JAMES STREET: FIX IT BEFORE WE PUT IT ON A DIET

Since I first wrote about the proposed James Street “road diet,” I’ve heard from a lot of Northwood residents.  Many had never heard about the proposal. But they certainly know about the condition of James Street.  It’s isn’t good and for one of Northwood’s most important roads, it’s not acceptable.

James connects us to Arthur, Victoria, Edward and the growing Golf Links corridor. Yet Thunder Bay’s 2019 Transportation Master Plan still identifies a James Street Road Diet, proposing to reallocate road space between Victoria and Edward/Golf Links to accommodate bike lanes.

The good news? It hasn’t started. The City’s latest implementation review says a traffic study must be completed first and the road diet will be reviewed when James comes up for resurfacing, that review matters more today than ever.

Just north of Northwood, development continues around Golf Links and the Harbour Expressway. The City has actually added turning capacity there to improve traffic flow and accommodate future growth.  How are people in Northwood and Westfort going to get to that development?  I’d guess James Street is on their list.  

So before we consider reallocating road space on James, I’ll want some answers. Give us current traffic counts. Account for the new development. Show us where displaced traffic would go. Study the impacts of the new development on traffic flow on James AND Edward Street.  Release the proposed design. And talk to Northwood residents before making a decision.

I support safe cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. But a transportation plan developed years ago shouldn't override what the numbers tell us today.  A lot is changing and James Street still needs to be fixed.

So let's fix it, but do it right and hear from Northwood.  

And before anyone puts James Street on a diet, let's make sure Northwood has the representative at the table.

Vote John Ongaro – Northwood