An old 'diet' idea has new issues today. Transforming James Street? We're not ready.

Let's talk traffic diets. James Street is one of the main arteries through Northwood, connecting our neighbourhood to Arthur Street, Edward Street, Victoria Avenue and the growing Golf Links Road corridor. Before the City makes a decision that could permanently reduce its traffic capacity, I think we need to ask an important question: Why are we considering reducing James Street based on a transportation plan conceived years before the Golf Links Road and Harbour Expressway area reaches its current level of development?

Thunder Bay's 2019 Transportation Master Plan identified a "James Street Road Diet" as a priority action, proposing that road space between Victoria Avenue and Edward Street-Golf Links Road be reallocated to accommodate on-street bicycle lanes. The broader plan went through public consultation, but that is very different from Northwood residents being consulted on a specific redesign of James Street.

A lot has changed since that plan was developed. Major commercial development around Golf Links Road and the Harbour Expressway is creating a new destination immediately north of Northwood. Infrastructure and intersection improvements are being built to accommodate that growth. That's good news for Thunder Bay. We need investment, economic development and new assessment, but growth also brings traffic.

Northwood residents will regularly travel to these new stores, restaurants and services, with Edward and James being two obvious routes. Edward Street is already experiencing significant traffic, and I believe we need to be extremely careful about reducing capacity on James between Arthur and Edward before we understand what these developments will mean for future traffic patterns.

The City's latest Transportation Master Plan update says the James Street road diet has not started and requires a traffic study before implementation. Before this proposal goes any further, I believe the City should:

·       Complete new traffic counts and future traffic projections that include the Golf Links and Harbour Expressway development.

·       Determine what reducing lanes would do to James, Edward, Arthur and surrounding residential streets.

·       Examine impacts on intersections, transit, emergency services, pedestrians and cyclists.

·       Release the proposed design and supporting traffic data publicly.

·       Hold a Northwood public meeting before any final design is approved.

I support safe cycling infrastructure and thoughtful transportation planning. What I don't support is making a major change to an important Northwood arterial simply because it appeared in a Transportation Master Plan developed years ago.

James Street needs continued investment and resurfacing, and we should look for opportunities to make it safer for everyone. But Northwood is changing, and development around us could make James Street more important to our transportation network, not less.

Before we narrow James Street, let's understand where the traffic is going to go. And before City Hall makes the decision, let's make sure Northwood has a say.

As a life long Northwood resident, I understand the needs of Northwood, and how it fits in the future of our city is important. That matters when being at the council table.