiently utilized, contributing to the success of projects like the “Southern Gateway” in fostering a connected, sustainable downtown area.
“The Southern Gateway project is a welcome addition to the redevelopment that is occurring in that neighborhood, and it demonstrates the City’s support of that investment. The fast-track approvals and construction of this project is a testament to the collaboration among many parties including MORPC, CORPO, ODOT, two contractors and several city departments.”
Through an innovative funding process, the City was able to tap funds from the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO) through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Community Block Development Grants (CBDG) through Housing and Urban Development, in addition to local funds, to create the improvements.
"This project came together quickly, and we are proud of the effort to make that happen. We look forward to continuing to work with Lancaster and Fairfield County and funding worthy projects through CORPO, such as this."
Speakers included Mayor David Scheffler, Engineer Curt Shonk, and Lynda Berge Disser, Community Development Director, of City of Lancaster; Nick Gill, MORPC; Jason Sturgeon, P.E., District Deputy Director, ODOT, District 5; Amanda Everitt, Destination Downtown Lancaster, and South Broad Street business leaders.
To learn more about CORPO, visit us online.
