The time has come to dig up Water Street and update the plumbing under the oldest street in North America. To read more about this project, and how it will all go down, read this article Dave Lane wrote for us.

It’s going to be a hassle for delivery drivers and parking and the like, but if there’s a pro, it’s that we’ll have an opportunity to take Water Street apart, and put it back together better than ever.So what would you like to see changed? Bike lanes? A trolley car? More curbfront seating outside restaurants?

Now is the time to share your thoughts, and city council is welcoming your wisdom. Work will begin in 2016, so there’s plenty of time to put your thinking caps on and help re-invent downtown.

“The infrastructure replacement project provides a wonderful opportunity to think about what we can do to improve one of our most unique streets,” says City Councillor Dave Lane. “We are providing many opportunities for people to share their ideas with us both online and in person.”

Residents, businesses, and visitors are encouraged to visit the Engage St. John’s webpage, to contribute thoughts, or explore and vote on suggestions from other locals, on what would make Water Street a better street. There are some great suggestions there already.

“In addition to the online engagement community, we will set up kiosks at community events for one-on-one discussions; host a public forum at City Hall; and we are setting up a design studio at 348 Water Street
where project consultants and City staff will be available to meet with those interested in discussing the project in more detail, at scheduled times.”

Following consultations with the public and stakeholder groups the City will release a What We Heard document to outline key principles of the refreshed street and themes heard throughout the engagement process.

An open house will be announced later this fall to share the final concept plan with the community.