Let's talk about one-way streets

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

I think what people tend to forget about (HWY 8) aka. Main street... is that large groups of traffic travel along bundled all together because of the red light system on these streets. You can travel along at about 55km/p and never stop at a red light ...or get unlucky and have to stop at every light with a huge group of other cars.... you can see further along Main street all of the red tail lights of a huge grouping of cars.... there is no reason why Main Street or King Street need to be that many lanes all going 1 way ...

[flar]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

...because the traffic is stopped at the red light at Caroline and Main in behind the camera's POV.

The road is still wide open for several blocks. It's very clear this road could handle a lot more traffic.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by flar

The road is still wide open for several blocks. It's very clear this road could handle a lot more traffic.

It is not uncommon for one-way streets like this to have two blocks relatively clear as the sequenced red lights come up, as is apparent in the the two blocks between Caroline and Summers Lane in the foreground of this photo. If you look further, you can see traffic stopped at the red light at James, backed up past MacNab to Summers Lane by Hamilton Place. This photo, as any photo, is but a split moment of time captured in a still frame, and does not reflect the true nature of traffic flow at that hour.

[flar]

Not to belabour this, but the point is, such a sparse moment could not be captured at this time of day in Ottawa (for example) which also has one ways downtown.

I know what the nature of traffic on Main St. is like.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Main's down the four lanes at that spot > Terry Whitehead's phone must be ringing off the hook.

Plus questions about what that strip of raised concrete is for... the one beside the road.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

That tiny sliver of concrete - whatever it's called - has apparently sent Terry's constituents into convulsions.

Don't worry Ter, nobody uses the pavement on Main because it's five-lane expressway servicing the Mountain among other parts of the city.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by flar

Not to belabour this, but the point is, such a sparse moment could not be captured at this time of day in Ottawa (for example) which also has one ways downtown.

I know what the nature of traffic on Main St. is like.

I am also very familiar with the roads in Hamilton and Ottawa. That moment cannot be captured on any one-way street in Ottawa at that hour because a similar street doesn't exist in Ottawa. Main Street in Hamilton is a primary road with one way traffic that handles 2500 vehicles during the hour that photo was taken. None of Ottawa's one way streets downtown are primary roads.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I am also very familiar with the roads in Hamilton and Ottawa. That moment cannot be captured on any one-way street in Ottawa at that hour because a similar street doesn't exist in Ottawa. Main Street in Hamilton is a primary road with one way traffic that handles 2500 vehicles during the hour that photo was taken. None of Ottawa's one way streets downtown are primary roads.

This exchange is quibbling. The original point was that Main appears to handle much less traffic now. My anecdotal observations concur. Main could give up two lanes with little loss to transportation times. We just don't have the volume.

[davidcappi]

I'd like to see Main be two lanes in either direction separated by a median in the middle with trees. It'd create a beautiful boulevard feel, help the flow of traffic, and provide much needed greenfill.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

I'd like to see Main be two lanes in either direction separated by a median in the middle with trees. It'd create a beautiful boulevard feel, help the flow of traffic, and provide much needed greenfill.

I totally agree!!!! this would be ideal and look amazing !!

[coalminecanary]

Terry Whitehead's constituents would never stand for it! (According to him)

[davidcappi]

As one of Whitehead's constituents, I say DO IT

Side note: Someone just told me that Main can't be two ways because one ways are better for traffic, and that the large gaps are normal.

:/

[Gurnett71]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

I'd like to see Main be two lanes in either direction separated by a median in the middle with trees. It'd create a beautiful boulevard feel, help the flow of traffic, and provide much needed greenfill.

While such a development would look amazing along this stretch (nicer than York Blvd IMHO), would there be enough space for the planned LRT on this route along with such a boulevard? Maybe one lane each way for cars? There would be outrage for sure.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Gurnett71

While such a development would look amazing along this stretch (nicer than York Blvd IMHO), would there be enough space for the planned LRT on this route along with such a boulevard? Maybe one lane each way for cars? There would be outrage for sure.

LRT is proposed for King St., not Main (it does shift to Main east of the Delta and west of the 403)

[Gurnett71]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

LRT is proposed for King St., not Main (it does shift to Main east of the Delta and west of the 403)

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

[SteelTown]

Nothing will happen for Main or King St once the LRT design and funding is finalized.

The upgrade to King St W streetscape has been postponed for several years as a result of LRT planning.

[Beedok]

I hope they don't turn it into a boulevard. If they're going to take a lane away then add it to the sidewalk on both sides.

[davidcappi]

What if the boulevard wasn't the width of a full lane? Maybe only 1/3 the width, allowing for an expansion of the sidewalks on either side.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

What if the boulevard wasn't the width of a full lane? Maybe only 1/3 the width, allowing for an expansion of the sidewalks on either side.

It still seems like wasted space. If you want trees or flowers then put them on the sidewalk to also serve as a bit of a shield for the pedestrians.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

This is my ideal boulevard > trees lining the street, wide sidewalks, etc.

source
Boulevards like the ones on York and Main W really are pointless IMHO.