Council gives green-light to 30 km/h for Elgin Street

Council gave the green light to a dramatic redesign of Elgin Street that will see the north-south arterial road reduced to two lanes of car traffic, and the speed limit lowered to 30 km/h.

CouncillorsTim Tierney and Stephen Blais dissented on the item at Wednesday's council meeting.

The new plan encompasses ElginStreet south of Laurier Avenue, Hawthorne Avenue and a bit of Waverley Street.

The redesign is amongthe city's first truly "complete street" plans that followa council-approved policyconsideringthe safety and experience of all roadway users equally.

It would see wider sidewalks on Elgin, which would not only give the 800 pedestrians who walk down the road every hour during rush hours more space, but would provide opportunities for patios and better landscaping.

Parking would be reduced to 90 spaces from 122, although most of the remaining spaces would be permanentcurrently, there is no rush-hour parking on Elgin.

There will be no dedicated bike lanes on the redesigned street, which has angered some cyclists. However, the street will be reduced to two lanes of traffic, and the speed limit lowered to 30 km/h.

Work starts next year, heavy construction in 2019

Some preliminary work, such as moving hydro poles, is scheduled to start next year.

But the city has pledged to complete themajority of the heavy construction, including replacing water pipes and repavingthe road, in 2019. Limitingthe most disruptive of the work to a single year was vital to getting most Elgin businesses onside with the plan.

The rest of the work, such as landscapingand sidewalk reconstruction, is expected in 2020.