Prince William Street could become pedestrian-only walkway

Saint John council will hear recommendations on Monday about potentially taking cars off an uptownstreet,turning it into a pedestrian walkway in a bid to increase business in the area.

Uptown Saint John, the businessassociation tasked with researching the idea last fall, will suggest temporarily closing Prince William Street as a pilot project, said spokesperson Anne McShane.

"Partly because of its track record," she said, referring to the street having hostedPrince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during theirvisit in 2012.

"It builds on the restaurant district that we already have," said McShane, owner of the Feel Good Store onGermainStreet.

"Does nothurt that it's flat when you're setting up tables and chairs. And it's a beautiful streetscape it's already a beautiful natural backdrop for it."

McShanesays council had hoped to see the pilot begin as early as this spring. There's still a need for consultations, but if council approves the plan, it could be implemented this year, she said.

Out-of-towner Beth Clark likes the idea of turning the street over to pedestrians, which has been done is other cities, such as Quebec.

"You know, you have the freedom and the feeling of safety of walking along the streets.

Real estate developer Keith Brideau, of HistoricaDevelopments, also supports the idea, provided it doesn't steal business from other areas.

We do have the boardwalk, which is great pedestrian-friendly area, so as long as we're not competing with what's already working really well and we're offering something thats a little bit different, then I think it will be successful," he said.

Mayor Mel Norton, who proposed creating a no-traffic zone last summer in the hope of luring more people to the city's core, has said if the pilot proves successful, he would like to see some more permanent pedestrian-only streets in the uptown.

Prince William Street, known for its historic public buildings, was the first designated heritage street in the country,Coun. DonnaReardonhas said.

It isslated for reconstruction this summer, which will includeoverhead wires being placed underground, new water and sewer lines, pavement, sidewalks and granite curbing.

An underground tunnel that linksthe oldpost office building at Princess Street with the Revenue Canada building and customs office a block away, at the intersection of Prince William Street andDuke Street, is also scheduled to be removed.

The 1.8-metretallconcretetunnel has been in place for at least half a century.