Hamilton staff say majority of King Street residents back Gage to Gore open streets idea

A city-initiated survey revealed a majority of Hamilton residents and business owners located along King Street support closing down one of the city's major transportation arteries to vehicles, as part of the Gage to Gore" Open Streets temporary urban park program.

Alison Carlyle, project manager of sustainable mobility, told members of the July 6 cycling committee that 86 per cent of the 986 individuals who filled out the June 23 survey backed the proposed Gage to Gore" Open Streets Temporary Urban Park program that could roll out either later this summer, or the fall.

We are doing lots of public engagement as we come up with the final concept," said Carlyle.

She said individuals stated in the survey they would like to see the open streets project, which would allow cyclists, roller bladers, walkers and runners to have free rein of the roadway. The project would also include a market, eating opportunities, public activities and music.

That gives us a bit of information for what people are looking for," said Carlyle.

The city is still asking for public input on the project. Residents can visit the website: engage.hamilton.ca/openstreets.

The Gage to Gore Open Streets pilot project proposes to shut down four kilometres of King Street from Gage Street to James Street South at Gore Park to vehicles allowing cyclists, pedestrians, and roller bladers to use the roadway exclusively on at least two Sundays in 2022. Staff is looking to also hold the project in 2023 and 2024.

The plan would include creating urban park areas at strategic locations" along the King Street roadway, said Carlyle while residents would be able to cycle, roller blade, scooter, run and walk along other parts of the road.

Carlyle said staff is not recommending closing all the cross streets along the four-kilometre stretch of road. But there will be discussions about what intersections will be open.

There will be some traffic," said Carlyle.

Brian Hollingworth, director of transportation planning, said at the May 4 general issues committee meeting -- where councillors voted 12-1 to support the idea -- there is still planning to be done on the idea, with the goal of holding the event sometime in late summer or early fall.

The open streets concept began in Bogota, Colombia in 1974, called Cyclovia and currently it shuts down 122 city streets on weekends. The idea has become popular across the globe, including in Toronto with its ActiveTO program that closed Lake Shore Boulevard West to vehicles during weekends to allow open access to the waterfront.

Over the last few years Hamilton residents have taken part in open streets programs along one and half kilometres of James Street North from 2010 to 2016, and along Barton Street in the Barton Village from 2017 to the present.

Closing down King Street to vehicles was first raised by Mayor Fred Eisenberger after seeing first-hand the open streets program take hold in Bogota and Kyiv, Ukraine. Revitalizing the city's downtown was one of the objectives of the Mayor's Task Force on Economic Recovery.

It does attract people back to the street," said Eisenberger at the May 4 general issues committee meeting. I don't think it is a radical idea. We can pilot this and try it out."

He said the stretch of King Street between Gage Park and Gore Park does need to be reanimated with people."

Carlyle said staff are continuing to talk with business owners and residents along the proposed street area, including with transit officials BIAs, and Hamilton police.

Carlyle said staff will be providing council later this year with a detailed concept of the project.

The cycling committee members applauded the idea of shutting down King Street to vehicles.

I love that concept of opening up the street," said Jessica Merolli, who has seen other countries, such as Mexico, shut down cities for pedestrians and cyclists. I think it's great."