The Downtown Corridor Revitalization Plan aims to work towards implementation of three key actions outlined in the Smithers Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The three action items are as follows:
This project will take these broad actions up to the installation phase by bringing on a consultant, urban designer, to work with the community and design a revitalized Third Avenue, which is an essential corridor in downtown Smithers. The goal of the project is to design a corridor which is an effective, safe integration of multi-modal transportation infrastructure; cooperatively create the design with engagement and input from the community; design a climate and culturally appropriate design that integrates northern design elements and Witsuwit’en cultural significance.
In 2019, the Town of Smithers completed the Smithers Active Transportation Plan (ATP). Three significant action items in the ATP indicate that Third Avenue in downtown Smithers is an essential east-west corridor. The first of the three is Action 2A2, “Implement a protected bike lane on Third Avenue between Queen Street and King Street.” Third Avenue is currently designated as a bicycle route where cyclists travel along a shared use lane. To improve the safety and accessibility of the bike network, it was recommended that the Town implement a sidewalk level protected bicycle lane on Third Avenue between Queen Street and King Street (~400m in length). The design of this action, as well as specific streetscape changes, go hand-in-hand with Action 3A1, to develop a downtown revitalization strategy. The second action item, Action 2A3, states “upgrade Third Avenue to an unbuffered bike lane.” To connect cyclists with the future protected bicycle lane downtown, and to provide east-west connectivity and directness to destinations, Third Avenue will be upgraded to an unbuffered bike lane from Toronto Street to Queen Street and from King Street to 16 Avenue. The rationale is to maintain Third Avenue as the Town’s east-west cycling corridor, improve safety for cyclists by increasing the level of protection from motor vehicle traffic, and provide a direct connection to the future protected bike lane in the downtown. Lastly, Action 3A1, mentioned above, is to develop Third Avenue as the Town Greenway. Greenways prioritize pedestrian and cyclist traffic by incorporating special features such as marked bicycle lanes, enhanced street tree treatments, special paving, or storm water features. In 2008, the Town completed a downtown charrette to enhance and build on the Town’s existing core and ensure that its vitality and vibrancy continued in the future. The charrette identified Third Avenue as the “Town Greenway,” however it did not include a more conceptual streetscape design showing how active travel could be accommodated on this proposed greenway. Further, the Town’s Strategic Priorities (2015-2018) identified the need to “develop greenways (people-focused transportation corridors), which could enhance landscaping and infrastructure improvements on existing Town Streets. As Third Avenue is the recommended east-west cycling corridor with a protected bicycle facility in the downtown area (Action 2A2), the Town has an opportunity to undertake a specific charrette for this important downtown greenway. This would serve as a valuable opportunity to engage downtown businesses, visitors, and customers about what they would like Third Avenue to look and feel like in the future. The specific charrette design principles and direction would need to be developed through detailed design; however, the specific active transportation considerations could include: sidewalk and streetscape elements, design of bike facilities, and parking. Implementing the Downtown Corridor Revitalization Plan will produce a charrette to involve the community, a cost estimate, and complete a final design. This project is a critical step in the implementation of the Smithers ATP, as well as the development of equity, accessibility, and safety in an essential corridor of downtown Smithers.
Photo source: Pexels. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be an accurate representation of the project.
