City plans to reduce Main St. to 4 lanes following deadliest year for pedestrians

Some big changes are coming to Hamilton’s Main Street. Lanes will be reduced and it will happen this summer.

City council voted in May to convert Main Street to two-way traffic but that takes time. So as the city faces one of the deadliest years for pedestrians, staff has released a plan that includes reducing Main Street from 5 lanes down to 4 this summer.

By the end of August, the city says Main Street will be repainted to allow 4 lanes rather than 5 between Dundurn and Sherman Avenue.

According to Hamilton’s top road official, Edward Soldo this will create a pedestrian buffer along the south sidewalk.

On the north side of Main, there are plans to remove parking restrictions during morning and afternoon rush hour to encourage more parking there.

Timing of signals at intersections will give more time for pedestrians to cross and the city will install numeric countdown displays as well which should be completed by the end of the year.

There’s a proposed ban on right turns on a red at many Main Street intersections except ones with transit stops like John and James Streets. Council will be presented with those details on Friday, July 8th in order to pass a new bylaw.

There’s also the consideration of adding speed cameras along Main, but there’s no word on eliminating the synchronized lights along the busy street.

The city also released its annual collision report. They say it highlights the importance of creating a safer design for city streets. There were 9 fatal pedestrian collisions in 2021 compared to 4 the year before.

Already in 2022, 20 collisions have involved cyclists and pedestrians. Twelve have been deadly which is the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 5 years.

CHCH News also learned that the city’s first-ever pedestrian scramble intersection will be installed by the end of the year at Main Street and Summers Lane. It will display a walk signal in all directions at the same time just like Dundas and Yonge in downtown Toronto.