Quote:
Originally Posted by phil235
I don't think one-way streets is the way to go, as that would be counter-productive to the pedestrian-friendly main street feel that is being promoted on Preston. While there are some examples of one-way streets that work as pedestrian areas (Ste-Catherine in Montreal), the more likely result would be an erosion of the pedestrian stroll that has been gaining momentum in the past few years.
With the exception of possible transit enhancements, I think the street network east of Preston is almost perfectly suited for re-working as an intensified residential area once NRCan moves out of its older buildings.
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One-way streets are not good for anything. They are confusing for drivers and rarely flow well, and they are bad for pedestrians - especially when the one-way street is a busy arterial road, which such a couplet surely would make it to be. Prince of Wales is also only 2 lanes wide for most of its length (and even after upgrades, it will probably still only be 2 lanes north of Fisher), hardly an example of a high-traffic arterial.
The Chaudiere Bridge should not be seen as a bridge for through traffic anyway, it should be intended for local community and business traffic in the immediate area (including the islands). Once either the Kettle Island bridge or the King Edward/Nicholas tunnel is done, then better work can be done in the area.
A good idea would be to hook up Preston Street to Vimy Place, and place some new museums in the space west of Preston surrounding Bayview Station, while leaving the area east of Preston and south of the Ottawa River Parkway as residential.
One other thing: they should revive the Corso Italia street signs on Preston Street, but instead, do it on the main sign - have a white base instead of a blue base, leave the text alone, while writing "
Corso Italia" in the space above "
rue Preston St.". Perhaps an Italian flag could replace the City of Ottawa logo as well.
Other BIA's could do the same in their communities.