The next meeting of the Complete Streets Strathcona working group will be on Tuesday, December 11, at 7pm at the Old Strathcona Business Association Office (#202, 10345 Whyte Ave). Please go to http://edmontonbikes.ca/strathcona for full details.
On Thursday, November 8, 2012, the Complete Streets Strathcona working group hosted an open house at the Strathcona Community League Hall from 7-9pm. The working group collected design ideas and feedback from members of the public, focusing on ideas to make the Whyte Avenue area friendlier to pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. Representatives from the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society, Strathcona Centre Community League, the City of Edmonton, and the Old Strathcona Business Association, as well as University of Alberta students and community residents are all involved in the working group.
You can download a PDF version of this summary report here:
View Complete Streets Strathcona - Public Input Map in a larger map
Please add your feedback to the interactive map. A free Google Account is needed. To add markers to this map, log in to a Google account, click here to view the map, and then click "Edit".
Background
Complete Streets Strathcona is a multi-stakeholder working group that formed after the tragic death of Isaak Kornelsen. A number of group rides, forums and meetings have been held since then.
The purpose of the November 8 Open House was to seek input from the public and interested stakeholders on the priorities of the working group as well as to solicit specific road design features in order to advance the group’s vision for the safest and most comfortable bike infrastructure in the Old Strathcona area.
Process
Complete Streets Strathcona, with the help of Tyler Golly from the City of Edmonton’s Transportation Services department (Sustainable Transportation section), provided large maps of the entire area (from 114 St to 92 St, Saskatchewan Dr to south of 76 Ave) as well as large maps of 82 and 83 Ave from 114 St to 92 St, including road and lane widths. Images of various kinds of cycling infrastructure (though without detailed text descriptions) were also available. Representatives from the City and Complete Streets Strathcona were available to answer questions.
Members of the public were invited to provide their feedback in provided comment sheets, as well as directly on the maps. Over 110 pieces of individual feedback were received from roughly 25 participants. This report contains a summary of feedback received during the open house, grouped by location, as well as an appendix of all feedback received.
Most of the feedback listed in the appendix has been copied verbatim from notes written or attached to the maps, with some clarification added and descriptions of illustrations written. Locations of the feedback have been recorded as best possible. The source material may be made available by request. An interactive version of the map, including feedback, is available at http://edmontonbikes.ca/strathcona/
Findings
The feedback described in this document does not necessarily represent the views or the position of Complete Streets Strathcona and its stakeholders. It is simply a summary of the feedback we received during the November 8 Open House.
There were four important, major trends that were identified in the feedback at the open house.
Focus on 83 Avenue
Over 80 per cent of the feedback received was placed on or written about 83 Avenue. Most of the rest was concerned with the conversion of the 104 Street northbound bus lane into a separated two-way cycle track between 76 and 83 Ave.
Reduce traffic volumes
Reducing automobile traffic volumes makes roads more comfortable and safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Comments included but are not limited to:
- Designate 83 Ave as one-way street
- Restrict parking to permit-holding residents
- Install traffic diverters
Reduce car traffic speeds
This was another common theme. Suggested measures in this realm include:
- Install single lane traffic circles
- Installation of traffic diverters
- North/south stop signs on streets that intersect with 83 Avenue
Make cyclists feel welcome and wanted
Participants generally felt designing a street that caters to cyclists means more than signage and painted lanes. Ideas brought forth during the open house included:
- Separated cycle tracks
- Bike buttons
- A safe way to cross 109 Street
- Bike corrals on and next to Whyte Ave
- Priority bike signals at relevant traffic lights
- Bike boxes
- Connecting fully with other bike infrastructure at 112 Street, 106 Street, the 104 Street counter-flow bus lane, 97 Street and and the bridge across Millcreek Ravine in order to connect to the Faculte St. Jean campus
Select Locations
Most comments were related to 83 Ave. Some comments were also received regarding 82 Ave as well as 104 St. A summary of comments near some of the major intersections follows. This does not cover all of the feedback received; please see the appendix or online interactive map for full details.
83 Ave
Comments extending the length of 83 Ave mostly relate to:
- limiting parking to permits, metering parking spaces, or removing parking
- one-way traffic and contra-flow bike lanes
- one-way bike lanes
- two-way bike lanes
- disallowing automobiles
83 Ave and 109 St
The majority of comments surrounding this intersection focused on traffic controls, including:
- traffic light controls, either synchronized with Whyte or cyclist- and pedestrian-controlled
- reversible centre lane for 109 St to provide space for bike lanes
- prohibiting taxis from the bus/bike/taxi lane between 82 and 83 Ave
83 Ave and 107 St
Comments indicated traffic diverters and N-S stop signs at this intersection, as well as N-S bike lanes along 107 St.
83 Ave and 106 St
Yields and mini traffic circle were suggested to make a strong connection here with the existing N-S bike lanes along 106 St.
82 Ave and 106 St
Bike buttons were noted here to facilitate N-S movement across Whyte. There is an existing pedestrian-controlled crosswalk at this intersection, as well as a short-term loading zone on the northwest corner.
82 Ave and 104 St
Many comments in this area related to turning the 104 St northbound access road into a 2-way cycle track. Feedback included:
- 2-way cycle track from existing 76 Ave bike lane to Saskatchewan Drive
- bike-advance signals for crossing Whyte
- moving the #52 bus route to Gateway Blvd
- utilizing the space for food trucks and other street-life amenities
83 Ave and 104 to 103 St
This section, in the heart of the theatre district and passing in front of the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market received a larger number of comments.
- diverters to prevent pass-through automobile access
- lower speed limit
- bike & pedestrian priority
- restricting all automobile traffic from 104 St to 99 St along 83 Ave
83 Ave and 103 St
- traffic diverters to limit access to 83 Ave
- bike buttons
- 4-way traffic lights
83 Ave and 102 St
- remove boulevard and widen lane
- traffic diverter
- N-S stop signs
83 Ave and 99 St
- bike buttons
- traffic diverters to limit 83 Ave access
- church parking access required
- 4-way traffic lights
83 Ave and 96 St
- signage to connect to Mill Creek Bridge
- limit access to 96 St from Whyte
Conclusions
This open house is among the first steps in a consultation process that Complete Streets Strathcona is embarking on. These collaborative activities help provide direction as we work with the City and other groups toward safe, comfortable cycling infrastructure in the Old Strathcona area.
