Two-way Main Street conversion part of Hamilton LRT design talks

The city aims to convert Main Street to two-way traffic before - or during - the construction of Hamilton's future LRT line.

Clearly, there's a need to have this happen in concert with LRT," Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Monday.

Major construction on the $3.4-billion, Metrolinx-led project isn't expected to be underway before 2024.

The project's design dates to 2019, before a recent series of council initiatives to improve traffic safety amid a rash of pedestrian and cyclist deaths.

In May, council directed staff to fast-track safety changes on Main - including the reduction of stretches from five to four lanes and barring right turns on reds - and convert it to two-way traffic.

Earlier this month, city politicians also backed a new complete streets" manual to guide road work with the goal of improving safety for all users, not just drivers.

As for LRT, the plan is to report back on design changes in consultation with the provincial transit agency, Abdul Shaikh, the city's LRT director, said Monday.

And, obviously, Main Street is one of the key considerations in our LRT project."

The intention" is to make the one-way artery bidirectional before construction starts, but sections may be converted later on, Shaikh told the LRT subcommittee.

Major construction on the 14-kilometre route from McMaster University to Eastgate Square isn't expected to start until 2024.

But some LRT early work - including the relocation of phone and gas lines - is anticipated this year.

The 17-stop line is to run along Main, King Street and Queenston Road.

One-way stretches of King are also to become two-way as part of LRT.

But fewer lanes of traffic on that thoroughfare will lead to a big, big problem" for drivers in the core trying to access the westbound Highway 403, Coun. Lloyd Ferguson warned.

The main idea" of LRT is to reduce single-passenger vehicular traffic and bolster transit ridership, but there are lots of alternate routes," Shaikh responded.

A partial conversion" of Main during construction will help alleviate congestion on King, Mike Field, acting transportation operations manager, also noted.

Staff, meanwhile, are working with Metrolinx to update traffic modelling to better understand" where drivers are going, said Brian Hollingworth, the city's transportation planning director.

Staff also recently met with Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officials to discuss modifications to Highway 403 ramps that are specifically designed to disgorge traffic onto a one-way Main Street West, he said.

Those discussions on the best path forward" will continue, Kimberly Truong, senior issues adviser with the ministry, told The Spectator via email.

The timeline for LRT design changes is not known yet, but with a procurement process expected to last a year, the city will have the opportunity to offer its feedback, Shaikh said.

City priorities - including equity, diversity and inclusion, climate action and complete streets - should be clearly set out" as part of the LRT effort, Coun. Maureen Wilson said. There are broader goals and objectives here."

As it stands, the proposed LRT design involves the removal of several pedestrian crossings along the route, Karl Andrus, who leads the Hamilton Community Benefits Network, told the subcommittee.

Given its commitment to Vision Zero, which strives to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries, council shouldn't overlook the opportunity" to revamp the entire 14-kilometre corridor, Andrus said.

Part of that vision must include more, not less, pedestrian crossings," he said.

The LRT subcommittee meets next on Sept. 26. Meanwhile, public works staff are expected to report back with the details of Main's two-way conversion in early 2023.

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com