As noted by the CBC there is a lot happening in Edmonton this summer, and you can add removing the curb lanes of traffic on Jasper Avenue between 109th Street and 115 Street as another improvement. That former car dominated space will become expanded sidewalks and street cafes on this important stretch of street. Council received 78 per cent support for this $19 million dollar project that will bring this city into this century.
Edmonton has this right: if you want to create social spaces, enhance interaction, and get people to spend money at retailers, you need great walkable streets, accessible to everyone. Citizens living downtown wanted to walk to the stores and to work-an interesting comfortable convenient walkable street is the way to go.
“For the past two years, city staff have been gathering feedback about permanently reducing a stretch of Jasper Avenue between 109th Street and 124th Street from seven lanes of traffic to five, including turning lanes. The sidewalks would be built out and adorned with trees and more lighting. Restaurant owners could potentially take advantage of the space to create patios.
Edmonton is seeing a changing demographic with more people living in the downtown-and with that increase in density walkability is paramount. Kudos to them for taking the first step.
I look forward to the frothing rage-filled headlines from the Edmonton Sun.
They missed this opportunity on Cambie after the Canada Line was built. Maybe they will learn from Edmonton and increase the quality of the pedestrian realm on Broadway once the subway is built.
The conversations have started. At one workshop, the phrase “life after construction” was used to talk about what the opportunities would be on Broadway post subway.
Jeff, do you have info on the workshops (time, place, agenda)? Cheers.
The workshop I was thinking of was held on January 19th of this year. There were two sessions, and the event was hosted jointly by Translink and the City. They were titled Stakeholder Workshops, and were by invitation. A couple of Active Transportation advocates, plus resident groups, BIA and other business groups, etc. Topics included an overview of planning to date, a discussion on impacts during construction, multi modal issues, station locations, and a discussion of what the street could be like after the start of service, what changes could be imagined. This last one relates to the opportunity you describe, and which many agreed with at the workshop.
There are regular updates every month or so at various meetings such as the Transportation 2040 Stakeholder Updates. There were also three open houses held, on January 28, 31, and Feb 1.
I understand that the next public engagement is planned for June, and relates to metrics.
City web site for info is here: http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/broadway-subway-in-depth.aspx
Thanks Jeff. I may see you there.
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Reblogged this on Sandy James Planner.