Corridor controversy

The plan to turn a portion of Bay Street into an active living corridor has become a polarizing issue for some residents living in the area.

The corridor, if approved by council, would see new sidewalks on Bay Street from High Street to Marlborough Street as well as Windsor Street from Rockwood Avenue to Algonquin Avenue. The proposal also includes a multi-use trail on Hillcrest Park and across Carrick Park.

The proposal also includes additional stop signs and sign relocation in the area.

Cindy Spackman said she supports the proposed corridor because she believes it will allow her 10-year-old-son to be safer while riding his bicycle.

Spackman, who lives on Dufferin Avenue, was one of about 40 people who rode their bikes from Hillcrest Park down to the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club on Windsor Street Wednesday for the Red River ward meeting. The group attended the meeting to show their support of the corridor.

“All of us here support it because we believe it is extremely important to have sidewalks for our children to walk on especially when they go to school,” she said prior to the meeting.

“It’s very important to get an east-west cycling route in this city. We’re definitely taking a message to Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon that despite opposition from a handful of citizens there are quite a few people who support the active transportation corridor.”
Despite some voicing opposition to the project, Spackman believes there’s no real battle to be had as the decision to implement the proposal is a no-brainer.

The city chose Bay Street for the active living corridor because it’s part of a natural corridor for people to walk, bike or skateboard.

It starts with the Bay and Algoma area and then continues up Hillcrest Park. Then Bay Street connects people to Carrick Park located right by École Gron Morgon and Corpus Christi School.

On the other side of the park is Windsor Street, which ends with the Boys and Girls Club.

Harry Chapman, who lives on High Street, voiced his opposition to the project by calling it dangerous and poorly planned.

“All you have to do is read the literature and see the problems they have created,” he said. “It’s an impossible plan and little thought has gone into this. Nobody wants the thing. Bay Street is a wonderful street and people go down with carriages and everything.”

Chapman brought up the issue of the city creating more bike lanes in the area but Adam Krupper, the city’s active transportation coordinator, later refuted that claim during the meeting.

Krupper also explained that property taxes wouldn’t increase, nor would there be changes to road classifications and there were no talks or plans to remove parking.

McKinnon said the announcement has unfortunately polarized the neighbourhood and it was his job to try to bring the two sides together.

“I’m supportive of active transportation but maybe not always were it is being proposed,” McKinnon said. “That’s what our job here is about -- to see if this is an appropriate spot. I want to see if there’s middle ground. I have some proposals myself but I don’t want to voice them until I have heard all that’s going on here.”