WA3 Selects Parsons Brinckerhoff for Complete Streets Work on Woodward

2024

ROYAL OAK — The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) announced today the selection of Parsons Brinckerhoff to lead the development of the Woodward Avenue Complete Streets Master Plan. 

The Complete Streets Initiative for the Woodward corridor was first announced in August, 2011 when the WA3 received a $752,000 Federal Scenic Byway Grant to prepare a Complete Streets Master Plan for the 27-mile Woodward Avenue.

Subsequently, the WA3 convened a Steering Group comprised of representatives and policy makers from Wayne and Oakland counties, the 11 municipalities along Woodward, MDOT, M1 Rail, SEMCOG and associated advocacy groups to help shape and guide the process. In addition, the Complete Streets Steering Group will guide a collective vision for the Woodward corridor.

After carefully reviewing proposals from seven qualified firms, the WA3 and the Complete Streets Steering Group selected Parsons Brinckerhoff to prepare and design a comprehensive Complete Streets “Master Plan” for the Woodward corridor that integrates all of the pieces of the mobility puzzle, such as access for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, drivers and the disabled, while incorporating essential branding, interpretive and beautification elements. 

As the primary consulting firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff will provide the WA3 with the necessary tools to transform the historic byway into a roadway that can be easily traversed by commuters, pedestrians and visitors alike. The Woodward Avenue Complete Street project will also include a multi-faceted public engagement and community outreach component. 

“We are seeing a growing interest among area residents and visitors who want to have the ability to walk, bike or take transit, and we are responding by transforming Woodward into a Complete Street that is available for all transportation users,” said Heather Carmona, executive director of the WA3. “We are thrilled to bring on a partner like Parsons Brinckerhoff to help us realize this goal.” 

“The Parsons Brinckerhoff team is excited and honored to have been selected for the Woodward Avenue Complete Streets Master Plan project. We look forward to working with the communities to create a vision for the corridor that meet the needs of the walking, biking and driving residents and visitors, ” said Barbara Arens, vice president/central region project operations manager for Parson Brinckerhoff. 

The WA3 expects the entire Complete Streets Master Plan process to be completed in one year. For more information on the WA3 and Complete Streets, visit: www.woodwardavenue.org. To learn more about Parson Brinckerhoff, visit: http://www.pbworld.com/