Here's what Windsor's proposed east-end transit terminal could look like

Plans are in the works for a new east-end transit terminal, moving the hub out of Tecumseh Mall to a nearby parcel, the city says. 

At a public information meeting Thursday night, members of the public were able to weigh in on the proposed designs. 

"It's a new transit terminal for buses, so it includes a waiting area and kind of in the centre as well as building for the for the bus drivers, for the transit staff," said Greg Hayes, environmental planner with Dillon Consulting. 

The new transit terminal will be about 250 metres from the current location at Tecumseh Mall, moving it to the northwest  corner of Lauzon Parkway and Tecumseh Road East. 

The move comes as the mall's owner have informed the city they have new plans for the space and have asked the city to relocate. 

When the city will vacate the current transit terminal is dependent on the timeline for constructing the terminal, Hayes said. 

The project is currently undergoing an environmental assessment process, Hayes said. Opening could be in 2026, he added, and the same routes are planned to leave from the terminal as currently operate out of Tecumseh Mall. 

Colleen Middaugh is the manager of corporate projects with the City of Windsor. 

She says the project was looked at by council as part of the transit supports plan and has an approved budget of about $5 million, with construction costs to fit within that. 

"So this site allows us to do those enhancements that we need to do that were called out with the transit master plan."

Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani says he thinks the plans are "excellent."

"I think they're part of the master plan and it's going to be definitely a bonus to the east side residents," He said. 

Resident views split

Reaction from some people CBC spoke with was mixed. 

Heath Milne is a Forest Glade resident who came to check out the project. He says he loves the idea. 

"This is excellent. It's not complete but its an excellent idea on how to tell people what has to be done to even get on a bus," Milne said. "Without this, I would never want to take a bus. This gives me the initiative to go out and first try taking a bus, see where you can go. It's going to be good."

But Jacob De Almeida, who recently graduated from St. Clair College and also lives nearby, said he has concerns. 

"I've concerns about pedestrians crossing basically like six to eight lanes of traffic to get to any of the nearby resources like grocery stores or banks," De Almeida says. "One of the advantages of where it is now at the mall is that during later hours ... the mall still activated and people feel safer who don't usually take the bus.

"All of that kind of gets eliminated with this new plan and you're kind of in a desert on your own."

Marignani says he hears those concerns. 

"That is the purpose of these public consultation meetings, to get those concerns," he said. "We can work with timing of lights, we can work with increasing the pedestrian island on Lauzon Parkway.

"I'm so thankful to all the residents who came out and submitted those concerns and are part of the solution."

Marginani says he heard other feedback from residents as well, like ensuring there are washroom facilities and ample bike parking. 

Christine Fitzpatrick is one of the co-founders of Activate Transit Windsor-Essex. She says they're happy to see transit improvements but do want to register some concerns they have with the site. 

"It's a little bit of a surprise to see where this transit terminal is and concerned with walking accessibility to both of the malls, Tecumseh Mall and Walmart."