Monthlong ‘traffic calming’ pilot begins downtown this week

The drive through downtown Sioux Falls along 10th Street will look and feel a little different for the next month.

The city in partnership with Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. has launched a monthlong traffic-calming pilot project on a stretch of 10th Street between Second and Mall avenues.

It involves adding planters and reflective delineators to reconfigure the street temporarily and evaluate impacts on traffic flow and safety. You’ll find them on street parking spaces on the north and south side of 10th Street.

“The pilot will explore how thoughtful street design can create a safer, more welcoming and more vibrant downtown experience,” Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. said in a statement.

“Traffic-calming strategies such as narrowed lanes and curb extensions (bump-outs), chicanes, traffic circles and visual treatments such as street art, landscaping and furniture are designed to naturally slow vehicle speeds, reduce cut-through traffic and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. These approaches can also help reduce noise and enhance overall livability.”

Throughout the pilot, DTSF will activate the corridor with a rotating lineup of local food trucks, offering quick and convenient dining options for visitors and downtown workers.

Vendors will be on-site during lunch hours from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with select evening activations from 4 to 6:30 p.m.  To enhance the experience, the city will place picnic tables on the green space next to the mural, creating a welcoming area for visitors to sit and enjoy offerings from the food trucks.

Additional programming will include family-friendly art activations led by the city’s arts coordinator near the Great Outdoor Store, with the goal of helping transform the corridor into an inviting, creative environment.

“This project is about more than traffic — it’s about shaping the future of how people experience downtown,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. “By testing traffic-calming strategies on 10th Street, we’re helping inform the long-term design and reconstruction of the viaducts while advancing the vision of complete streets. We want downtown to be a destination, not a pass-through. We welcome visitors to slow down, pause, park and truly engage with everything our community has to offer.”

The pilot also highlights the convenience of nearby public parking, including sites such as the Mall Avenue Ramp and First Avenue Ramp, making it easy to stop, eat, shop and explore downtown.

“Our goal is to calm traffic without reducing the number of visitors to the area, supporting local businesses and residents while making the streets safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” said Troy Miller, the city’s principal traffic engineer. “This project allows us to evaluate ideas in real time and hear directly from community members about what works best.”

Vehicle speed and volume will be measured before, during and after the project to evaluate the effectiveness in calming traffic. The planters and barriers will remain in place throughout the study period and will be removed by Aug. 7. The city will share the volume and speed data with DTSF.

“People are encouraged to visit the area throughout July, support local vendors and experience firsthand how small changes can make a big difference in how downtown feels and functions,” DTSF said.