With huge towers planned on either end of Canal Street, Boston is considering making the popular street near TD Garden and North Station more pedestrian-friendly.

Among the short-term changes under consideration are encouraging more restaurants to do more outdoor seating and allow more street vendors on the sidewalks. And later, perhaps within six to 10 years, the city could extend the sidewalk, reducing space for vehicles and parking, to make the stretch even more wide open for walkers.

The goal would be to rebuild the street in such a way that would make drivers feel like “they are intruding on a pedestrian space,” according to a transportation plan for the North Station area released Wednesday. Gina Fiandaca, the city’s transportation commissioner, said the plans for the street are not final.