THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay residents have the chance to weigh in Tuesday evening on a major redesign planned for the city’s north core downtown.
A webinar scheduled for 6:30 p.m. will offer a presentation from the city and consultants involved in the Reimagining the North Core Streetscapes study, as well as a question and answer session.
Residents can sign up for the live online event at the city’s Get Involved website.
Water and sewer mains in the north core are “at the end of their useful life,” according to the city, and will be replaced in 2022-2023.
That represents a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to reimagine the downtown streetscape from the ground up, city planners have said.
The redesign is expected to emphasize walkability, green space, and “flexible street” designs that could support public events and markets, for example. It will also likely mean less space for cars, at least for central sections of downtown streets.
A level crossing to Prince Arthur’s Landing at the terminus of Red River Road is another major change being considered.
A survey conducted by the city earlier this year also asked residents to weigh in on options for “new forms of mobility” like electric vehicle charging stations, a bike share program, dedicated spaces for ride-hailing services, e-scooters, and hover-boards.
The survey garnered more than 600 responses, said the city. Further consultations are planned as the city rolls out temporary pilot projects to test designs this summer.
The boundary of the city’s “Reimagining the North Core Streetscapes” study includes the North Core Downtown BIA, extending from Pearl Street north to Van Norman Street, and from Algoma Street east to Water Street.
A budget for the streetscape redesign has not yet been set.
