One, Two Launch

Public Meeting to Launch One-Way to Two-Way/Complete Streets Study Group

Monday, November 26, 2012, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Council Chambers at City Hall, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton

On September 12, Council approved a motion to establish a Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3  One-Way to Two-Way Street Study Group.  The motion was moved by Councillor McHattie and seconded by Councillor Farr at the September 6^th GIC meeting.

See http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/C68F1C81-3E15-4AB7-990B-A5796BE07882/0/Sep06EDRMS_n345288_v1_9_1__Motion___McHattie___Establishment.pdf.

Councillors Farr and McHattie invite you to a public meeting to introduce the concept of the one-way to two-way/complete street study group and invite Hamiltonians to participate.  They are looking for a broad group of community stakeholders to help study the conversion of Cannon Street and Queen Street into complete streets.

The meeting will by emceed by Councillor Jason Farr and include presentations by the following speakers:

·        Ryan McGreal, editor of Raise the Hammer, will introduce complete two-way streets.

·        Peter Topalovic, project manager, transportation demand management with the City of Hamilton, will talk about balanced transportation.

·        Sharon Mackinnon, public health nurse with the City of Hamilton, will explain the public health benefits of complete streets.

·        Steve Molloy, project manager, Transportation Master Plan implementation with the City of Hamilton, will discuss the Transportation Master Plan and EA process.

·        Councillor Brian McHattie, will introduce the community stakeholder study group and explain how it fits into the process of converting an existing one-way street into a complete street.

The session will include an hour of Q and A with the panel of speakers.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for more information or to join the study group of Queen and/or Cannon.

Letter of the (2-way) Day

John, James conversions a blessing

Main Street West remains a traffic "sewer" on one-way traffic, not a place for walking or cycling

Two-way conversions a waste of money (Letters, Hamilton Spectator Aug. 18)

Converting James Street South and John Street South to two-way streets is the best thing the city has done for the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Contrary to the letter writer’s statement, it is now much easier and safer for seniors to cross these streets. As a longtime downtown resident, I, and many other seniors I know, walk and/or drive on these street daily. How can it be more dangerous when the traffic is now travelling at a more civilized rate of speed? When they were one-way streets, they seemed more like speedways with traffic going ever faster to avoid red lights.

Gone, thankfully, are the four lanes of traffic rushing madly by so that the drivers could return to their own neighbourhoods, which undoubtedly do not contain any one-way streets.Cities like Toronto have maintained extremely busy two-way streets like Yonge, Bloor and Dundas because they recognize the value of healthy and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Thank you to the councillors who voted to reconvert James and John back to the way they should always have been.

Barb Allen, Hamilton

One Way For Too Long

Bike Boon

"one-way streets are among the biggest barriers for a lot of cyclists. Even confident riders like himself can find it daunting to make a left turn off Main Street, where multiple lanes of traffic make it impossible to signal your way across the road."

One sweet ride

Ditching four wheels for two keeps these Hamiltonians green and serene — not just on Earth Day, but year-round

Kenneth Moyle says his morning commute isn’t long enough. Sometimes, to drag it out, he leaves his Westdale home and heads downtown for coffee, before going in to work at McMaster University. Related Stories

City establishing Dundurn bike lanes

The city will make room for bike lanes on Dundurn North between York and King West next week.

Moyle, 44, credits his mode of transportation for his unorthodox views. It’s shiny and cherry-red, with plenty of room for a briefcase, groceries or even a case of beer. It has an all-leather seat and it rides like a dream.

Did I mention it’s a bicycle?

“People find out you commute by bike, and they think of a tree-hugging, granola-crunching, carbon-offsetting hippie,” Moyle says over coffee at My Dog Joe.

He certainly proves that’s not the case. Moyle looks like the world’s most stylish English professor (he’s actually an analyst) — proof positive that you don’t need a Spandex bodysuit to be a cyclist. His dark-wash Levis are rolled once at the ankle above leather boots from R.M. Williams. He wears a houndstooth sportcoat with a dress shirt and striped wool tie. He carries a Toscane leather briefcase.

Yes, he rides a bike year-round, but there’s also an SUV in his driveway. It’s just that he prefers to pedal the three-kilometre round trip (which he rides twice a day, as he goes home for lunch) between work and home.

A lifelong biker, he made the move from fair weather (since 2006) to year-round commuter cyclist in 2010. Before that, his mountain bike was fine through spring, summer and fall, but the exposed chain often rusted. The bike’s sporty style encouraged him to ride like he was racing, and the crouched position left his wrists and neck exposed to the cold.

It was after a 2009 trip to Montreal, when he used that city’s BIXI bikes, that he made the move to his current ride — a delivery bike from Dutch manufacturer Batavus. Like the BIXI, its upright position and foot-forward geometry make for a comfortable, leisurely ride. The built-in racks allow for plenty of panniers, baskets and bags. The fully enclosed chain means no rusting and no greasy pant legs.

In the past two years, there have only been four or five days when weather conditions (including his nemesis — icy ruts) have forced him to leave the bike at home.

Otherwise, Hamilton is a city ripe for the riding. With very few hills, besides the Escarpment, it should be a biking no-brainer, but Moyle feels the one-way streets are among the biggest barriers for a lot of cyclists. Even confident riders like himself can find it daunting to make a left turn off Main Street, where multiple lanes of traffic make it impossible to signal your way across the road.

Myke Hutchings agrees. King Street is the most logical path from his Gage Park home to Jackson Square (where he works as a case manager for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), but he detours to Cumberland Street, then follows the Stinson Street bike lane, before cutting back up to King.

Hutchings, 38, started riding to work for health reasons. Bored by gyms, but determined to fit exercise into his daily routine, he bought a Pashley adult tricycle in 2011. He opted for the three-wheeler for better balance and stability, but he’s found the bike offers something else — interaction with his surroundings. A trike isn’t something you see everyday, so it gets lot of looks, which often leads to conversations with strangers. He takes his camera with him every morning. He sees parts of the city he’d never noticed before. And though his morning ride only lasts 20 minutes, he’s found it makes him more laid-back all day.

“I’ve slowed down and become more relaxed,” he says. “It used to be about getting from point A to point B. Now the journey is enjoyable as well.”

platoon

Wide, multi-lane, one-way streets with traffic lights synchronized to allow maximum flow in Hamilton have this "platooning" effect on traffic:

Friday, 3pm Main, looking west from Queen Street

The traffic comes in dense waves, with these huge gaps (photo above). A two-way system would not have these barren zones, as traffic would be forced into a narrower lane configuration, likely resulting in a more steady, if slower (i.e. safer) flow. Currently, the "green wave" of synchronized lights allows for fast moving traffic, which makes the cycling and pedestrian experience uncomfortable and unsafe, which is why you don't see much of that activity along Main.

20 seconds later...

wrong way to be positive

Making a one-way, multi-lane, high-speed highway in the downtown into a pedestrian and cycling friendly two-way street, even with the construction impacts, should be a positive thing to report on, "Commuter headaches" notwithstanding.
Slowing down traffic in the downtown is a good thing for the city; making room for more people to bike and walk, and for commercial activity like the market, or for festivals, are also good things.
You can bet the drivers will be crying in the letters to the editor section shortly...

York Blvd. commuter headaches start Monday TheSpec.com - Local - York Blvd. commuter headaches start Monday

Stretches of York, then Wilson, going two-way

John Burman, Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton motorists are in for some major changes downtown this summer.

The conversion of York to two-way traffic begins Monday, followed by a similar change on Wilson Street.

York will become two-way between Queen Street North and James Street North.

A separate project to start later will resurface Wilson Street from James Street North to Victoria Avenue North and convert that stretch to two-way use.

The York Boulevard work, which starts first, includes major infrastructure work co-ordinated with the renovation of the Farmer’s Market and Central Library.

The city’s public works department says the York work involves replacing the existing water main, resurfacing the street, modifications to traffic islands for two-way use, sidewalks, streetscape work and decorative lighting.

There will also be road work and sidewalk repair on Queen Street North at the same time.

The city says there will be lane restrictions and transit delays during the construction, which is expected to end in October.

When the road work is complete, the street will be reopened for two-way traffic.

The city has promised additional information in the coming weeks on the Wilson Street project as construction there nears.

A public works spokesman says the construction and renovation of the Hamilton Farmers’ Market and Central Library project is going well and most of the exterior glass wall system has been completed, with only final detailing remaining to complete the building cladding.

Interior work are also on schedule with mechanical and electrical infrastructure elements nearing completion. Interior finishing work has commenced throughout both spaces and is expected to be complete late this summer with everything done later in the fall.

only one-way of thinking at city hall?

Whether Hamilton gets LRT or not (hopefully LRT!), the reconversion to two-way traffic on Main and King should be a priority for the city. Any consultant or visiting urban planner to the city has invariably commented on the negative impact for liveable streets associated with multi-lane one way streets. One way streets are more dangerous for pedestrians*, and interfere with an urban streetscape that is pedestrian and cyclist friendly, and with regards to transit, are less efficient for transit users.

Mayor not sold on converting streets for LRT TheSpec.com - Local - Mayor not sold on converting streets for LRT

Emma Reilly, The Hamilton Spectator, (Feb 13, 2010)

The city needs to convert King and Main streets to two-way traffic to get the most out of rapid transit, according to a Metrolinx report released yesterday.

But Mayor Fred Eisenberger is reluctant to endorse the move -- even though the plans presented yesterday are contingent on traffic running both east and west on Main and King.

Metrolinx, the authority that oversees transportation in the Hamilton and Toronto area, released a report yesterday detailing three options for rapid transit. Each one assumes both Main Street and King Street would be converted to two-way streets with two-way rapid transit running down the median of King.

"(Two-way) conversion is considered a positive move from a city-building perspective that will create a more pedestrian and transit-friendly environment," the report reads.

Eisenberger said it's "premature to talk about those kinds of assumptions at this point" and more traffic studies need to be finished before council makes a decision.

"Clearly there is going to be a need to look at how the transportation flows in our inner city," he said.

"And that has yet to be done in thoroughness."

Rob Prichard, president and CEO of Metrolinx, said it's ultimately up to the city to decide whether to convert its streets to accommodate two-way traffic.

"It's simply an assumption. If the city remained with one-way streets, we would have to change that assumption and adapt our analysis," he said.

Initially, the city expected yesterday's report to include a firm recommendation about whether Hamilton should receive light rail or dedicated bus lanes.

Instead, the report outlined all three options -- buses, light rail or a phased-in light rail system that integrates buses on the route's east end -- without any endorsement.

"Clearly the province is now going to be the agency that we're going to have to work with," Eisenberger said.

For all three options, the report calls for construction to begin in 2011, finish in 2014 and for rapid transit to be up and running by 2015, in time for the Pan Am Games.

That timeline will depend on when the province makes a decision about funding.

While visiting Hamilton last week, Premier Dalton McGuinty said he sees Pan Am and rapid transit as "separate things" and the games won't necessarily influence Hamilton's chances of getting light rail.

The report also notes Hamilton's traffic lights will have to give priority to rapid transit, which could make waits longer on north-south at intersections.

Jill Stephen, director of strategic planning for the city, said city staff will make a presentation to council in April detailing its work over the past year and present options for the future.

"We'll confirm that we're on the right course moving forward with rapid transit," she said.

ereilly@thespec.com

905-526-2452

What kinds of savings in travel time will rapid transit bring?

It's expected that current bus riders, new transit riders and auto users will all see travel times improve. Metrolinx calculated that in money terms at $13 an hour. For LRT, the total savings is $647 million for a full line and $553 million for a phased line. The savings for bus rapid transit are significantly lower at $269 million.

Will it link to GO?

No. Metrolinx researchers studied the impacts of moving the LRT route so it would connect with the GO station on Hunter Street. The analysis showed slightly higher peak ridership, but an increase in travel time that hurt overall benefits. The report did say a convenient connection to GO will become more important as GO train service to Hamilton improves.

*"A recent study reviewed pedestrian motor vehicle injuries to children up to 14 years of age in the City of Hamilton from 1978 to 1994. The child pedestrian injury rate was 2.5 times higher on one-way streets than on two-way streets (46 vs.20 per 1000,000 children per 100 km of street per year). Children living in the poorest Hamilton neighbourhoods were three times more likely to be injured than those living in the wealthiest neighbourhoods (33 vs. 12 per 100,000 per 100 km of street per year). " Health Issues Report 2000, prepared by the Social & Public Health Services Division of the City of Hamilton & Region of Hamilton-Wentworth.

two-timer

Public input on proposed line
The Hamilton Spectator, (Jun 4, 2009)


City staff are recommending King Street and Main Street revert back to
two-way traffic for the new rapid transit line proposed to cross
Hamilton between McMaster University and Eastgate Square.

Staff prefer a typical transit system running along the median of King
Street, with vehicle traffic in the north and south curb lanes. The
two main arteries would convert to two-way traffic between Paradise
Road in the west and the Delta in the east.

Council and citizens have overwhelmingly backed a Light Rail Transit
(LRT) for the line, but that still has to be decided by the provincial
agency MetroLinx and it could support a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
system.

Residents can learn more about the staff preference at an open house
next Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel, between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The city wants to hear what residents think about the proposed
operation and also to confirm support for a LRT. It held two open
houses this week, one held in west Hamilton Monday that was attended
by 20 people.

Lisa Zinkewich, senior project manager, said a transit line running
down the median would disrupt the least traffic and has also been
shown to boost economic development.

One resident, Larry Berberick, said at an open house last night he
prefers to have the system in the south curb lanes and keep Main and
King as one way streets.

"My thinking is this would be safer."

back to two ways

(no surprises here: one way streets are still a problem that needs to be dealt with, as consultants have been telling Hamilton for decades.)

---

Ron Albertson, the Hamilton Spectator

Talking the walk of life TheSpec.com - Local - Talking the walk of life

International experts advocate end of one-way streets as a big step toward making city a pedestrian paradise

John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator

(May 14, 2009)

Hamilton enjoys many "patches of loveliness, but also patches of despair" that can be remedied by converting one-way streets to two-way and limiting truck traffic.

That's the conclusion one member of an international team examining Hamilton will present today to city policy-makers.

"Truck traffic can't be the sacred goose," offered Bronwen Thornton after walking around downtown Hamilton yesterday.

She is development director of Walk21, a United Kingdom organization promoting pedestrian livable areas.

After observing huge trucks crossing tranquil James Street North on Cannon Street, Toronto urban designer Paul Young said, "Trucks are killing the city."

Thornton, Young and four other experts were invited to Hamilton to offer advice on how to introduce active, safe and sustainable transportation policies.

They are part of the touring Canadian Walking Master Class project, which is funded by the federal government.

Young said that intersection of James North and Cannon showed the best and worst of Hamilton's transportation plan.

The visiting experts and staff from several city departments interrupted the walk to meet Dave Kuruc of Mixed Media art shop, which occupies the southeast corner.

He showed them how James North has prospered since being converted to two-way traffic with recessed parking areas and expanded sidewalks.

But his remarks were often drowned out by big trucks roaring west on Cannon, a one-way street.

Kuruc said he plans to press his point with city planners by inviting them to have tea with him on the narrow sidewalk on Cannon.

"We'll see how they enjoy that," he said.

Young noted how businesses along James North had added flower planters and street seating that combined with the trees on the street and slower traffic to make the area flourish as a destination.

The group also walked areas in Ancaster, Westdale and Ottawa Street North and found some nice pockets but a disconnect between them.

Jacky Kennedy, director of walking programs for Green Communities Canada, said she was delighted to find those pockets.

She said her previous image of Hamilton was framed by visits to offices near high traffic areas along Main Street.

The group was heartened to hear that York Boulevard and Wilson Street were being converted to two-way and walked past the portion of York where a lane of traffic will give way to an outdoor market area to complement the Farmers' Market.

jkernaghan@thespec.com

905-526-3422

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/565614

sanity is a two way street...

City shifts into drive on 2-way streets TheSpec.com - Local - City shifts into drive on 2-way streets

Nicole Macintyre, The Hamilton Spectator, (Aug 8, 2008)

The city is moving ahead with its original plan to convert several more downtown streets from one-way to two-way.

With council's sign-off, city staff will also review the conversions already done on the south legs of James and John streets to see if they can improve traffic flow.

The two arteries are a regular source of frustration for Mountain residents, who view the conversions as "failures," said Councillor Scott Duvall.

But downtown Councillor Bob Bratina urged his colleagues not to let issues with the two streets hold up an overall transportation plan he believes will help revive the downtown.

"I think we've wasted a lot of time getting to this point."

He noted Main Street, Hamilton's most prized one-way street with its string of green lights, will remain unchanged.

The city's downtown master plan was stalled last month when a group of councillors raised concerns about the necessity and expense of converting several downtown streets.

The plan calls for the conversion of York Boulevard and Wilson Street, Park and MacNab streets and King William, Rebecca and Hess streets. City staff believe the changes will help make the core more pedestrian friendly.

Plans for several downtown projects, including the new farmers' market and library, were put on hold until council reaffirmed the plan originally approved in 2001.

Councillor Terry Whitehead said he's still skeptical the changes will lead to economic spinoffs but agreed to endorse the plan.

"I'm going to support it cautiously," Whitehead said.

Councillors Chad Collins and David Mitchell remained in opposition to it.

"I honestly believe the investment could be better spent elsewhere," said Collins.

The conversions will mainly take place as part of larger construction project. In isolation, the seven conversions will cost roughly $1 million.

Councillors will still have an opportunity to decide how quickly the conversions occur each year during capital budget deliberations.

nmacintyre@thespec.com

905-526-3299

http://thespec.com/article/415100

the spec steps up

Balance key to city streets TheSpec.com - Opinions - Balance key to city streets

The Hamilton Spectator

(Aug 8, 2008)

A livable city is not just about the people who drive its streets: It is about the people who live beside the streets, who walk the sidewalks beside them, who shop or dine out in the businesses that line them.

Two-way streets help make Hamilton's downtown more livable, more welcoming, more people-friendly. Conversions of some of the core's one-way arteries to two-way streets has been worthwhile and generally successful. Council's decision to move ahead on two-way conversions on more downtown streets is the right one. But it must not be at the expense of maintaining the streets we do have now.

The conversion of James Street North from one-way to two-way is probably the most visibly successful of the conversions that have happened downtown. It hasn't been a cure-all; there are still far too many closed storefronts and other signs of decay -- particularly, it has to be said, the Lister Block and the ruin-like remains of the Tivoli Theatre -- along James North.

But the conversion sends a message the historic artery between downtown and bayfront has more to offer than a quick drive from Barton or Cannon streets to King or Main streets.

The conversion has to get at least some credit for the emergence of a small gallery district, the apparent increase in people spending money there and the small miracles of the Art Bus, the monthly Maker's Market and replica trolleys between Jackson Square and Pier 8.

Councillor Terry Whitehead, who opposed the next stage of two-way conversions, said: "For the constituents I represent, two-way streets are a complete waste of money."

That sort of parochial, ward-centric comment illustrates what cripples council initiatives. It's not surprising West Mountain constituents would prefer a fast route into or through downtown. What would be surprising is if they would like to see their main two-way streets -- say, Upper James, West 5th and Garth streets -- converted to one-way thoroughfares.

Whitehead makes a solid point about the need for city investment in road and watermain repairs. We've argued in this space recently existing roads all over Hamilton are in deplorable condition and council should make fixing them a higher priority than rearranging them. Reporter Rob Faulkner looked this week at the state of Hamilton's bicycle lanes, and there's no doubt continuing investment in repairing and expanding that network is essential.

Two-way conversions are a manifestation of new possibility for downtown -- a possibility of a revitalized core where more people want to live, shop, work, stroll, entertain themselves and do business.

Council's hardest task is to find a balance and compromise between the mundane essentials -- what it has to fix -- with investment in a vision of what Hamilton could be. Continuing the reinvention of downtown is a strong, strategic move.

http://thespec.com/Opinions/article/415043

downtown: no two ways about it?

TLC will be responding to this news item with a letter to council shortly, with a call to support staff on the need for one way to two way conversions downtown:

Downtown plans stall on road conversions
Nicole Macintyre, The Hamilton Spectator (Jul 11, 2008)

The plan to convert several downtown one-way streets to two-way is on hold.

Council threw out the city's downtown transportation master plan yesterday in a contentious split vote that sent staff scrambling. They reversed their decision moments later to allow more debate at a later meeting.

Several councillors say they don't want to kill the entire plan, which was approved in 2001, but can't agree to planned road conversions.

The plan calls for the conversion of York Boulevard and Wilson Street, Park and MacNab streets, Hughson and Hess streets, and King William and Rebecca streets.

Councillor Terry Whitehead said he doesn't support York Boulevard being converted as part of the renovation of the central library and the farmer's market.

The street must be replaced anyway to fix underground services, but the two-way conversion will cost upwards of an extra $750,000.

The planned streetscape may look nicer, but it won't generate new tax dollars, said Whitehead.

"We're making big investments and getting nothing in return."

But Councillor Bob Bratina argues businesses won't relocate to the street as long as it is a "freeway."

He noted if one-way streets are such a benefit, he'll request they be installed on the Mountain.

"Let's make Upper James one way."

He was outraged council originally shot down the entire plan, which would have stalled several downtown initiatives, including removing buses from Gore Park. Each street conversion was planned to generate economic and neighbourhood benefits, added Bratina.

"This is a carefully developed plan."

But councillors, who opposed the conversions, say they felt they had no option but to oppose the entire plan.

Councillor Brad Clark said more research and time is needed to determine if the conversions on John and James streets have been successful.


nmacintyre@thespec.com

no two ways about it? two-way is the way to go!

The City of Hamilton is reviewing their Downtown Transportation Master Plan and inviting your input. The study includes a pedestrianized Gore Park

As sustainable transportation advocates, TLC supports converting one-way streets to two-way, bike lanes, wider sidewalks with pedestrian amenities, and traffic calming in neighbourhoods to create more liveable communities in our reviving downtown core.

So visit the city site at www.hamilton.ca/DowntownTMP, read what they are proposing and add your comments.

Raising the issues

The great folks over at Raise the Hammer continue to do the grunt work of bringing issues to the attention of Hamiltonians. There is much there of value, but check out this info on the transportation master plan. Good background for TLC's work on one-way street conversions to two-way, and more.

dead end streets - oct 28

MEMORIAL FOR DEAD STREETS
5:00 PM On October 28, 1956 overnight, Hamilton changed many of its downtown streets to one way. This action effectively killed the vibrancy and life of these streets and our downtown. Join the memorial for these lost streets and demand their conversion to liveable two-way again. Location: Gore Park, Downtown Hamilton, Hamilton,

Transportation for Liveable Communities tlchamilton@gmail.com