Challenge
The population of Kuna, ID, a bedroom community of Boise, has exploded over the past 25 years, resulting in more congestion and crashes at the Main Street/Linder Avenue/3rd Street intersection. The community identified the intersection as its #1 concern in the downtown area. At the same time, the community had a desire to beautify their downtown in order to attract more businesses and visitors to Kuna.
Solution
Leaders of the community and the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) set forth a vision, the Kuna Downtown Corridor Plan, to address concerns in downtown Kuna, including the Main Street/Linder Avenue/3rd Street intersection. Participants overwhelmingly saw a roundabout as the best way to both address the increasing safety and congestion issues and add a gateway feature to their downtown.
From the birth of the idea in the Kittelson-led Kuna Downtown Corridor Plan to leading the development of the preliminary and final design, Kittelson staff carried the torch in collaboration with ACHD and the City to bring this project to life.
The Outcome
A Circular Gateway to Kuna's Revitalized Downtown
A single-lane roundabout was constructed at the intersection in the spring of 2016 and has been a focal point of the community ever since. Citizens have taken to giving directions within downtown in relation to the roundabout. The mayor noted the project as one of the best transportation improvements that the ACHD has ever brought to the city of Kuna.
