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📅 Today's Story: Ventura, CA, has officially made its downtown Main Street car-free for good, transforming a Covid-era intervention into a permanent urban public space that enhances downtown walkability.
PUBLIC SPACE
Ventura, CA, Wants to Keep Main Street Car-Free |
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Downtown Ventura, CA (Main Street Moves)
📰 What Happened: The Ventura City Council voted to permanently extend “Main Street Moves,” a program that closed several downtown blocks to vehicles in 2020. The decision had overwhelming public support (74 speakers in favor vs. just 3 opposed) despite an ongoing appeal from property owners who previously sued the city to reopen the street to traffic.
🔍 A Closer Look: To make this new pedestrian zone permanent, Ventura will invest in better lighting, bike racks, landscaping, art installations, kid play zones, more seating, and decorative paving. Dining patios must now meet updated design standards, while temporary barriers will be swapped out for custom-designed bollards. A park-like public restroom is also on its way.
🧠 Why It Matters: Ventura joins a short list of cities that have made pandemic-era open streets programs permanent, reinforcing the potential of pedestrian-first urban cores. The move reflects a growing shift in how cities prioritize streets—not just for cars, but for people, place-making, and public life.
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