Parkettes proposed near new downtown transit terminal

The area around the new bus terminal at 111 Huron St. may turn a little more green as a result of streetscape improvements scheduled to start in 2023.

Design concepts displayed this week at an information session at the Downtown Association offices showed a large new parkette on the Queen Street side of the new terminal, as well as a smaller corner plaza kitty-corner across the street.

The parkette beside Soo Blaster is slated for an upgrade (see second image above) and another is proposed near Pilgrim Street.

The proposed improvements to Queen and Spring Streets are still in the planning stage.

"It's a very stark environment right now," Rick Talvitie with design consultant AECOM told SooToday.

"It's intended to be much more pedestrian-friendly than it is now."

"We wanted to dress it up and make it a lot more appealing for people."

"We wanted to create some places where people could gather," Talvitie added.

The plans include more greenery, bike racks, waste receptacles, seating, and wider boulevards or on-street parking as requested by individual businesses.