Traffic flows north and south on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard after the Smart Streets conversion. Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN
Editor's note:
A version of this article first appeared in The Tribune in 2019. We are re-publishing the story today in the wake of Pete Buttigieg's nomination by President-elect Joe Biden for Transportation Secretary, and since questions about the ex-mayor's signature transportation project have been renewed.
SOUTH BEND — After Pete Buttigieg’s tenure as South Bend mayor ended in 2020, he left one highly visible reminder of his time leading the city.
Downtown underwent a dramatic transformation under his leadership. One-way streets became two-way. Speed limits were reduced. Driving lanes were narrowed. Trees were planted. Decorative brick pavers were laid.
The project gained national attention and accolades for the city, and for the mayor.
Buttigieg and his supporters said his signature “Smart Streets” initiative brought much more than aesthetic changes. They argued that a more pedestrian-friendly downtown spurred more than $100 million in private investment, as several key buildings found new life.
New hotels. New apartments. New restaurants.
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