Main Street Enhancements
Since the 2000s, there have been updates made to improve the downtown experience. Things like wider sidewalks, trees in the boulevards, and seating areas make it more comfortable, accessible, and enjoyable for spending time downtown. Until now, those upgrades were only on Elizabeth Street and McRae Street. Now its time to upgrade North Railway Street with construction work planned for 2025-2026.
The Town based the design for upgrading Main Street on community engagement and design work conducted in 2020/2021. See the What We Heard Report for a summary of the feedback we received. It didn’t make sense at that time to start construction on this project. We are now taking those designs, finalizing them, and planning for construction starting in Spring 2025.
The upgrades will occur on Elizabeth, McRae and North Railway Streets from Northridge Drive to Poplar Avenue. Here are the main changes we are planning for:
- Replacing deep utilities (sewer and water lines)
- Burying overhead power lines
- Upgrading the public spaces (widening sidewalks, updating lighting and boulevard designs, adding seating areas)
- Changing the road design to make traffic flow and add safety features for pedestrians
- Updating Triangle Park and Pisttoo Park to integrate with the new streetscaping and make them more enjoyable for everyone
Community Key Priorities
During our engagement with the community this past summer, we heard from hundreds of Okotokians and businesses about what’s important to them. We connected with businesses who will be directly impacted by construction.
Design Concept
What we are planning includes two main parts:
1. On North Railway Street: We will update aging deep utility infrastructure (underground water and sewer networks), replace roads and sidewalks, provide streetscape improvements (i.e. accessibility, pedestrian realm enhancements, landscaping, lighting, street furniture upgrades), and update the parks. This work will occur in 2025 and 2026.
2. On Elizabeth and McRae Streets: We have prepared plans to modernize the public space work that was done in the 2000s. Think new sidewalk materials, seating areas, trees and plants, where it’s needed and makes sense. This work may commence in the future if approved by Council, depending on other community needs and priorities.