THUNDER BAY – The city’s transportation network could be in for major upgrades, including a more aggressive focus on pedestrians and cyclists, changes to traffic light cycles, the addition of roundabouts and traffic calming measures on Thunder Bay streets.
IBI Group’s Brian Hollingsworth on Monday night presented a wide range of options to council, part of the master transportation plan update.
If adopted by council, the plan could create a pair of north-to-south cycling networks, beginning with a route that would start on Vickers Street and funnel bikers northward to Court Street, which the consultant said would be an easier start than trying to create a route along the May-Memorial-Algoma corridor.
“There would be some challenges to implement that in the short term,” Hollingsworth said, explaining to council why the aforementioned express route is the better first fit.
The answer didn’t sit well with all councillors, notably at-large representative Aldo Ruberto, an avid supporter of cycling lanes during his tenure in office.
Ruberto wondered aloud why the Memorial route wasn’t the priority.
“That’s the place where the most cyclists are, on Memorial Avenue,” Ruberto said. “I realize it’s a challenge. If you start on Vickers, how long is going to take you to get back to Memorial?”
Kayla Dixon, the city’s director of engineering, said it comes down to cost.
“It … makes sense to do that through larger capital improvements,” she said.
Traffic lights were another hot topic during the hour-long delegation, at least two councillors questioning the delegation about what improvements can be made.
“Is there anything in there about reducing the number of traffic signals in town?” asked Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon, who also questioned if some of the city’s main thoroughfares could be transformed into one-way streets.
Hollingsworth responded by saying roundabouts might help to eliminate a number of the lights around the city. The length of light cycles also needs to be updated.
“We’ve looked at the traffic-light system and there are some improvements to be made in terms of cycle lengths, which in the downtown parts are quite long,” he said.
The idea would be to centralize traffic control in one location and add wireless signals at all intersections. Holligsworth said the current system is akin to a dial-up connection, which does not work in a timely fashion.
The plan also includes methods that would allow residents in neighbourhoods to vote on the necessity of traffic calming methods, while requiring a minimum number of signatures on a petition before any action is taken.
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds wanted to ensure the plan sets the city up not for the short-term, but with a long-term, progressive city 20 years down the road in mind.
“I want to be convinced … that we’re not making a short-term, quick decision, that it sets us up for success," Foulds said.
The transportation master plan will be on display on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at an open house at the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma Street.
