The City of Sarnia has shared three design concepts for what Mitton Street could look like in the future, and is asking for public input.
As part of a combined sewer separation project between Wellington Street and Davis Street, the city is considering above-ground enhancements to beautify the area and improve safety.
The initial phase of the project is tentatively scheduled to take place in 2026, pending the city's budget.
Public feedback gathered in July helped develop the concepts.
City of Sarnia Manager of Development and Transportation Alister Brown said some of the local businesses wanted the ability to activate the street by turning public spaces into vibrant areas.
"As well as, we did hear calls for active transportation, different modes of travel being able to access the area safely, and general safety improvements at some of the intersections in the area," he said.
The first option focuses on traffic calming with curb extensions and narrow lanes, maintains on-street parking, and adds flexible spaces to allow for patios, pop-ups, or events.
The second option would introduce dedicated on-street bike lanes with enhanced safety for cyclists, but would involve less on-street parking.
Lastly, the third option includes bike lanes that would be separated from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and maintains many existing parking spaces.
A public information session will be held on Wednesday, October 29, in the Kiwanis Room at Pat Stapleton Arena. The drop-in event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
"We'll have members of the project team there to break down some of the thoughts behind the design process and are also taking the survey feedback right there in-person as well," Brown said. "We hope to see as many people as possible in person, but if you can't participate in person, please check out the page on Speak Up Sarnia."
Large images of the concepts along with additional information can be found on the Speak Up Sarnia website.
"We'll take the results of this engagement and refine those concepts and narrow it down to a preferred alternative out of the three that we've presented -- some variation of the three," he said. "We would present that information to our council as part of the budget for this project."
The online survey will be available until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 10.
