Comment 111926

By mdrejhon (registered) - website | Posted June 02, 2015 at 12:44:13 in reply to Comment 111919

There is a glass ceiling problem if we install 1 LRT lane on Main, and 1 LRT lane on King, we permanently commit Main-King to be 1-way streets, and perpetuate them as urban expressways. Some of the elected people mentioned this idea.

Although 1-way streets, properly done, can be successfully revitalized, a healthy part of various cities (desynchronized traffic lights, permanent curbside parking, bumpouts, widened sidewalks, excessive pedestrian-unfriendly road width reduced, 2-way bike lanes, etc), wide 1-way streets are generically economically deterimential to pedestrian-friendly city-based revitalization efforts, by precedent.


In order of future economic uplift preference is:

(1) Install both LRT lanes on King

(2) Install both LRT lanes on Main

(3) Install one LRT lane for each Main and King


We would have more long-term future evolution of Main Street.

* Step 1: Main 2-way becomes a trial detour for King LRT during construction (2019)

* Step 2: Overhead dynamic arrow allowing 3 lanes in peak direction. Center lane becomes turning lane during offpeak. (2019+)

* Step 3: Offpeak curbside parking markers fully painted onto the roadbed to encourage parking along entire length of 5-lane-wide (2019-2025)

* Step 4: Permanent curbside parking on one side (2025-2030+), two traffic lanes in each direction, overhead arrows removed

* Step 5: Permanent curbside parking on both sides, with bumpouts, brick accented sidewalks installed (2035+).

* Step 6: Main street is a touristy street with 4 lanes with bike lanes, permanent curbside parking, with bumpouts (2050+?) due to reduced car traffic thanks to LRT/RHVP/LINC expansions.

Imagine the evolution flexibility! Maybe one of us needs to create a fancy PDF about this to convince the city to not install separate LRT lanes for separate Main/King! Insert your preferred dates, etc.


There is economic uplift regardless of what we choose, but it could become an unbreakable glass ceiling if we install one LRT lane on each Main/King. That is a dangerous choice. I kind of waver (semi-anti-LRT) if the city threatens to install one LRT lane on each Main vs King, since if we are spending a billion on LRT, we must not have a glass cieling to long term evolution. Otherwise, we will not be able to repay Ontario from the big economic uplift potential we can potentially eventually unlock. So, as a Ward 3 Hamilton resident, homeowner, carowner (but don't want a 2nd car), GO commuter who enjoys local businesses, I am really pro-King-LRT, because any other option limits uplift and bang-for-the buck. This LRT windfall needs to installed wisely.

Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2015-06-02 12:59:59

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