Yes. Enhancing sidewalks with elements such as seating, trees and other amenities is part of the City’s urban design vision.
No. The project is designed to accommodate existing traffic and 20-years of traffic growth without imposing unnecessary delay on traffic.
The goal of the project is to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere for those visiting and living downtown. These improvements are intended to increase visitors to the downtown area. Businesses will benefit from these improvements and are encouraged to consider making the Downtown Loop their home.
No, the City does not plan to remove mature trees. As part of ongoing park improvements, the Parks & Recreation Department will also implement planned tree replacements.
The east side was selected based on collision patterns and anticipated bike-car conflict points. Placing the protected lanes on this side offers the greatest safety benefit and reduces potential interactions with vehicle movements.
The primary focus of this project is improving pedestrian safety. By converting sections of George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue to one-way streets, traffic flow will improve and walkability and bicycle access will be enhanced. Additional crossing locations, new ADA ramps, and curb bump-outs at various locations will also help improve walkability and safety.
As design and construction for the project progresses, opportunity for landscaping and aesthetic enhancements to the Downtown Loop will be determined.
There are several tangible benefits to the project: improvements to pedestrian access and comfort, addition of barrier protected bike facilities, shorter and safer pedestrian crossings, addition of on-street parking and minimizing crashes that occur due to a two-way street system like left turn t-bone and head-on crashes. Considering GWW and Jadwin are arterial streets, it is necessary to maintain movement of commuters at existing and 20-year projected traffic volumes. The result is a reduction of 10 vehicle lanes to 6 vehicle lanes. The one-way street system provides the necessary space to accomplish these goals and optimizes the traffic flow during peak morning and afternoon traffic volumes.
The Waterfront Branding and Development Vision Reference Guide offers a clear framework for future development in Richland’s riverfront and downtown areas. It ensures that projects are aligned with the City’s long-term vision by providing cohesive branding principles and design standards.
The Downtown Loop Project will convert sections of George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue to one-way streets, resulting in northbound traffic on George Washington Way and southbound traffic on Jadwin Avenue. These modifications will improve traffic flow and safety, enhance walkability and bicycle access, and add on-street parking features to the downtown core.
The Creating a Civic Heart Workshop Proceedings report, documented the outcomes of a placemaking workshop hosted by the U.S. General Services Administration in partnership with the City of Richland. The workshop brought together community members, federal agencies and local organizations to reimagine public spaces surrounding Richland’s federal buildings. It laid the groundwork for the desire to transform the area into a vibrant civic hub.
Construction is planned to begin in Spring 2026 with initial traffic control starting immediately. This Project Timeline outlines expected plans for project design, bid and construction. For weekly construction updates, visit the Construction Updates page or subscribe to receive updates through our eNotification platform.
No changes are planned to the sidewalk itself. Improvements to street lighting, street trees, and seating are planned. Sidewalk widening will focus on areas where sidewalks are currently less than eight feet wide and at intersections.
The City is actively exploring ways to assist affected businesses. A significant part of this effort will involve targeted outreach, coordinated messaging and working directly with business owners to ensure they have the support they need during construction and beyond. To connect directly with our economic development team and discuss strategies needed for your business, please email info@richlandbusiness.com.
While some passing may still occur, the project includes intentional signal coordination to maintain traffic progression at approximately 25 mph. The design also aims to discourage speeding by creating a more comfortable and predictable travel environment that naturally reduces excessive speeds.
Yes. The City is reviewing and updating both the bike lane code and bike rack standards to better align modern design practices and community needs.
Yes. Detailed designs have been completed, and a full map is available.
Only minimal right-of-way acquisition is required for The Downtown Loop. Most need temporary construction easements, resulting in very limited overall cost. For more information about the project’s budget, visit TheDowntownLoop.com/Budget-Documents.
Infrastructure improvements like The Downtown Loop often serve as a catalyst for economic revitalization. By improving safety, aesthetics and accessibility, the City creates an environment that is more attractive to businesses. Additional support may also come through programs, zoning updates and broader economic development efforts.
The experience for northbound travelers will be similar to how it functions today. Southbound travelers will be directed onto Jadwin Avenue via Symons Street.
Traffic will not be rerouted for WinCo. The one-way system for the Downtown Loop project is located between the George Washington Way / Jadwin Ave intersection and Symons Street. A separate project at the George Washington Way and Columbia Point Drive signal is planned to begin in September 2025 to add an additional southbound lane on GWW and an additional left turn lane from Columbia Point Drive to the SR-240/I-182 interchange.
The new design includes enhanced signage, pavement markings and other visual indicators to help reduce the likelihood of wrong-way movements and improve overall driver awareness.
Driveways will include clear pavement markings and visual cues to alert both motorists and cyclists. The protected facility improves sightlines, making it easier for cyclists to anticipate driveways. The City anticipates that drivers will adjust over time as they become more familiar with increased bike activity and the new circulation pattern.
The total estimated project cost is $22.7 million, with $19,759,640 already committed. Approximately $19 million has been secured through state and other external funding sources. The remaining project cost will be covered by the City’s General Fund. For more information about the project’s budget, visit TheDowntownLoop.com/Budget-Documents.
Approximately 200 on street parking spaces will be added, although they will not be delineated as individual stalls. This total is subject to change based on the completion of the project design.
The process of purchasing rights-of-way can vary in complexity and length of time, taking anywhere from a few months to a year or more. The City began the right-of-way acquisition process with property owners in July 2025. The length of time it takes to acquire right-of-way properties can impact the overall construction timeline.
The Swift Corridor and Civic Center Study focused on revitalizing downtown Richland, with the Swift Corridor identified as a key area for redevelopment due to its large amount of publicly controlled, undeveloped land. The study’s recommendations, which emphasized leveraging public investment to stimulate private development and other improvements, provided the foundation for the Loop project?
The best source for staying up to date on construction activities is The Downtown Loop website. You will find construction information, project timeline details and more. You can also receive them by email by subscribing to our eNotification platform. For project-specific questions, please contact the City’s Public Works Department at 509-942-7500.
Yes. The team has been working closely with Ben Franklin Transit regarding new transit stop locations, boarding areas and any routing adjustments needed to accommodate the protected bike lanes. Their input has been an important part of the design process.
The completed project will include a 11-foot wide two-way bicycle track, including a protective median barrier between traffic and the cycle track for the full length of each corridor.
No, Jadwin Avenue and George Washington Way will remain open to traffic and access to businesses will be maintained. Lane closures and occasional detours will be utilized, as necessary. Construction and traffic control updates are provided here.
There will be improved mid-block pedestrian crossings on George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue for Greenbelt Trail users. The City also plans to clean up the creek area on the south side of the Greenbelt Trail, however, improvements to the trail are not part of the scope of this project.
