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 and tie together the look and feel across the whole downtown core.

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

Our vision for this project is to enhance the look and feel of downtown making it a unique place where the community wants to be. Imagine wider sidewalks, easier access and a more inviting atmosphere. We want to bring the community together by enhancing the local environment. Whether you're into events, culture, dining, or just relaxing, we want downtown to be the go-to spot. It's all about making our downtown shine brighter than ever!

The project goals are:

• Create and build safe, welcoming, appealing and engaging public spaces
• Support the arts, culture and events even more by making spaces that are designed around these needs
• Enhance the connection and attractiveness in the spots where private spaces meet public spaces
• Build spaces that support increased business activity and diversity of commercial activities
• Enable businesses to use the street area in front of their property as an extension of their business space (retail, dining, seating, etc.)
• Bring more visitors into downtown through better accessibility and navigability for people of all ages and abilities
• Provide an incentive for businesses to want to stay open for longer hours in the downtown

What we are planning includes two main parts:

1. On Elizabeth and McRae Streets: We will 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.

2. On North Railway Street: We will update aging deep utility infrastructure (underground water and sewer networks), replace roads and sidewalks and provide streetscape improvements (i.e. accessibility, pedestrian realm enhancements, landscaping, lighting, street furniture upgrades).

The streetscape concept will be shared as soon as it is completed and the Town will be asking for your input later this year.