Project Area

Project Plans

The City of St. Catharines has initiated a project to determine the preferred road cross-section to implement on Parnell Road between Vine Street and Niagara Street, as shown above. Parnell Road will be reconstructed to address infrastructure deficiencies and implement recommendations of the City’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and ongoing Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP).

The project is being completed under ‘Exempt’ (previously Schedule A+) of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) process (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023), which means it is exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act. While the project is exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act, the City of St. Catharines is choosing to consult with interested and impacted parties to inform them of the proposed works and provide an opportunity for input and feedback.

Several design and road cross-section alternatives have been prepared and evaluated based on their ability to address existing deficiencies and align with the City’s TMP and ATMP. Before finalizing the preferred alternative and progressing to a detailed design, the City of St. Catharines hosted a Public Information Centre (PIC). The purpose of the PIC was to introduce the project, share information on its current status, present design alternatives and obtain input from interested and impacted parties.

In 2025, detailed design was completed, and a second PIC is scheduled in early 2026 ahead of construction. The final design reflects the preferred design identified through feedback received at the first PIC, which involves the reconstruction of Parnell Road in a manner similar to existing conditions. The design provides on-street parking where feasible, maintains the mature tree canopy, prioritizes pedestrian safety, adds an all-way stop at Richelieu Drive, and improves the trail connection at Walker’s Creek.

Public Information Centre No. 2

• Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
• Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: Grantham Lions Club, 732 Niagara Street, St. Catharines

The purpose of this PIC is to present the final design and provide residents and the community with an opportunity to engage with project team prior to construction, which is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2026. The open house format will allow participants to drop in to review the design and ask any questions related to construction access, driveway access, grading, street lighting, accessibility needs, City tree considerations, or transportation issues.

Comments and questions can be provided through the tools on this page, or by contacting one of the project team members.

Current Status

Through the first Public Information Centre held on March 12, 2024 and the subsequent public comment period, the project team was able to solicit comments and feedback from attendees and the public regarding the proposed design options for Parnell Road. Various issues were brought up, though several key issues/themes were common among the feedback received, including traffic flow and safety, the potential road closure, active transportation, parking, environmental preservation and community impact.

Of the 435 respondents, 42% indicated a preference for Design Option 1 which includes reconstruction of Parnell Road to similar conditions maintaining on-street parking, sidewalks, and the mature tree canopy while implementing various traffic calming measures.

Considering the poll results and received comments and feedback from residents, the City will be progressing with Design Option 1 for the Parnell Road reconstruction. Design elements to be considered along Parnell Road will include bump outs and inclusion of on-street parking, curb and gutters, sidewalk improvements, an all-way stop at Parnell Road and Richelieu Road, improvements to the intersection of Parnell Road and Vine Street, and Walker’s Creek trail realignment.

The Summary Report for the Public Information Centre has been provided under Documents on this webpage.

The project team has completed the detailed design of the proposed improvements. Another Public Information Centre has been scheduled in January 2026 to provide residents an opportunity to review the proposed works prior to construction. The City plans to tender the project in early 2026, with construction commencing in Spring 2026, contingent on a successful bid and budget approvals. It is estimated that construction of the project will be completed over six to eight months.