City of Windsor wants your input on the redevelopment of downtown streets

Windsor residents are being asked to weigh inon a new design proposed for two main streets in the southwestern Ontario city's downtown core.

Mayor DrewDilkens was joined by CIMA engineering consultant Jaime Garciaand the city's transportation planning senior engineer, Jeff Hagans, at a newsconference Tuesday to discuss preliminary designsand give an update ona 2018 environmental assessment of downtown streets.

"This environmental assessment plan has the potential to transform one of the city's major east-west corridors by creating a complete street for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists and public transit riders," Dilkens said.

The assessment explores ways of reconfiguring the 3.5-kilometre stretch of University Avenue West from Huron Church Road to McDougall Street, to beautify the streets and integrate more efficient features for cyclists, parking and transit.

It also proposesstrategies to optimize the public right-of-way along two blocks of Victoria Avenue, from Chatham Street West to Park Street West.

"The University Avenue you see today was designed to accommodate streetcars. It's too wide and it's underutilized,"the mayorsaid.

Protecting bike lanes 'a must'

During the newsconference,Garcia said the public and stakeholders were asked to give feedback on what's most important to them, regarding the two downtown streets.

"Protect the bicycle lanes should be a must in order for any kind of changes to take place in the course," Garcia said.

Based on the environmental assessment and feedback, the preliminary design features three to four lanes on University Avenuetwo lanes for transit, one to two lanes dedicated to parking, depending on available space and an additional bicycle lane, protected by a boulevard.

A similar structure has been designed for Victoria Avenue from Chatham Street West to Park Street West.

It's estimated the restructuring projects will cost:

• $9.7 million forUniversity Avenue
• $1.9 million for Victoria Avenue.

According toDilkens, the city has set aside approximately $5 million for the project, but more funding commitments will be discussed once the designs have been approved by city council later this year.

Ways to share input

Residents are invited to share input with the city administration from July 27 to Aug.24on the preferred design concepts for the redevelopment of University and Victoria avenues.

For more information and to submit a written comment, you canvisit the University Avenue & Victoria Avenue Environmental Assessment page on citywindsor.ca.

Residents may also provide comments through 311 or by contacting the project team directly at windsoruniversityave.ea@cima.ca.

An online public consultation is being provided for residents today (July 27)from 6 p.m.until 8 p.m. ETfor more details on the environmental assessment. More information is available on the City of Windsor website.