Turning one-way into two-way

The Spec's John Burman reports:

'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.'

What do you think of growing trend towards two-way streets in Hamilton? Do you support this specific conversion?

Comments

[Carl W. Ambridge]

two people were sitting in a car on james south and one says to the other, "hey, look at that cute little shop, since we're parked, let's go in and check it out." the other replies, "we're not parked, its rush hour."

[Tom Robertson]

Once the west harbour stadium is built James John And York will have to be turned back to one way. It shows how silly our council and staff are that they didn't consider this before the big bucks were spent on York St.

[CWA]

turning one way to two way is not always a sure fire solution. because york blvd. is not a direct route up the mountain, the effect might not be as bad as that on john and james. i will give it a shot, but will never, ever use john or james again or patronize any business in this area, including augusta st.

[outtamyway]

An interesing article from 1950's on the conversion to one-way.

Why did we not listen to what downtown businesses were saying at the time?

http://www.raisethehammer.org/blog/1758/downtown_businesses_rail_against_one-way_streets

[David S.]

Sorry Al, I've got to agree with Walt. I used to believe the same thing as you. I tried a couple of times last week and again yesterday. It's pretty close to the same amount of time.

Your fuel argument is bogus too. Cars are most efficient when they're travelling at speeds between 90 and 110 km/hr. Above and below that range you're wasting gas and you're causing extra emissions.

[Allan Taylor]

Jane
I know its safer to cross a one way street as a pedestrian than a 2 way. I do both on a daily basis. On Main I can look up the street and know that its safe to cross if nothing is coming as long as I'm on the up traffic side of the intersection. I only need to wait for a light and I'm good to go 3 blocks up On Cannon I still have to worry about the knuckleheads that insist on turning without looking for pedestrians. 2 ways means there is rarely a break on a busy street meaning a 6 block walk to a light that almost nobody is willing to do (3 blocks up and 3 blocks back) Thats why Main E past the delta has so many lights. Worse yet they only put those lights on Main and not on the side streets creating a danger zone that has nearly got me as a driver as the side street driver doesn't know what to do more times than I can count.

[Allan Taylor]

Walt

Its 17 km longer from #6 and the 403 and I have driven it as well. In my experience the 2 routes are drastically different in travel time. I ABSOLUTELY KNOW it takes a lot longer costs more in fuel and creates unnecessary pollution your way. Simply put, there is no perimeter road that services Central Hamilton from the west end. Coming back from Mac or Dundas are even more stupid to tell me I can go around

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

Yea, I think the government needs to take a huge step out of our lives. But perhaps that can be viewed negatively... The amount of tax, regulation, and liability that my generation faces compared to those who rosily remember "the good old days" is mind-boggling. I think we need to kill off the bureaucracy and unions which have strangled productivity and created a climate of constant inflation. Every time politicians and union folk get a raise (pretty much all the time) it raises the average income, which in turn pushes inflation seeing as so many people in this country work for the state in one way or another. Take a look at this Hydro woman who wants more cash from tax-payers already conned into a "time of use" system which spells higher and higher utility bills for people who were already struggling... Coupled by HST. A quarter of my hydro bill is paying for the mistakes of said Hydro executives decisions back when I was in pajamas watching Saturday morning cartoons. I'm totally sick of people sticking this stuff to the younger generations... Be it CPP, health care, EI... It's a scam and I'm seriously considering American states with 3% sales tax compared to this bottomless pit of socialism known as Canada.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Give Me Liberty: You are wrong, I am not a unionized worker for any government office. I would never be hired by the goverment, too much of a radical you know, my personality would not fit into that mold, if you get my drift.

I am an activist for workers rights, for those workers who are unorganized, precarous, part time, contract. I even went to speak in front of the Standing Committee for Bill 139, the temp workers bill, which is now law. It should be noted that in the last five years alone over 100,000,000 in wages have be deemed uncollectible, which has affected many workers who are marginalized.

The problem lies that the system is complaint driven, workers who find their rights have been compromised need to file claims, it puts more pressure on the government to enforce the rules.

There are ways to organize workers without necessarily having a union in the traditional sense.

The current welfare system makes it very hard to jump the welfare wall, any earnings are penalized, the over 800 stupid rules, there is definitely a lack of programs to really help people and many are dead end.

To be honest I think a lot of young people are lost, no directon, got any suggestions, without being negative.

[Peter Michael]

"Unions are dead and they did it to themselves."

I agree but you can't say that in Hamilton, most are pro-union and jobless because of it...

[Peter Michael]

"Why is it that cities all over North America are successfully converting them back to 2 way streets?"

It's a 'make work project' by the government, haven't you seen those signs all over Hamilton?

In 20-30 years (if there are still cars as we know them today) all the roads being converted back to two-way will become one-way again.

[Mike Peters]

Jane the reason we don't have one-way streets everywhere is because they are bad for neighbourhoods. We realized that 30 years ago and stopped building them.

Too many people don't care about the people and the neighbourhoods that do have them and are afraid to see them changed. That extra 10 minutes it takes them to get somewhere it too much for them.

[Jane]

If one way streets are so great why don't we have them every where in Hamilton?

Why is it that cities all over North America are successfully converting them back to 2 way streets?

It's not just about revitalizing downtown. That's a part of it but on their own 2 way streets won't do it. It's also about making the city livable and sfae for everyone.

The plans for 2 way conversion have been approved for quite some time. Where were all the complainers and doubters before that?

Allan you think one way streets are safer? Read the study - http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/185/185

[Walt]

Allan, you may have Googled it but I actually drove it. You're correct it is about 12 Km longer but it takes the about the same to drive it. Yesterday taking the QEW it took me 58 minutes the day before it took me 55 taking the 403/Main.

I can't believe the amount of FUD I'm reading on here. It reminds me why I rarely read this or the The Spec for that matter.

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

Sorry Michelle but Eastgate is as much a joke as Jackson Square... A place that people avoid. Perhaps the reason people go to Limeridge is because they want their high-priced expensive fashions rather than discounted clothes from Asia and second hand stuff for people who don't have a lot of coin to drop on clothes. In Jackson, there are a few high end clothing stores but I can count them on one hand. Don't think I'm a snob, I shop at "out of the past" (cool second hand store)... I enjoy the urban decay to a degree and it keeps things interesting... But these kids who stand around that we're talking about... I just don't buy your argument due to the fact that there are three different employment centers down there all within a 5 minute walk... In fact, the employment center on King between James and Hughson attracts the most of these kids who stand around out front on the sidewalk all day, never bothering to even go inside and check out what it would be like to work for their own money. I agree that Hamilton's jobs are mostly low-paying... But is that a license to stay on the dole forever and not try to go back to school or something? Like you've stated, my age is a factor in my opinion. Unions are dead and they did it to themselves. Fewer and fewer companies feel like paying unskilled laborers high wages that you saw in the past. You mention the poverty in Hamilton so much, almost as if you are in some department that oversees it... Would it be unfair of me to assume that you are a government worker? A government worker in a gold-plated safety net union?

[Allan Taylor]

Just googled it 10 miles longer going around. With traffic I stick by my 30 minute estimate

[Allan Taylor]

Walt, I read your comment. My experience is quite different than what you are saying. I know how long it takes and what you are saying is not correct

[Peter Michael]

"To waste millions of dollars on the conversion of these streets back to two way with no real proof that they will do anything to help the downtown is ridiculous. "

Exactly Mike. And in 5-10 years people will be scratching wondering why it didn't help. And then spend millions again to convert it back again.

As the pendulum swings...

[Mike Russell]

The city of Hamilton has had one way streets in the downtown since the 50's. From the 50's to the early 90's downtown Hamilton was thriving. So we know that one way traffic has nothing to do with the plight or blight of the downtown.

To waste millions of dollars on the conversion of these streets back to two way with no real proof that they will do anything to help the downtown is ridiculous.

The pro two way people are always citing James St. N. as an example of how two way traffic will revitalize an area. I've got news for you, James N. has improved because the area was so blighted and still is for the most part, that people can afford the properties there. That is the one and only reason that the area has seen some minor improvements. Cheap property and rents will do more to revitalize an area than anything the city can do.

[Walt]

@ Allan Taylor

I guess you didn't read my comment. I do it regularly. I've done both. It's about the same. Perhaps you're getting lost or just making it up.

[Peter Michael]

Poppycock. Downtown was bustling in the 80s and 90s which was well after malls like Limeridge and Eastgate - I know, I worked there!

Area malls didn't cause the decay of the downtown core, businesses leaving did. The CIBC towers, Stelco Tower and Standard Life building, to name a few, used to house numerous businesses that kept downtown eateries and shops thriving.

One way streets also existed during this time and well before then. They didn't create the ghost town or ghetto of what used to be a fully occupied Jackson Square and thriving downtown core. Anyone who believes otherwise is just fooling themselves.

[Allan Taylor]

Sorry Walt. You are wrong. I live the argument. I know from experience that going around takes 30 minutes longer

[Walt]

@ Allan Taylor

I drive Guelph to Main and Sherman all the time. It takes pretty much the same amount of time whether you drive 403/Main or 403/QEW/Burlington St. There's less traffic and fewer stops taking the QEW. Try it, that's why we have highways surrounding the city.

[Michelle Hruschka]

NIAGARA: well your age does say things about your opinion. I remember a time when downtown was bustling but then the malls like Eastgate, LImerdige and so on opened up and there went the people.

The fact that many young people are hanging out could mean the fact that there are no jobs for people to access. But why get into semantics right!

[NIAGARA]

outtamyway: I live downtown (King William and Hughson) in "wine country" and I can tell you friendo, I don't support two way streets or one way streets. My point is that this entire traffic scheme in lower-city Hamilton was poorly designed from the get-go... As far as the smut hut goes, yea, I can't really say I'm a client there, but I think when a newspaper editor starts saying, "Let's keep trying to shut them down even though they pay their taxes..." it's a little scary and borderline socialist. Why did city hall approve this place to be in the core in the first place?!?!? Obviously there is a demand for smut downtown otherwise Show World (Canada's largest porn theater) would be out of business. But they're not. So I think you should look not at the establishment as the one lacking moral value but rather the patrons who keep it in business. I can tell you from a first hand account, sir, 50% of the people east of James are people my age (20 -30 years old) who have no job, stand around in the same spot all day smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. These aren't even the people going to Show World. The people I see enter that smut-hut are usually seniors and middle-age men with jobs. So I'd say there is an inherent problem with the city's dwellers rather than the seedy businesses they support. Previous posters hit the nail on the head when they state that they don't go downtown because there's too many creeps, weirdos and wanna-be thug kids... They're not making it up, and closing viable businesses is not going to solve the problem since places you'd perceive to be upstanding taxpayers like the city centre or The Sheraton are actually commercial tax-deadbeats. It doesn't matter how you change the roads or what businesses you close, this place is always going to be a depressing ghetto. Get over it.

[Allan Taylor]

BTW I live between King and Main near Sherman and I have no issues with the one way traffic in my neighbourhood. I often walk to the Shoppers at Gage and Main and cross Main to get to the 7-11 often as well. No problems here, in fact I find it safer to cross here than down the street past the delta where it turns to 2 way A lot safer!!!!!!

[kathy Hagan]

Dan J:
I did mean to say the left turn was onto Forest from Robinson. I didn't think to say James was one way southbound. I do agree that robinson st would be best two way.
The gridlock remains though.

[Allan Taylor]

George

First of all I like going downtown except now its not worth the aggravation. Secondly I cannot get home from Guelph Kitchener or Aldershot without going through downtown. I have a vested interest . I live in Central Hamilton. There are no alternate routes or perimeter roads available. Going around over the skyway would cost me 30 minutes extra on a day when there are no traffic issues on the QEW. If they had built the perimeter road to join Burlington Street as planned in the 70's we would not be having this conversation. The fact is there are no alternate routes. The fact is 2 way traffic doesn't work. The fact is 2 way traffic on its own only serves to reduce the customer base downtown.

[Jamie]

One way or two way doesn't make a difference...downtown has very little to offer & I have no need to go there! But do keep arguing as it's quite entertaining! :)

[CWA]

The conversion of York and Wilson might not be that bad of an idea. I have lived in this city all my life and I know how to get around. When the market moved to Jackson Square I started to take the Queen St. hill down to Herkimer over to Bay and down to the parking lot at Bay and King. After this most recent change, and when the new market opens, I will take the Claremont down the hill to Wilson, hang a left and use the carpark across from the City Centre and reverse my route to get home again. All without having to spend one second on either John or James. By the way, I took a walk along James from Charlton to downtown and did I see a bustling street packed with people and busy sidewalk cafes? No. I saw backed up traffic unable to turn left due to northbound cars and empty storefronts. Fat lot of good that conversion turned out to be.

[DBC]

Gridlock?

I live in Durand and often find myself on James S. and John S. at rush hour. The traffic at these times can hardly be described as 'gridlocked'. Maybe you have to wait at a red light; just like you have to on the mountain, but to describe the conditions as gridlock is disingenuous at best. And that's at rush hour. During any other time of the day these roads navigate no differently than before conversion.

I fail to understand why those that have made the decision to live where they do expect those who live elsewhere to accept less liveability so that they can get home more quickly.

Boggles the mind really. Stop expecting others to subsidize your decisions by accepting a less safe community than you enjoy.

If it takes you too long to get home from work etc. maybe you are living to far from where you work and play.

[George]

Allan Taylor,

If you do not aspire to visit the downtown area in the future (only for Bulldog games) then why do you care about the two-way conversion?

While it may take you and I a little longer to get around, it will improve the quality of life of the thousands who live in the neighbourhoods arround the one-way "freeways".

It seems a little selfish for someone who claims not to even want to visit an area, to have a say on what is best for someone elses community.

[Dan Jelly]

"It certainly was easier to make a left turn at James and Robinson prior to the conversion."

@Kathy Hagan:

Before two-way conversion James was southbound only and Robinson was (and still is) eastbound only. A left turn of any kind would have been illegal.

If making the impossible, possible isn't enough, maybe Robinson should be two-way as well?

[Gene Simmons]

But there again Valerie, Toronto, NYC and Chicago have bigger streets with more lanes, do they not?. Doesn't a typical NYC street have 4 lanes going both ways?? Hamilton has much narrower, two lane streets. And at the same time, maybe do a population comparison...of course those cities have gridlock, they all have a hell of a lot more people driving.

And I will say this again about downtown revitalization...it ain't going to happen until the sweep out the loitering masses of swearing, smoking, yelling, behaviour that makes normal people shake their heads riff raff from the entire downtown core. These people contribute to the dirty feeling the whole area has. Do it now because I have a feeling that when the busses are re-routed and all the working people no longer need to walk thru Gore Park, it's over for the downtown core. It's over for Bozo.

[Old Fart]

Valerie:

Just maybe you haven't seen "real gridlock" in Hamilton because of the one-way streets being able to handle a maximum traffic load. Two-way streets are only efficient if there is no traffic pattern conflicts such as left turns, street-side parking, stop & go busses & pedestrians crossing the street having to deal with traffic from both directions.

If you want to revitalize an area get rid of the parking meters!

[Allan Taylor]

Dear out.

Do you really aspire to be Toronto New York Chicago? Is that even possible. Do we have the attraction to draw people to the core or do we have literally millions of workers in the core to support that model. Most in the city do not want to try to be Toronto for many reasons. The reality is that 2 way conversions have done zero in Hamilton except drastically increase the accident rate. Fact is people won't come downtown if its one way two way or no way traffic. The days of attracting mountain or east enders down there are ancient history. Those of us like me that live in Central Hamilton would ask you this. Why should I ever go there if I can get to Eastgate cheaper, safer and faster????? Say what you will, all the conversion will do and has done is keep more people away than is the case already. The fact is there is no alternate route to central Hamilton from the west end except King/Main or Wilson/Cannon. You take away those options and you take away my ability to get home from that direction. I take Cannon in since the city made King impassible from Wellington to past Ferguson. Shop keepers lost my buisness. I have no idea whats there now nor do I care. I rarely go to Jackson square on 2 accounts. First the cut back to one hour free parking if an only if you make a purchase at the Farmers Market Second, even if I was to shop at the Market I am required to make a left at Main or Wilson. Thats simply not done easily or safely any time I've tried during buisness hours. The backup of traffic is brutal on James so a better option is to go up McNabb and make a left but now that is going to be be impossible during construction and likely just as backed up as James afterwards. Yessiree, I'm only coming for Dogs games just on time and leaving ASAP and never any other time from now on. Thats not what business had in mind I'm sure.

[Valerie Lanson]

The comments against the conversion make me laugh. It appears that no one in Hamilton has ever been to a really big city and actually witness real gridlock. Look at Toronto, NYC, L.A., Chicago these cities actually have traffic that you can complain about. Converting back to two way streets is just one step in revitalizing the downtown. Since they converted James street, I've seen more businesses popping up, a successful monthly art crawl, and people actually walking around. Get out of your cars and start seeing the future, and it's not urban sprawl.

[outtamyway]

Allan Taylor: your conclusion that two-way streets do zero to revitalize an area is not supported by the facts.

In every city that has converted one-way streets to two way, they have seen an increase in pedestrian traffic, which means more, not less business for local establishments.

Hamilton is the primary example that cities use to illustrate how catering to thru traffic over local traffic drives business away and kills an economy.

If 2/3 of Hamilton want to continue to see jobs locate elsewhere, and kids continue to abandon their hometown, then go ahead...continue to be Ontario's laughingstock.

[kathy Hagan]

It certainly was easier to make a left turn at James and Robinson prior to the conversion. And as I stated in my first post the gridlock especially from 4 -6 pm on this part of James south is dreadful, not forgetting the noxious fumes sweing from idling bumper to bumper traffic. we had to seal over our outside vent.
I reiterate that due to this conversion I am against more conversions.

[outtamyway]

Niagara: in other words, you are saying screw the people who live downtown, ignore those who are trying to make things better, and keep the smut-huts and the highways.

If one way streets are so great, I'll expect your support for making ALL streets in the city one-way, including those on the mountain. After all, we can't make Hamilton the best place to raze a child without high speed traffic in our neighbourhoods, now, can we?

[Dan Jelly]

"I live at James and Robinson and since they converted to two way it is almost impossible to make a left turn onto James"

So it was easier to turn left from Robinson onto James before? Somehow I doubt it ;)

I live downtown too and I love the proposed changes on York/Wilson. The York Blvd. experiment was a miserable failure. To this day there are still vacant patches of land where viable businesses stood before they tore everything down over 30 years ago.

[NIAGARA]

Perhaps city hall and the mayor should refrain from further alienating their tax base. People don't want to come downtown, it's been made clear. At least our overpaid municipal clowns are spearheading important issues like removing racy urinals from privately owned establishments. By the way, I found the editor's two cents about the "peep show" quite hilarious. This guy acknowledges that Show World pays their taxes yet still wants to see them close up shop. What does this self-appointed urban planner think would actually function in that spot other than a smut-hut? Let me guess, we'll have the city buy it and give out free cash to hard-done union types, "oxy" for the kids, and sanitary needles and crackpipes for "our most vulnerable"... Then we can eliminate that pesky burden of people paying their commercial taxes once and for all. Get it thru your skulls, NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T GO EAST OF JAMES ANYMORE. EAST OF JAMES IS KNOWN AS "WINE COUNTRY" NOW... IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH TRAFFIC MADNESS YOU CARE TO INSIGHT OR BINGO HALLS AND LOITERING SPOTS YOU CARE TO SHUTTER.... DOING THESE THINGS WILL ONLY MAKE THIS PLACE EVEN MORE DESOLATE AND UNSAFE. Stick to correcting your reporter's typos please.

[steve sheen]

I think its not a great idea in that area,traffic congested as it is already,just look at King street from wellington to Mary street,two lanes in rush hour.Come on election.

[Allan Taylor]

2/3 oppose the conversion. We aren't fooled by the nonsense spewed of those in favour. We've seen that it does zero to revitalize the area and just makes travel difficult and dangerous making many former patrons avoid the area

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

They got it right... Doesn't matter if they switch to two way or one way, the traffic will still avoid this place. Welcome to the new Detroit... Oh wait that's too classy, I meant to say our sister city, Flint, MI. Welcome to Flint everybody!!!

[Kathy]

I agree with John:
"What makes a city a dump are the people in it."

It sounds harsh but I think it's true. One way streets, LTR.. these things aren't what make a good city. Good people make a good city. I do enjoy living in Hamilton and I think there are many good aspects, but downtown is a no-go for me. There are too many thugs, creeps and jerks in downtown Hamilton. There are some nice stores that I try to visit on occasion, but I normally avoid downtown like the plague. I appreciate the increasing presence of police on foot, but it still doesn't cut it for me. Changing the roads will never change my opinion of downtown.

[Hammer Time]

Any urban planner will tell you that a one-way streets kill businesses along said roadway. Laypersons might not get it at first, but those who study successful cities (and those who made the change from one-way roads) all fully understand. Like an apple, if your core dies, the whole fruit rots. Until the majority of Hamiltonians understand that the downtown is ESSENTIAL to their communities health, then the city will continue to 'rot' further.

[Meredith]

If the businesses are attractive enough, people will endure gridlock or find another way to get there.

BUT if we keep our streets loud, unfriendly and smoggy for the sake of commuting speed, we shouldn't be surprised that we don't get high-quality businesses downtown that attract people. You can't open a whole lot along an urban highway - only when it goes back to being a street that is nice when you get OUT of your car to be on.

A highway network of ring roads around the core already exists - if you're speeding through it, there's other routes you should be taking anyway.

Do we want a healthy downtown? Then we need to use proven principles, not think that making a super-efficient way to get through downtown (which is already incredibly fast compared to most cities!) will gain us more business.

We've tried speed and ease of getting downtown for fifty years - they don't work to add life to a city.

[Dougeroo]

Creating more downtown gridlock will only serve to dissuade shoppers even more from going there. And with York two way, there goes the fastest route through the core since Main Street always seems to have some lane closure or other work being done. Perhaps city council will eventually realize that downtown is not all that important any more, especially to the majority of city residents who do not live in that area.

[John]

Some of you talk about Hamilton being a dump. What makes a city a dump are the people in it. I see garbage on the streets of this city everywhere I go. I have even witnessed people throwing crap from their cars as they are driving by. Shame on you Hamiltonians.

[Meredith]

Business that bring money, glamour and charm don't want to locate along one-way treets with traffic speeding by all day.

It's too noisy to hear a conversation if you're walking along King or Main and traffic's moving along - forget opening patios or hoping people want to walk along and browse stores.

This week a new cafe opened at King and Spring (just west of King/Wellington) and I was on their patio at 9:30 p.m. - our conversation was constantly interrupted by cars screaming by. It's unfortunate that a quality business like this is being so handicapped by the atmosphere a one-way street gives - even though this is a much nicer section of King than many others.

Hamilton can either have the most efficient vehicle movement possible, or a healthy downtown.

Yes, your commute will be slower. But if you want things to change, you can't plunk a good business along what is essentially a highway through the downtown.

[Gary]

The people running this city are a bunch of incompetent morons. Hopefully they are all voted out before this proposal goes through.

[Mary McDonald]

No, with Hamilton they have other problems besides the streets. Too many Iran people telling the City of Hamilton what to do about this city, I say keep the streets the way they are.

[Allan Taylor]

If its all about slowing traffic down just change the timing on the lights to 48kph travel rather than the 56kph. Problem solved and we didn't have to create gridlock to do it

[Lynn]

When did they ask the taxpayers about this MAJOR project? My next wheel alignment,tire and rim bill is going to city hall. Downtown is a slum with the exception of a few businesses. The roads are a disgrace throughout this city. Clean the public parks, beaches and EXISTING ROADS FIRST!

[Peter Michael]

"Definitely not. I live at James and Robinson and since they converted to two way it is almost impossible to make a left turn onto James and the bumper to bumper traffic is a real headache."

Thanks Kathy, for the voice of the REAL people that live downtown.

Downtown won't gain any 'traction' when traffic makes people 'up in the suburbs' avoid it.

[Peter Michael]

Thought the city has been trying to revitalize the downtown area, not turn it into a greater wasteland than it already is by creating gridlock traffic that people will want to avoid like the plague - which most already do anyhow...

[carrie]

congradulations city of hamilton, I will avoid the downtown area even more now. I wonder if the idiots who run this city have considered what this will do IF they ever make a decision on the new stadium.

[Markalanwhittle]

Here on Hamilton mountain we don't have a single one-way street, getting rid of them downtown is fine by me.

[Thomas Bernacki]

k curtin said: "Bite the bullet- use incentives to attract the businesses which will bring money, glamour and charm back to the core of the city - and its not like there are no such businesses, you find them all over Locke Street, Hess Village, and Ottawa Street."

Can the author not see that the streets with the most vibrant streetlife - Ottawa, Locke, Hess, and let's add downtown Dundas, Westdale, Concession St - all have 2-way traffic, and in the case of Hess it is only a single, very slow lane? Can't he see that the only places where businesses like these are thriving are where there is calm traffic? We can either have a vibrant downtown or high-speed, fast flowing traffic, but not both. The York Blvd and Wilson St. conversions are long overdue. Let's do Cannon next, then King, then Main, and watch pedestrian shoppers and successful businesses return.

[outtamyway]

"Hamilton's inner city will remain a wasteland until people can get there easily, park easily, and find a revitalized core instead of a tattoo/porno slum."

Well...if one way streets move traffic more efficiently, the argument that "people can't get there easily" falls very flat. 5 minutes drive from the 403 to downtown certainly qualifies as being able to get there easily.

As for parking...just take a look at Google Earth sometime. Nearly 50% of the downtown core IS surface parking. Which is exactly the problem.

Too few businesses, too many parking lots sitting waiting for things to turn around before being developed.

[LetsGetSerious]

As a downtown homeowner, frequent walker and cyclist, I often fear for my life when I'm on downtown one-way streets. The reality is, drivers on one-way streets (especially those with timed lights) drive much faster. Conversion of streets like York to two way will allow a much friendlier environment for pedestrians and cyclists, and other drivers. In downtown Hamilton, the number of pedestrians on the streets outnumbers the amount of cars, so its about time that their needs/safety are taken seriously! The city isn't shutting the road down, just opening it up for more options for everyone. You will still be able to drive - you'll just have less of a 'freeway' now to do it on. In the end, this is about freedom of movement and freedom of choice - and that's a good thing.

[Tom Robertson]

The one way routes along Cannon,York, and Wilson provided smooth traffic flow bypassing the downtown core for vehicles not intending to stop there. It provided good access to get on or off the 403 and out to Highway 6. The gridlock created will now redirect cars and trucks to King and Main Sts. I'm sure Councilor Bratina will be out there for the ribbon cutting claiming it's a great development for his ward and the City.

[Old Fart]

You want people to go downtown? Start by making it economically feasable. Free streetside parking for the first two hours! Compete with the shopping malls by making it easier & cheaper to shop downtown. I won't take a bus if I have to lug several parcels or pay an arm & a leg to park for an hour or so. I'll go where the parking is free or cheap & I can store my purchases safely until I'm ready to leave.

[ernest]

*keep

[ernest]

when were these decisions made? i don't recall hearing about them.In fact if they were made I would have made aware of them seeing as i pay property tax and try to abreast of what city council is doing but yet this is the first i've heard.sidebar
nobody i know has heard of this either.hmmm mayby i'm just a SPECULATER

[Meredith]

I can't believe the ignorance on the benefits of two-way streets and how they help revitalize areas.

Downtown core streets aren't for zipping through the city, they're for getting from place to place within the downtown. Two-way conversion makes the downtown friendlier to be in.

If two-way conversion adds investment dollars, makes a street safer and quieter, and adds a few seconds to one's commute, it's pretty selfish to oppose it based on commuting time alone.

Fast transportation through a downtown never attracted anyone there. That's what we have now - highways through a downtown that make actually BEING downtown unpleasant. You try opening a cafe within a few steps of traffic speeding by... it's not pleasant.

Unless people are willing to take different routes (like the highways designed for this purpose) around the downtown, and understand the benefits two-way conversion brings, Hamilton will keep making the same mistakes in putting transportation speed above people-friendliness.

[Jim]

The conversion to two-way streets is asinine. Why can't we get better people to run the city properly. The conversion of James and John has been a mess, and was ill-advised. What a waste of tax money. Attract good businesses downtown and people will have a reason to go downtown.

[outtamyway]

One way streets vs. two way streets...

http://www.streetfilms.org/park-slope-one-way-vs-two-way-streets/

[k curtin]

Manhattan moves 9 million occupants - and hundreds of thousands of cars and trucks, taxis and buses daily - through what has to be the most vibrant and commercially alive "downtown" on the planet!!

So how do they do it? ONE WAY STREETS - only 9 Avenues are 2 way - and every other street, including every crosstown arterial, is one way.

One way streets move traffic cleanly through an inner city whether it be New York or Hamilton - clogged streets just encourage people to avoid it.

Hamilton's inner city will remain a wasteland until people can get there easily, park easily, and find a revitalized core instead of a tattoo/porno slum.

Bite the bullet- use incentives to attract the businesses which will bring money, glamour and charm back to the core of the city - and its not like there are no such businesses, you find them all over Locke Street, Hess Village, and Ottawa Street.

Then, restore the one way streets so we can get there quickly, safely and efficiently.

[kathy Hagan]

Definitely not. I live at James and Robinson and since they converted to two way it is almost impossible to make a left turn onto James and the bumper to bumper traffic is a real headache. I can sit on my balcony and observe many rear enders that occur almost daily at James and Charlton . It is a nightmare.

[J Morse]

Slowing down traffic cannot be described as a 'disaster'. Those narrow-minded and selfish enough to grade everything on how fast in can be driven through should stick to the freeways. They obviously cannot see the benefit of getting out of their cars!

[Mike Russell]

"Who cares what those up in the suburbs think."

I'll tell you who should care, the people who live downtown. The people who live outside of the downtown pay the bulk of the taxes in this city. We will decide through our votes who gets what in this city and it won't be more funding for stupidity like two way road conversion. I will not vote for anyone who insists on continuing this nonsense and I have never missed voting in an election.

"If it too hard to drive down, take a bus."

No, if it's too hard to drive downtown, I just won't go there. I can get everything I need outside of downtown. Buses are for those too young or too old to drive and all of the losers in between who either can't get a license or can't afford a car.

[outtamyway]

It says something when trucks that have to cross the city go through the downtown and through the city's residential areas, instead of using the expensive highways that were built especially for that purpose.

One way streets and timed lights have killed downtown Hamilton.

Hamilton: best place to run over a child.

Yeah, lets not change anything, because it's just working so darn well.

[Jane]

Why don't Spec reporters do some research? If they did, they would find there is no credible research supporting the idea that one-way streets are beneficial for downtowns. Urban scholars are unanimous in their assessment that one-way streets result in the loss of commerce, street life, and quality of life that are essential to the economic success of cities.

But hey, why do actual work that might leave your readership better informed, when you can generate hits by ginning up some faux controversy?

Time for another cyclist-bashing thread.

[S. Gonzales]

To me it's just another reason to not drive as fast as possible through downtown Hamilton.

The system has been helping to kill Hamilton for 50 years why tamper with it now. If they think that this is going to help stop people from speeding though downtown they're sadly mistaken. Downtown is dead becuase no one wants to set up a business on a freeway. Good thing we bulldozed downtown 50 years ago and set up a system where people could drive really fast past it.

[CityNeedsNewLeaders]

A little enlightenment for those that have doubts about the benefits of two-conversion:

http://www.streetfilms.org/park-slope-one-way-vs-two-way-streets/

[Tommy]

Nothing says lets go downtown like driving through downtown to get to Stoney Creek.

[Bob]

It's already been proven people driving cars cause gridlock. Let's do it some more!

[Old Fart]

Now let's go to a football game down by the bay! Can you imagine the chaos after the game when a couple thousand people, each having had a couple of beers, try to get home? Two-way traffic patterns make for UNSYNCRONIZED traffic lights, which means slower moving traffic, which means increased frustration.

Wait! We can all walk a kilometer uphill to get a train that probably won't be all that frequent at 10 o'clock at night!

If it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!

[Vinnie]

WE need more one way streets not fewer. We need to change Fennell and Brucedale to a one way pair. It takes too long to get across the mountain. Maybe we can do Stonechurch and Rymal and how about Upper James and West 5th? Concession and Crockett? Sanatorium and Bendamere? Upper Paradise and Garth?

[brian]

Nothing says lets go downtown like slow moving bumper to bumper traffic. I used to be able to go from Mulberry to Stoney Creek in 20 mins. Now it takes almost that long to get on to Wilson.

[W. Lester]

"It's already been proven that two-way streets cause gridlock"
Citation required.

[Allan Taylor]

2 way streets in the core cause nothing but trafic grief. I no longer go there except for Bulldogs games as a result. Converting York and Wilson will make even this something I will have to evaluate next season. The fact is we have the best transportation system in North America running east west in the lower city. One can drive the streets precisely because or the one ways. Please don't ruin the ease of travel for people and convert back. At the least prohibit all on street parking and remove the sidewalk jut outs to open up all 4 lanes so that left turns don't create a 6 block backup as they do now on James

[S Griffin]

I see this causing more disaster. Trafic will be so congested there, even after construction. Keeping York and Wilson in one direction keeps traffic to a minimal. Why can't Hamilton stop messing with all of our roads? Why can't they just fix the potholes (i.e. the one in the middle of the Parkdale and Queenston Intersection) like other cities?

[Michelle Hruschka]

It is time to move forward and I agree with this move.

The people downtown have a voice and finally they are gaining some traction.

Who cares what those up in the suburbs think.

If it too hard to drive down, take a bus.

There are lots of things to do downtown and places to go.

[CityNeedsNewLeaders]

I fully support the transition of our one-way inner city "freeways" to two-way, more people/pedestrian/bike/business friendly city streets. If people want to travel non-stop at high speed from point A to point B, take the Linc or Red Hill. Inner city one-way freeways helped to kill our downtown core. It was an ill-conceived idea at the time and it is now time for us to move forward.

Bring on the two-way conversions!!!!!

[Mike Russell]

To me it's just another reason to stay away from downtown Hamilton.

The mess created by converting John and James Sts should have been enough to convince city council of the error of their ways. Now they are going to compound that mistake by adding more two way streets.

The system has been working fine for 50 years why tamper with it now. If they think that this is going to help revitalize the downtown they are sadly mistaken. Downtown is dead becuase there is nothing there that anyone wants. Now they are going to make it more difficult to get to the few places left that people have any use for downtown. Might as well bulldoze whats left of the downtown and turn it into a park.

[Mark]

It's already been proven that two-way streets cause gridlock, so let's do it some more! Must be the City of Hamilton at it's finest again. I'm so glad I moved away 12 years ago....what a mess!

[Gene Simmons]

I thought that stretch already was two-way? Or at least it's two-way between Bay and Queen, isn't it?

Anyway, I think they should leave everything the way it is.