Raise the Hammer
On the September 12, 2012 Council meeting, councillors approved the following motion to establish a one-way to two-way study group:
11. Establishment of a Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3 One-Way to Two-Way Street Study Group (Item 9.1)
Whereas there are over 100 one-way streets remaining in Hamilton;
And Whereas increasingly, there appears to be a strong convergence of public opinion in Hamilton in favour of converting one way street conversion to benefit adjacent retail businesses, slow traffic, improve pedestrian movements, and generally increase liveability in neighbourhoods, especially in Downtown Hamilton;
And whereas the 2008 City of Hamilton Transportation Master Plan included recommendations on a number of one-way street conversions, which have not yet taken place;
And Whereas the one-way street conversions that have taken place (James/John, York/Wilson, Caroline, Hess and Park to be completed soon) have been successful;
And Whereas City staff is generally supportive of one-way conversions, but require strong and unequivocal political support to move ahead with adequate financial resources;
And Whereas, the majority of one-way streets exist in Wards 1 and 2.
Therefore be it resolved:
(a) That a Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3 - One-Way to Two-Way Street Study Group be established to study and report on possible one-way street conversions in the downtown area, specifically Cannon Street and Queen Street, to inform the requisite environmental assessments;
(b) That staff be directed to prepare a budget for the Study for consideration during the 2013 budget process;
(c) That membership of the Study Group consist of the Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3 Councillors and appropriate Public Works staff, and include public consultation with interested individuals and groups including neighbourhood associations, affected residents, Business Improvement Areas and other commercial users, and other interested City Councillors;
(d) That staff be directed to investigate and report back on a reverse flow model.
Residents who are interested in participating in the study group should contact Councillor Brian McHattie and Councillor Jason Farr.
By Rimshot (anonymous) | Posted December 06, 2012 at 14:32:28
Yes. Let's look into reporting on the possibilities of potential two-way conversion.
Hopefully this is tentative enough that it passes.
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted December 07, 2012 at 10:54:15
Honestly, I know the "let the truck routes stay 1-way" option is unpopular here, but at this point I'd settle for somebody to put forth a motion that says "screw studying, let's take Main and Cannon and King off the table and stick that stuff into studies, and just start on Bay and Herkimer and Wentworth and the other non-arterial 1-ways right freaking now!", just for the sake of getting an aggressive timeline about something.
By Mal (anonymous) | Posted December 08, 2012 at 12:07:52 in reply to Comment 83594
Studying work is far cheaper than starting work, so it's not as quixotic as it appears.
We can get a loose majority on looking into the possibilities of what might be required under a hypothetical pilot project to take place by some TBD completion date (subject to fiscal capacity). That fellowship would likely dissolve into rank acrimony the moment anyone had to consider cutting a six-figure cheque.
Besides, look at all of the creative vitality this coasting has unleashed. Why squander that by just making good on some long-ago policy objective?
By jason (registered) | Posted December 08, 2012 at 09:05:49 in reply to Comment 83594
I say let's put everything on the table. We're actually doing the truck companies a favour. Apparently their bosses are too dense to realize it's quicker to use our ring freeways to get through town. Turning Cannon/Main into complete streets will finally get them to toss out their 1980 map and see all the new freeways we built for them.
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted December 10, 2012 at 09:25:34
On the subject of 1-way/2-way streets, anybody else noticed the new shape of Victoria street through the Hospital area? Full-lane-width bike lanes on the right, and parking bump-outs on the left, reducing the street to 2 lanes of live car/truck traffic away from pedestrians.
It's not a 2-way, but it does seem that somebody decided to rehabilitate it a little. Looks much less pedestrian-hostile that way. However, it still remains to be seen how much of the length of the street will get this treatment. Also, they did Wellington last year and it did not get this kind of thing.
By PearlStreet (registered) | Posted December 11, 2012 at 14:47:58 in reply to Comment 83672
This is a godsend, it is a momentum built highspeed run off coming off the Clairmont access. To add to this, ambulance traffic is more than frequent as the General is a cardiac facility. Traffic flies by J P Beemer park where kids cross and play. At least the hospital is there to treat them...
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