GAI and its Community Solutions Group (CSG) are leading the planning and design efforts for the Capitol Connector project, a federal- and state-funded initiative to redevelop approximately 3.25 miles of Kanawha Boulevard and Greenbrier Street within the City of Charleston.

The project is concentrated on Kanawha Boulevard, a major east-west thoroughfare in the city. A continuation of the first phase of streetscape improvements—designed by GAI and already constructed—the Capital Connector segment will complete the corridor, spanning approximately 5 miles to enhance the Charleston waterfront. The design incorporates upgrades to pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, resulting in safer, more accessible connections along the corridor. Existing vehicular lanes will be right-sized to provide space for green infrastructure and improvements to the existing multi-use trail located on the Kanawha River side of the roadway.

Services provided by GAI include landscape architecture, urban analytics, transportation planning, transportation engineering, grant writing support, civil engineering, and coordination with the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH). Prior to the project’s implementation, GAI staff assisted the City with applying for a federal RAISE grant to fund the proposed plans. The application was successful with a $25 million award, and construction is currently underway.