Downtown Association split over conversion of Queen and Bay to two-way traffic

A recent survey of Downtown Association members provides little clarity on whether business and property owners support returning Queen and Bay streets to two-way traffic.

The association's board learned last night that 41 per cent of survey respondents liked the idea.

Twenty per cent were undecided on the issue and the remainder strongly opposed conversion of the downtown to two-way traffic, board chair Paul Scornaienchi reported.

Interestingly, those findings differ from opinions held by Downtown Association board members and what city planners are hearing from the street.

"They've done their own surveying of our membership and they have different numbers," Downtown Association manager Josh Ingram said. 

"The climate on this topic is a weird one," Ingram said. "We as a board absolutely believe that two-way traffic is important."

The city has asked for a meeting with association directors to iron out the differences.

"It's kind of up in the air. We really don't know where this is going," Scornaienchi said.

"But we do know what the membership wants. The membership needs a street that has volume of people and activity. In order to have that happen we have to slow down traffic. In order to slow down traffic something has to happen. Maybe the answer isn't two-way travel. Likely it is but maybe it isn't," he said.

The association may seek a more representative sampling of membership feelings on the issue during its upcoming board elections next month.

As SooToday reported yesterday, the issue is emerging as an issue in next week's municipal election, with two mayoral candidates favouring two-way traffic and two others concerned about the idea.

The question was one of 37 posed to all City Council candidates in a recent Downtown Association survey.

Here's how your council candidates responded about two-way downtown traffic:

Ward 1 councillor

• Paul Christian - "have not decided yet. While conducting my business survey in an attempt to gauge business, I asked that question and received mixed reviews"
• Sandra Hollingsworth - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Michele McCleave- Kennedy - responded to the survey but skipped this question
• Don Mitchell - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Derek Pearce - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey

Ward 2 councillor

• Sam Cistaro - "I personally would like to see Queen Street converted to two-way traffic and would just do a road diet to Bay Street (going to three lanes of traffic with bike lanes). I would definitely resurface both of those corridors. I would listen to the resident and business owners for their opinions. I believe that right now it is probably 55 for and 45 against. One of the major complaints to turning Queen Street to two-way traffic would be delivery trucks blocking traffic. I would create designated delivery spots on each block or encourage use of back laneways
• Ted Hallin - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Lou Turco - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Lisa Vezeau-Allen - "It is not my decision, it should go to a vote and more community involvement is needed. I have however, lived in communities with two-way traffic and that made transportation much easier"
• Jason Young - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey, expressing concerns about its validity and conflict of interest
• Luke Dufour - "two-way traffic is a good idea for someone who is designing a new city from scratch. Unfortunately we are dealing with infrastructure that was built over the last century with different needs in mind. I don't support the two-way conversion plans. They would result in the loss of all our new downtown patio space and the gains made in visibility for businesses are not worth $12 million. Money can be directed to much better, more effective and more lucrative programs for downtown businesses"
• DJ Thyne - "I believe they are more beneficial in a day to day basis as they are"

Ward 3 councillor

• John Bruno - "should be reviewed as part of the overall review to revitalize the downtown"
• Donna Hilsinger - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Judy Hupponen - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Winona Hutchinson - "not two way no. However I do agree to three lanes on Bay not two"
• Matthew Shoemaker - "yes"

Ward 4 councillor

• Marchy Bruni - "I would support two-way traffic but would want to discuss with Downtown Association, Chamber Commerce and the merchants on Queen Street and Bay Street before I bring my decision forward. It's important to have dialogue with all parties .... it's important to work together"
• Tim Marsh - "Yes, 100 per cent"
• Sara McCleary - "I I initially thought it a bad idea, but have since come around; I can see the benefit it would have to the downtown. Therefore, if the majority of downtown businesses want the conversion I would definitely support the funding for this"
• Rick Niro - "I would have to see the pros and cons of changing the direction of traffic, and I believe that the cost would be very substantial. It would have to be considered in budget with everything else that is important to our city"

Ward 5 councillor

• Frank Fata - "No"
• Corey Gardi - "I have some ideas around this, they are not limited to the following. I believe that at the very least Queen Street should be converted to two-way traffic or, it should be one-way heading east"
• Ozzie Grandinetti - didn't respond to Downtown Association candidate survey
• Matthew Scott - "On first thought, yes. I would need to see what they came up with from the study and determine whether or not they actually analyzed it properly (if at all). I think the business owners in the area might also be a good resource for this decision"