Richmond’s plan, to be financed with $304,000 from a federal transportation grant and $76,000 in matching funds from the city, also would extend from Ninth to 14th streets.

In addition to the widened sidewalk, the plan would include “sharrows,” or travel lanes shared by bicycles and vehicles, and a bike lane that would extend to the Capital Trail through the renovated Main Street Station.

“Proposed improvements will help in reducing vehicular speed in this corridor,” Khara said.

But the state proposes to go much further in controlling access to Bank Street after the General Assembly and its year-round legislative agencies move into the Pocahontas Building and, on the other side of Main Street, the SunTrust Building.

“The nature of Bank Street is going to be drastically changed once the General Assembly starts moving into the Pocahontas Building,” said Christopher L. Beschler, executive director of the General Services Department and a former top operational officer for the city.

The state contracted with Commonwealth Architects, based in Richmond, to conduct a security study of the Bank Street corridor and other areas along Capitol Square.