After years of planning, construction and testing, the redesigned Bannock Street corridor that runs through the heart of St. Luke's Boise Medical Center has been approved by Boise City Council as a dynamic shared space, open for use to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

The public process resulting in approval of St. Luke's Boise Master Plan included specifications for the redesign of the Bannock corridor, the one-block stretch between Ave. A and 1st Street. Developed through community workshops and the guidance of independent experts from Toole Design Group of Seattle, the resulting design is a shared corridor that can accommodate multiple modes of travel.

While the design accommodates all modes of transportation, it will also continue to reflect the needs of the St. Luke's community and provide safe, inviting spaces for patients, families, staff and providers who use this area as respite. The travel way is aligned farther north, which creates more open space and landscaped areas on the south side. Patients and families can seek privacy and solitude in more protected spaces.

Over the last few years, St. Luke's and the City of Boise have worked together with Toole Design Group to test and evaluate the performance of the corridor. The testing period, extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed experts to evaluate safety, usage, bicycle speeds, potential conflict zones and nearby traffic patterns with the new roundabout, cycle track and improved intersections around the hospital.

In 2023, Toole Design Group presented its findings to the City of Boise and St. Luke’s, concluding that the corridor is functioning as designed. St. Luke’s has added additional signage to the area, noting the corridor is a shared space. In August 2023, Boise City Council approved St. Luke’s grant of an easement for Bannock Street to the city between Ave. A and 1st Street, allowing a mixture of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to move through the area.

Features

• Location: Bannock Street between Ave. B and 1st Street 
• Shared space friendly to multiple modes of travel, including pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles 
• 18-foot-wide, two-way travel lane 
• Benches, tables and seating 
• Memorial labyrinth 

Timeline / Important Dates:

• Construction began: April 2019 
• Construction completed: July 2019 
• Corridor open for use: July 2019 
• Hardscaping/landscaping complete: fall 2019 
• Testing period began: 2019 
• Testing period completed: 2023 (extended due to COVID-19) 
• Boise City Council easement approval: August 2023 

All Boise Development Plans