Let's talk about one-way streets

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by anactualalien

Love the above ideas.

Re; the impossibilty of two-way I'm not so sure. If we are that cynical about the chances for 2-way ever I can't imagine any of the proposed features wouldn't also raise the hackles of Hamilton's drivers for only a few years before they are ultimately ripped out in celebration - if they even got as far as implentation.

It's Main's freeway nature, lane capacity and ability to speed across town to catch the green wave that is most important to drivers in this city (although the King-Main directional relationship is also significant, I concede). There's really no compromise with them then, imo, since the above ideas would radically alter those three qualities. I could see them sooner yielding to two-way where there's less of a perceived road diet than center boulevards and (god forbid) bike lanes.

I have zero faith it'll go 2-way especially in light of the LRT plan quietly being changed earlier this month to maintain 2 lanes of WB traffic on King, instead of 1 each way as was originally proposed.

[ScreamingViking]

Will be interesting to see how the next council deals with this... because I doubt this one will want to say/think/feel much about it (and it's surely to be too taxing on the energy of some of them )


Hamilton on the road to more two-way traffic conversions
Main Street West will stick with five lanes of eastbound traffic for the foreseeable future

by Matthew Van Dongen
The Hamilton Spectator -- June 21, 2018



More one-way streets should be converted to two-way traffic, say city traffic planners — but not Main Street West.

Councillors are considering a long-delayed update to Hamilton's 2007 transportation master plan, which includes a proposed priority list for new two-way conversions of the city's 80-plus one-way streets.

The top-nine list mostly focuses on north-south arteries or collectors in the lower central city, including parts of Catharine, Sanford, Birch, Sherman, Victoria and Wellington. The top-ranked suggested conversion is the last one-way section of Wilson, east-west between Victoria and Sherman avenues.

The list is not carved in stone, said transportation planning manager Steve Molloy — but it is based on an updated set of criteria councillors are being asked to adopt when considering future conversions.

"The first step is always going to be to determine what the vision is for the street," he said. "We're not just going to be looking at transportation ... We're not always going to want to make that (two-way) change."

The city's latest take on the "complete streets" philosophy — dubbed "Complete-Livable-Better Streets" in the plan — focuses on making streets accessible to all users, safe for nearby residents and better for city-building.

While in some cases, a two-way conversion can "calm" traffic and encourage more pedestrians or two-wheeled users, in others, a one-way solution is the better compromise, said Molloy.

...

read more

[ScreamingViking]

CBC #HamOnt's story on same:

Leave Main Street as 1 way for now, says new Hamilton transportation plan

by Samantha Craggs
CBC News -- June 20, 2018




It's possible for the city to convert Main Street to two-way traffic east of Wellington Street, says a new Hamilton plan meant to guide transportation decisions. But making it two way from Wellington to Highway 403 is too complicated right now.

This is according to Hamilton traffic planners, who presented a long-awaited transportation master plan to city council's general issues committee Wednesday.

Converting Main Street from Wellington to Highway 403 would be a problem, said Brian Hollingsworth, director of transportation planning and parking.

It would interfere with the 403 exchange, and the city has no plan for how to handle two-way traffic flow on the busy street. Main and Queen sees 2,700 vehicles per hour during rush hour, Hollingsworth said. The capacity is only 2,400.

"There's still a bit of a gap in terms of accommodating the existing volume."

...

read more

[lachlanholmes]

Ugh...

[LRTfan]

1970's rule!!!

[anactualalien]

Well then I gotta throw my support behind Whitehead this election, he's been talking about a proper ring road and that's fine by me.

[matt602]

We have a ring road system. It's called the RHVP, QEW, the Linc and the 403. We spent a lot of money building the RHVP and the Linc just for that purpose.

[NortheastWind]

Originally Posted by matt602

We have a ring road system. It's called the RHVP, QEW, the Linc and the 403. We spent a lot of money building the RHVP and the Linc just for that purpose.

Not a true ring road as the northern piece is missing. Years ago a tunnel from Burlington Street to the 403 was discussed.

[matt602]

The Northern piece is the QEW. The problem is that people are using streets like King and Cannon to drive East-West across the entire city when they can be doing that on the highway system. If you're going to Westdale from Stoney Creek, you have no business taking Queenston/Main/King all the way there instead of the QEW to the 403. We shouldn't be catering to people who do this by giving them synchronized traffic lights, wide one-way streets and high speed limits.

[mattgrande]

Originally Posted by NortheastWind

Not a true ring road as the northern piece is missing. Years ago a tunnel from Burlington Street to the 403 was discussed.

God, I can't imagine the cost of something like that... What a waste.

And if it were to go overland there's no room for that either, really.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

God, I can't imagine the cost of something like that... What a waste.

And if it were to go overland there's no room for that either, really.

The idea was abandoned because of the cost. But it was only shelved with the potential to reintroduce it in the future.

[ScreamingViking]

Cost, and I recall the idea of tunneling under Hamilton Cemetery and Dundurn Park wasn't too palatable either.

I can't imagine being able to fit in an interchange with the 403 that would be functional (i.e., fit the confined space while maintaining proper geometry, mesh with the Main/King ramps, and allow for future 403 widening), not intrude on the CP rail line, and also be acceptable to environmental stakeholders. Never mind negotiating for space along the CN corridor to accommodate the road, especially given current plans to add GO service.

The cost of the interchange alone would likely be enormous.

[LRTfan]

the permiter road was permanently deleted from city halls planning books several years ago.
With the industrial jobs dwindling rapidly, there is absolutely no need for it. Heck, Wellington and Victoria could function with 1 lane of traffic each, instead of the 4 and 5 lanes they have from way back when the industrial traffic and jobs were heavy.
Hamilton has a perfectly legit ring-road.

Toronto has 401-DVP-Gardiner-427.
Hamilton has QEW-RHVP-Linc-403.

[drpgq]

A downtown Hamilton one-way road will soon be converted to two ways
https://www.inthehammer.com/this-dow...MidiBEkiOyluM0

Another downtown Hamilton one-way road will soon be converted to allow for two-way traffic.

At last Wednesday's (Dec. 11) City Council meeting — the last one of 2019 — councillors passed a motion that authorizes city staff to "convert Sanford Avenue between Delaware Avenue and Barton Street East from one-way to two-way traffic."


The motion, introduced at last week's Public Works committee meeting by Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann, noted that Sanford had been identified in the Council-approved Transportation
Master Plan for two-way traffic consideration and was ranked number five for conversion.

The conversion to two-way traffic will take place during the scheduled reconstruction of Sanford, between Main and Cannon streets in 2026.

[drpgq]

Too bad it isn't until 2026. I wonder what the rankings for conversion are.

[interr0bangr]

2026?

My mind never ceases to be blown at how many decades behind we are from any other "major" city. Who was running this place between 1990 and 2010? What the fuck were they filling up their time with?

[SteelTown]

Queen Street South two-way conversion to begin June 8

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...in-june-8.html

It’s finally time. The long discussed conversion of collision-prone Queen Street South to a two-way street is set to begin June 8.

While the city has chosen to pause 130 construction projects in the city, the Queen Street conversion gets pandemic priority as it’s expected to “enhance safety” in the neighbourhood.

The conversion will affect Queen Street South from Aberdeen Avenue to King Street West. The project will improve eight intersections including either new installation or upgrades of traffic signals, roadway reconstruction, curb and sidewalk reconstruction and pavement markings.

New traffic signals will be added to Queen Street South at Duke Street, Herkimer Street and Napier Street. While signals at Queen and King Street West, Main Street West, Hunter Street West, Charlton Avenue West and Aberdeen Avenue will be upgraded.

The city of Hamilton has set up a website to keep citizens abreast of the conversion. According to the site, phase one will focus on Main Street West to Aberdeen Avenue and is expected to last until October.

It’s anticipated that phase two will be complete in November with Coco Paving Inc. having been awarded the $1.34-million contract.

The aim of the project is to reduce speed and traffic collisions and increase safety of pedestrians and cyclists.


Proposed improvements at the intersection of Queen Street South at Hunter Street.

[ChildishGavino]

Are those separated bike lanes!? If it's all separated from the street like that, they'll be better than Canon or Bay

[Innsertnamehere]

I believe it will just be a short segment right at Hunter St to provide a queuing area while cyclists wait for the light to change, unfortunately.

[LikeHamilton]

Queen Street South is set to open to two-way traffic

By Kate McCullough Spectator Reporter Tue., Sept. 8, 2020

A section of Queen Street South, which was previously one-way southbound, will open up to two-way traffic Wednesday.

Cars will now be able to travel both north and south on Queen Street South between Main Street West and Aberdeen Avenue, according to a City of Hamilton news release.

Crews will be on site adding the “final touches” over the next few weeks, the release reads.

In 2017, Hamilton city council voted unanimously to transform this busy city artery.

Other upgrades include the replacement of sidewalk corners and curbs, new traffic lights and poles and audible pedestrian push buttons. Bike lanes have also been updated to include concrete separation curbs, bike lane knock-down sticks and traffic lights for cyclists.

Construction of a new traffic light at Queen Street North and Napier Street is set to begin Sept. 14, and be completed in October.

The conversion project began in June of this year, and is expected to last until October.

The section of Queen Street South between Main Street West and King Street West will also be converted to a two-way road. This is set to be completed by 2021, “pending the finalization of localized development construction,” according to the release.

Queen Street South was previously one-way between Main Street West and Herkimer Street, and two-way south of Herkimer Street.

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...y-traffic.html