TD Council Considers Downtown Plaza, Bike & Pedestrian lanes near Wahtonka, Chenowith schools

Looking down on Federal Street and the now-graveled site where Tony’s Town & Country was located.

The Dalles, Ore., April 28, 205 — The Dalles City Council will meet tonight, April 28, to consider awarding a contract for a major pedestrian and bike infrastructure project, as well as approving a site plan for the Federal Street Plaza downtown.

The meeting will be held at City Hall, 313 Court St., The Dalles starting at 5:30 p.m. Click here to watch it live.

Federal Street Plaza Recommendations

Architectual rendering of the Federal Street Plaza from Walker-Macy.

The council will review a recommendation from the Federal Street Plaza Ad Hoc Committee regarding the design and next steps for a new downtown plaza on Federal Street between 2nd and 1st Streets.

The Plaza is intended to create a public meeting space for events, markets and community gatherings while bolstering foot traffic downtown with the side effect of creating additional opportunities for local businesses to attract more customers.

Formed in September 2024, the committee was tasked with advising on the project’s design, construction elements, and funding strategy. Since then, it has held public meetings approximately every two weeks, hired design firm Walker-Macy to draft plans, and hosted an open house to gather community feedback.

The committee recommends the council approve the site design prepared by Walker-Macy with the following additions:

  • Relocation of public restrooms in the Transportation Building from the east to the west side

  • Installation of pump equipment for a planned water feature in a new “pump room” within the Transportation Building

  • Construction of an art wall or feature

  • Addition of sidewalk bulb-outs with pedestrian safety signage at all four corners of Federal Street and East Second Street

Here is an aerial view of the plaza. The “Future Development” could be the Fermentation Hub a partnership of Freebridge Brewing and Urban Patterns, a Portland-based company known for projects such as MaupinWorks, a business hub in South Wasco County. The city entered into an agreement to see if the details of the enterprise, including financing can be brought to fruition.

The committee is also requesting the council adopt a resolution extending the committee’s term by six months, or until the project is completed, to assist with construction bidding, stakeholder engagement, donor relations, and continued grant efforts.

Staff has allocated $4.9 million in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget for the plaza project. The current estimated cost, including the committee’s recommended additions, is about $4.7 million.

Pending grant applications and partnership funding total approximately $1.435 million, including:

$1 million from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

$150,000 from Travel Oregon

$150,000 from the Urban Renewal Agency

$100,000 from Google

$30,000 from the Union Pacific Foundation

$5,000 from a Parks and Recreation grant

City staff recommends the council move to accept the recommended site plan with the described additions, direct the city manager to proceed with the project, and adopt Resolution to extend the committee’s term.

West 10th/Bike and Pedestrian Facilities Project

The Public Works Department is recommending the council authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Crestline Construction for the West 10th/Bike and Ped Facilities project, Contract No. 2025-003. Crestline submitted the lowest responsible bid for the work, which would not exceed $1,505,847.

The project, funded through the ODOT Safe Routes to School program, will include storm drainage improvements, new concrete sidewalks and roadway upgrades along West 10th Street. Construction will be performed in accordance with city contract documents.