By Tim Pattyson
Local politicians and community leaders blame opposition to a proposal that would revolutionize the downtown area on a lack of understanding. The plan calls for a change from one-way streets to two-ways.
“I think most people don’t like change. There’s reluctance, ‘We’ve always had a one-way street, let’s keep it that way,’” says Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
But he adds many ideas will be put out for public consultation before a plan is finalized.
In the March 17 issue of Centretown News, 50 residents living on Florence, Gilmour, James, Lisgar, McLeod and MacLaren streets were surveyed about the proposal.
Of the 50 residents polled, 37 said they wouldn’t support the plan, which was proposed at a downtown revitalization summit in January.
Those polled said they opposed the plan because they thought the streets were too narrow, or because two-way traffic would be unsafe for children, reduce parking and create more traffic.
But Dennis Carr, the development co-ordinator for the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, says changing one-way streets to two-ways would be beneficial for Centretown.
Carr says the main obstacle to the proposal is the public’s understanding of the reasons for the changes.
“I think it’s a good idea and I think that people would accept it if they understood the rationale behind it,” says Carr.
“I think the proof of that is the Glebe where there is a similar density and a similar road width.”
John Braaksma, a civil engineering professor at Carleton University and urban planning specialist, agrees many problems would be solved by a switch to two-way streets.
“I don’t know why anyone would choose one-way streets,” said Braaksma.
“Perhaps they don’t understand it, perhaps they’re afraid of change, I have no idea.”
But Somerset regional Coun. Diane Holmes says residents shouldn’t be afraid, since she doesn’t think the idea will be put in place any time soon.
“I don’t think the region or the city will do anything about it until after (amalgamation),” says Holmes.
She adds the idea certainly isn’t currently a priority of hers.
Carr points out that another possible explanation for the results was the location of the streets polled.
He says if a survey was done in the Glebe, results would be different, adding it’s interesting to ask why there are one-ways in Centretown and two-ways in the Glebe.
“The answer’s obvious,” says Carr.
“Whoever decided it was important to move traffic quickly through Centretown obviously decided it wasn’t a priority in the Glebe, and because the Glebe residents would never stand for it.”
A report on the downtown summit is due in April. Public consultation will probably follow.