The plan to turn a portion of Bay Street into an active living corridor has some area residents upset.
“The whole thing just doesn’t make any sense,” said Harry Chapman, a High Street resident who said he hasn’t heard any positive feedback about the plan.
The plan includes removing stop signs at most of the intersections on Bay Street between High and Marlborough Streets and putting in stop signs at the north-south cross streets.
That includes a new three-way stop at Summit Avenue and a four-way stop at Hill Street.
After that four-way stop at the Hill Street intersection, Chapman said it would be a straight shoot for motorists down to Marlborough.
“You’re opening a mini-speedway here,” he said.
Chapman said he’s been receiving emails from people expressing their concerns with the project, fearing that removing the stop signs on Bay Street will make the route enticing for motorists.
“It is simply a convenience for cyclists and motorists who will cut off of Red River Road, down to Bay, and through to High to avoid two traffic lights at Red River and Pine, and Red River and High,” one email reads.
Another echoes the concern that Bay Street, “a narrow road in a residential area,” will be used to cut through Mariday Park to access Red River Road or John Street.
The only plans for 2013 are the shifting of the stop signs, but the plan calls for eventual incremental changes to the section of Bay Street that include a sidewalk and adding more street lighting.
Chapman’s worried those measures will mean they’ll have to widen the road and possibly expropriate land and take out trees.
What’s frustrating for Chapman is he feels the street is fine as it is now.
“That’s why everyone is so irritated. There’s nothing wrong here,” he said. “I like bicycle paths, but it’s ridiculous.”
The changes are all in the name of safety and giving the pedestrian the right of way, said Adam Krupper, the City of Thunder Bay’s active transportation coordinator.
They’re stopping traffic at those intersections, so vehicles have to stop for people.
“People can walk or bike the length of the road without having to stop and go, stop and go,” Krupper said.
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 Ecole Gron Morgon and Corpus Christi School.
On the other side of the park is Windsor Street, which ends with the Boys and Girls Club.
“You have this spine, this long road, that connects all the way up from Junot (Avenue) all the way to Hillcrest Park,” said Krupper. “They line up almost perfectly.”
Krupper said he’s glad people are coming forward with concerns about the project and they’ve talked to police about setting up speed counters along Bay Street.
If council approves the plan and it goes ahead, the city's engineering department will conduct traffic counts and ask police to once again monitor speeds.
“So if there are any problems, we can fix them,” Krupper said.
The city is still asking for feedback and Krupper said he will be at the May 22 ward meeting at the Boys and Girls Club to answer any questions and provide more information.
Chapman said they would like to see as many people as possible at the May 22 meeting with any concerns they may have.
“We hope a lot of people come to that and show their support and remind them how silly of an idea this is,” he said.
