30 km speed limit plan endorsed
 

30 km speed limit plan endorsed
Sep 07, 2008

City staff are endorsing proposed traffic calming and a 30 km speed limit on most North End streets. However, they recommend blocking similar moves in other parts of the city for what could be several years.

The North End Traffic Management Plan being presented to the public works committee tomorrow morning (September 8) supports 30 km limits on all streets west of Wellington and north of Strachan with the exception of James and Burlington which would remain posted at 50 km.

The plan would also convert John and MacNab to two-way traffic, add about 30 traffic calming structures, and enhance pedestrian crossings at about eight North End intersections. Hughson will be closed south of Guise and partial closures would block northbound traffic on Bay at Burlington, southbound on Ferguson at Burlington and westbound on Simcoe at Wellington. Vehicles would also be prevented from continuing west on Burlington past James.

Some of the road closures are opposed by the Chamber of Commerce and the Waterfront Trust according to the report. On the other hand, the North End Neighbours residents group advocates cutting speed limits to 30 km on James and Burlington Streets to create “a child and family friendly neighbourhood”. They also proposed stopping northbound traffic on Bay and MacNab at Strachan, and narrowing James to two lanes.

Staff argue that the proposed plan “provides an appropriate level of compromise between all stakeholders” and have agreed to add on-street parking on James North and part of Burlington Street to reduce traffic speeds.

The plan largely follows consultant proposals described by CATCH in early April but it could be awhile before the changes occur, and that would also delay the possibility of 30 km zones elsewhere in Hamilton if staff recommendations are accepted.

They suggest no action be started until an OMB appeal affecting the area is resolved, and $1.6 million is found in the budget for the traffic calming structures. The OMB case began 26 months ago, and involves several parties and land use designations across the North End.

“Funding for detailed design and project construction will be brought forward to Council as part of the 2009-2018 ten year capital budget program,” promises the report.

Once these legal and financial hurdles are overcome, staff recommend a two year pilot for reduced speed limit and “that 30 km/h not be implemented within any other neighbourhood until the effects of this pilot project are analyzed and proven to be effective and be justified to continue.”

The report notes such speed limits have been imposed in half a dozen European countries as well as communities in the US and New Zealand but “is quite a unique application in Canada and its outcome here may have an unknown likelihood of success.”

The European examples include Oslo, Norway and Stockholm. Sweden where all residential areas have 30 km limits. Dublin, Ireland and Turin, Italy have imposed the limits in their city centres, while the Netherlands has over 20,000 kilometres of “zone 30” residential streets, according to the report.

A 2003 OECD report cites numerous examples of successful use of 30 km zones. The city of Toronto obtained special provincial legislation in 1994 to allow for 30 km speed limits on streets with traffic calming structures and has detailed policies on when and where they are utilized.

The debate over traffic management in the North End was initiated because of city plans for high density residential development on Pier 8 near the Marine Discovery Centre, as well as resident concerns about cut-through traffic, speeding and both parking and traffic flow issues related to harbour front events.

Several delegations have registered to speak to the committee meeting tomorrow, but the North End Neighbours group has requested that discussion be postponed until after their September 13 barbeque so they can consult further with residents.

North End Traffic Management Plan -> http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...pt8PW08094.pdf

This is good and bad news. Good news is the North End traffic calming endorsed but the bad news is it could take 10 years to complete.

30 km/h is pretty extreme. People in this city have trouble enough doing 60 km/h on the elevated parts of Burlington St.

well driving on that part of Burlington St. makes me feel like i should be going 80 km/h. Technically it's an expressway, and 60 km/h is a crawl on there.

The part I'm talking about is the freeway part, and doing 110-120 on there is way over 60.

Last time I was on Burlington St. everyone was doing about 110.

I generally like this idea, particularly for James north. I do wish there would be traffic calming measures of some sort on Main and King first, though. Adding an express transit-only lane and actually enforcing the speed limit would be a start.

you drive the speed that you feel comfortable. Just like you don't drive 120 km/h down a regular two lane urban road, you shouldn't drive 60 km/h on a freeway section.

I know it's offtopic, but is that a nice hot-spot for city cops to add coinage to the city coffers?

check out Lloyd Ferguson's quote in the Spec today - "I tried doing 30 and it was tough".
LOL...no kidding. You're from Ancaster.

I agree with Curran though, they shouldn't be closing Bay St at Burlington. That's stupid.

North End gating plan too exclusive: architect

September 09, 2008
Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator

Architect Bill Curran, who lives on Macauley Street, says some of his neighbours want to turn the North End into a gated community and make the waterfront their exclusive domain.

He expressed that provocative view to city council's public works committee yesterday in objecting to elements of a two-year, traffic-calming pilot project that would impose a speed limit of 30 kilometres an hour on most North End Hamilton streets. It would also stop traffic going any further toward the water on Bay Street North. The suggested cutoff point would be at Burlington Street West.

Project manager Justin Readman said it might be the first neighbourhood-wide, 30-km/h limit in Canada. He cited several European cities with similar limits in downtown areas, but said he could find none in this country.

Members of the North End Neighbourhood Association, which has been pushing to slow cars and keep through traffic out, sent a letter asking to make a presentation next Monday, when the works committee will decide what to recommend to council.

Curran, who is chair of the Hamilton-Burlington Society of Architects, said the neighbourhood association doesn't speak for all residents, that closing eight of 14 entry points to the neighbourhood goes against good planning principles and that not all the proposed road closings are necessary.

To stop speeding, he said, "Residents around me feel enforcement is needed."

John Dolbec, chief executive officer of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, which has its offices and meeting space in the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club building at the foot of Bay Street North, said the organization doesn't mind traffic calming on side streets, but "streets that are access points for the waterfront should be exempted."

He said making the north end of Bay one-way southbound would shelter six houses while diverting traffic past 24 on MacNab and Burlington streets.

"We are more concerned about restricting access on Bay with the 30 km/h limit and one-way. I don't see a lot of rationale for that that makes sense. The restrictions on Bay are something of overkill."

Readman said signage would be improved to direct traffic from Highway 403 to the bayfront, and Bay Street would remain two-way with a 50 km/h limit to Strachan Street and the entrance to Bayfront Park.

East Mountain Councillor Tom Jackson said, he too, had concerns about Bay Street, and Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said, "I tried doing 30 this morning and it was tough; I'm really having reservations about that."

Plan highlights

September 09, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator

* Limit speed to 30 km/h on all streets except James Street North and Burlington Street East.

* Close Hughson Street south of Guise Street at Pier 8, close Burlington Street westbound at James Street, Bay Street northbound at Burlington Street, Ferguson Avenue southbound at Burlington and westbound Simcoe Street at Wellington Street.

* Narrow key entry points to the neighbourhood on Bay, MacNab, John and Burlington streets.

* Allow more street parking on John and James streets and on Burlington Street between Ferguson Avenue and Mary Street.

* Add bike lanes on Ferguson Avenue, Guise Street and Bay Street with an off-street bike trail south of Strachan Street and along Ferguson Avenue and Dock Service Road.

* Build a roundabout at James and Strachan streets if it will not interfere with a proposed rapid transit line.

Interesting to note the main plank of this plan involves the conversion of several primary routes from two-way traffic to one-way traffic. Isn't that contradictory to lay month's council decision to convert a chunk of downtown's roads from one-way back to two-way?

This is yet another example of inconsistent planning done on the fly. Is anyone in council ever sober?

This hasn't gone to council yet. Hopefully they won't approve the conversions or the access restrictions. I don't have a problem with any of the other proposals, though.

All fantastic ideas except:

Is it the City's goal to confuse EVERY driver? They need to understand that one-way streets and blocking off roads is at times convenient for it's Citizens, but super inconvenient for visitors.

Have you ever gotten stuck in one of those residential hoods in Toronto where these measures r in place? I'll take one I'm familiar with -- Rosedale. They have blocked off streets everywhere in this hood, and if you're not walking, you're screwed.

I agree with speed humps, traffic circles, lowering speed limits, bumping out curbs, etc.
But closing off streets is not necessary.

^^they will have to take those kinds of measures in Hamilton if we want to convert major streets to two-way and reduce lanes.

As it is in Hamilton, most people stay off sidestreets because the main roads are wide and free flowing. If we go Toronto style, with major roads being two-way with two lanes plus two lanes of street parking, then people will start looking for shortcuts.

^^ Makes sense, Flar.
People hardly use side streets as short cuts here, but I see it in TO all the time. My street in Toronto (Isabella) was actually used as a shortcut between Yonge & Sherbourne, yet the street directly South of it (Earl Pl) had been blocked off in the middle, and was usually the street I walked on most to access my bldg. Especially walking home from Yonge St.

But I haven't noticed any of my neighbourhood streets in Corktown being used as shortcuts now that John & James are two way. What makes them think it's going to happen in the North End?
Maybe a Northender can shed some light?

This is a very interesting concept. I don't support or endorse it--and I think 30 km/h is extreme (and it has nothing to do with being from Ancaster or anywhere else). However, it would seem to me that the idea here is to isolate the neighborhood with limited entry points and reduced street-to-street access. If you don't mind my saying, it's extraordinarily suburban.

your neighbourhood is full of shortcutters. I've seen the statistics. It's amazing.

^^ Those bastards! hahaha

I find Corktown to be a quiet neighbourhood car-wise. LOTS of cars parked EVERYWHERE, but never really any driving. Some traffic along Charlton in the AM rush, but that's as much as I see?
Do you have a link to the stats, rth? I love researching my hood... I know I'm such a nerd.

I think Corktown has the highest recovered stolen car ratio to any other part of the city which is kinda funny. I saw it in the Corktown Crier one day.

Agreed, 30km/h is extreme.

I find it interesting that North End residents are more important (30km/h) then school children (40km/h in most school zones I've seen).

I hope the police stringently enforce the speed limit and I'm guessing local residents will be the first caught speeding.

I expect the final version will have the speed limit at 40km/h. 30 is plain silly. And, as Fairhamilton pointe out, how can you reconcile a speed limit for a neighbourhood that is slower than a school zone?

Sounds to me that this is more about accelerating gentrification od the area...

People go higher than 30km/h through the Limeridge mall parking lot! I don't think I've ever seen one of those thousands of single-occupant minivans going under 30km/h in my life.

I think 30km is great. School zones should be 30 as well. Nobody EVER drives the speed limit anywhere. Those school zones are useless as everyone still does 50. 30km zone would have people doing closer to 40.
I hope this idea can expand to other neighbourhoods in the downtown area.

People will not drive slower (except old people) because of a 30 km/h limit.

You heard it here first folks.

Bingo..since when have you heard of someone getting pulled over really for doing less than 15 km/h over the speed limit?

This is Ontario, generally you can get away with driving above the speedlimit. My policy is 10-15 km/h over the limit in city/urban conditions. 15-20 km/h over on freeways and rural roads. Why else is the 401 still 100 km/h? If it were enforced, it would be probably 120 km/h speed limit.

No Decision Yet On North-End Plan
Ken Mann
9/15/2008

Hamilton politicians have once again put off a decision, in regards to a controversial plan to create a family and child-friendly north-end neighbourhood.

They've set the issue aside, after hearing a passionate appeal from residents who support lowering speed limits to 30 kilometres per hour in the vicinity of the west harbour.

The proposal also calls for the partial closure of certain streets, as an additional traffic calming measure.

Stephen Park with the North End Neighbours Association says it's about pedestrian safety and making Hamilton the best place to raise a child.

Critics calls it an attempt by north end residents to create what in effect would be their own "gated community".

Gotta love decisiveness.

They will stop you if they are trying to meet their quota for the month, believe me! My only ticket ever was for going 55 in a 40 zone (going downhill .. )

i love the last line of the article: Critics call it an attempt by north end residents to create what in effect would be their own "gated community."

just what exactly is that supposed to mean? so pathetic.

Actually, I agree with the 'gated community' statement. And the 'critic' who made it is an architect who lives in the north end. I don't have a problem with reducing the speed limit, but they are also trying to close off streets. This is about limiting access to the waterfront by people from outside their community. They are playing the child safety card to justify their exclusiveness, and even some of their fellow northenders recognize it.

you seem to know more about this issue than me, so i'll step aside. perhaps the article should have been a little more detailed rather than ending it on such a vague note.

Streets of ire
Grade school students show their support for traffic calming measures in North End

September 17, 2008
Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator

Students from St. Lawrence Catholic elementary school offered silent support Monday to the North End Neighbourhood Association's appeal for a speed limit of 30 kilometres an hour on all local streets, including Bay and James, which traffic planners propose keeping at 50 km/h.

Some sat on chairs at the public works committee meeting, others on the floor, and a handful held a colourful banner reading "not gated, just safe."

The sign was a reference to architect Bill Curran's complaint that a proposed neighbourhood traffic-calming plan is an attempt by a minority of residents to make the waterfront their exclusive domain.

Association spokesperson John Mattinson also challenged that notion Monday, saying the goal "is certainly not to create a gated community," just to reduce cut-through traffic.

Stephen Park, speaking for West Harbour Neighbours Inc., also backed the idea of a two-year trial of calming measures, noting that 5,250 people live in the 1.7 square kilometres of the North End, 1,200 of them children under 15.

Park cited a peak-hour count of 970 cars travelling Burlington Street West, 145 of them driving over 63 km/h, 46 over 80 km/h, in a 50 km/h zone.

The committee heard delegations a week ago and Monday, but isn't expected to vote on the plan until sometime next month.

Councillor Tom Jackson questioned closing some streets, saying he sees "closures of any kind, while beneficial to the neighbourhood, as a form of blockade to any others visiting the neighbourhood."

I'm sickened when 'causes' use elementary school children who are incapable of making and acting on their own decisions for 'the cause'.

Could these school children have opted out? Did they have a civics class where both side of the issue was presented, before attending the committee meeting? Do they have the maturity to understand the entire issue? If one child said hey wait a second, I want a banner that says 40kmh, not 30kmh would class resources be put towards that banner?

I'm guessing not..........

exactly what I was thinking when I saw this

Exactly. When was the last time anyone ever saw a speeding ticket handed out along Main or King downtown?

New speed limit considered for city's North End

January 19, 2009
BY ERIC McGUINNESS
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/article/498860

Hamilton’s North End Neighbourhood — which includes popular harbourfront parks and boating clubs — could become the first in Canada with a 30 km/h speed limit.

City council’s public works committee voted 5-2 yesterday to recommend adopting the 30 km/h limit for a two-year pilot project, starting sometime in 2010.

Officials say they know of no other community in the country with a limit so low, although they cite Oslo, Norway and Albuquerque, N.M. as examples of other places that limit speed to 30 km/h in some districts.

East Hamilton Councillor Sam Merulla, who suggested 40 km/h would be more reasonable, warned that 30 km/h “really becomes a cash grab” because so many drivers will be caught speeding.

Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he was violently opposed because his suburban constituents visiting popular bayfront parks “instead of going home with a suntan will go home with a ticket.”

Saying he tried to drive 30 km/h and found it “almost impossible,” Ferguson said, “The police are going to want two or three more stealth cars to park down there.”

Ward 2 Councillor Bob Bratina, who represents the North End, attacked those views as coming from “a couple of individuals who have selfish interests, who disregard interests of this neighbourhood.”

Mayor Fred Eisenberger and councillors Tom Jackson, Chad Collins and Margaret McCarthy voted with Bratina to lower the speed limit throughout the neighbourhood, including James and Burlington streets.

The recommendation must be adopted by the full council Jan. 28 and then has to wait for other approvals before being implemented.

It’s part of a bigger North End Traffic Management Plan, which includes controversial street closings and other traffic-calming measures. The committee wants staff and community groups to take another look at those measures, and then the full plan must be filed with the city clerk for a 30-day public review period.

Gerry Davis, acting general manager of public works, said implementation of the plan also depends on the resolution of appeals against Setting Sail, a secondary plan for the west harbour.

Quebec and Alberta both have 30 km/h school zones
Montreal will be dropping its default speed limit to 40 km / h, with areas near parks and playgrounds dropping to 30
http://media.www.theconcordian.com/m...-3538682.shtml

WTF? Toronto has 30 km/h as well. Typical speculator, garbage newspaper that it is.

Toronto does one better, they have neighbourhoods full of speed bumps so you can't go over 30 without breaking something. Hamilton needs to get in the game.

And Toronto uses one way streets in a way completely different than we do: as a means to control speed and route of through traffic. Try taking a shortcut through a neighbourhood downtown to try to avoid traffic on spadina or bathurst - good luck - they create small one way sections and forced turns to avoid it. And gue3ss what, it works. The neighbourhoods are much more livable when through traffic is reduced and slowed down.

Here's what I heard from the mouth of a councillor regarding speed bumps on residential streets, and I paraphrase;

If the city were to install speed bumps, and someone were to hit one at a high rate of speed, lose control of their car and end up crashing. The city could be liable for having installed the speed bump that caused the crash.
Also, it was implied the crash might result in an injury to children playing outside............ Hence, speed bumps make neighbourhoods more dangerous.

No word of a lie, that's what I heard come out of the councillors mouth. My jaw dropped, but at least at that moment I had a clear understanding of what 'we' are up against.

Who said that? I can only guess is was Lloyd "Driving 30km/h is Impossible" Ferguson. Is he for real?

This could take YEARS to implement. I doubt we'll see 30 km speed limit until 2011 or 2012.

It takes years to put up 30km/h signs? :haha:

Most of these are little residential streets, the impact studies shouldn't be too difficult.

Can't do a thing until Setting Sail is settled with OMB. Once that's done there's a list of things needed to be implement first.

Who said it doesn't really matter, it goes to show how ingrained the car culture is within council. BTW, it wasn't Lloyd.

I would take 40kmh actively enforced, over 30kmh not enforced any day.

I would take active calming over posted signs. Curb bump outs, speed tables at all intersections and forced dead end streets...

Where I live the scheme in residential areas is "Twenty's plenty" (mph) and there are speed bumps everywhere!

yeah..but that's more expensive.