[Gronk!]

City starts phasing in pedestrian takeover of 83 Ave

The street in front of the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market will be closed to vehicles nearly every weekend from the middle of July until the end of August as the city phases in a complete pedestrianization of 83 Avenue.

edmonton.taproot.news

 

[itom987]

They should make 83 Ave. by the Farmers Market vehicle free year round.

 

[Gronk!]

Old Strathcona pedestrian-only space a success, says market, attendees

It was the final weekend for a project that saw 83 Avenue shut down for themed Old Strathcona Farmers Markets events throughout the summer, and it’s giving the city new ideas for what revitalization of the area could mean.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[itom987]

Whyte Ave needs revitalization? Whyte Ave was very healthy and full of vitality the last time I checked.

 

[David A]

Whyte Ave needs revitalization? Whyte Ave was very healthy and full of vitality the last time I checked.

Yes, it is recovering quite nicely. Heaven help us when the city gets the idea an area needs revitalization, they have been trying to "revitalize" areas like downtown, Chinatown and the Quarters for quite a while.

I feel it would be better if they do less harm.

 

[trevorhayden]

Get rid of cars to revitalize. Not much else needed

 

[an_edmontonian]

Whyte ave is the best pedestrian realm in the city. That said its a pretty car centric street cross section. Some sort of redesign is needed to fully realize its potential.

 

[IanO]

Why can't 102 Avenue be closed to traffic and look like this?

 

[johnnyboy]

Is that Manchester Square?

 

[AJo]

Whyte ave is the best pedestrian realm in the city. That said its a pretty car centric street cross section. Some sort of redesign is needed to fully realize its potential.

There is not much that can be done to improve on it without either cutting off Gateway BLVD and Calgary trail at 63rd or doing the very, VERY expensive tactic of cutting/tunnelling them down under 82nd & 83rd ave.
Gateway would need to pop out onto Queen Elizabeth Park Road halfway down the hill. Calgary trail would need to either come back up to meet Saskatchewan drive or it would need to tunnel all the way over to the High Level
Removing those two intersections would do allot to improve walkability and help pull turning traffic off the core pedestrian region of 82nd as the only way on or off that section would become 99th and 109th street. Add in traffic calming measures at the intersections and remove all the parking on that stretch and it could potentially become a very friendly street.

 

[Gronk!]

Whyte ave is the best pedestrian realm in the city. That said its a pretty car centric street cross section. Some sort of redesign is needed to fully realize its potential.

You have to realize that Whyte Ave serves as a major thoroughfare between the U of A + hospital and the east end that includes Ritchie, Mill Creek, Bonnie Doon, Refinery Row and Sherwood Park. Like it or not, it needs to remain as-is. However, improvements for pedestrians and cyclists need to be done, such as moving the parked cars from Whyte Ave to the adjacent streets and underground parking lots, and replacing them with bike lanes. Improving the timings of the scramble crosswalks wouldn't hurt.

 

[IanO]

Whyte ave is the best pedestrian realm in the city. That said its a pretty car centric street cross section. Some sort of redesign is needed to fully realize its potential.

It's fundamentally too wide and while improvements can be made, it's far from an ideal cross-section for a really good public realm.

104st, RHW much better, even 124st to be honest.

 

[an_edmontonian]

It's fundamentally too wide and while improvements can be made, it's far from an ideal cross-section for a really good public realm.

104st, RHW much better, even 124st to be honest.

I agree the street design is more stroad than anything. Bu Old Strathcona is easily the best walkable neighbourhood in the city.

 

[ChazYEG]

There is not much that can be done to improve on it without either cutting off Gateway BLVD and Calgary trail at 63rd or doing the very, VERY expensive tactic of cutting/tunnelling them down under 82nd & 83rd ave.
Gateway would need to pop out onto Queen Elizabeth Park Road halfway down the hill. Calgary trail would need to either come back up to meet Saskatchewan drive or it would need to tunnel all the way over to the High Level
Removing those two intersections would do allot to improve walkability and help pull turning traffic off the core pedestrian region of 82nd as the only way on or off that section would become 99th and 109th street. Add in traffic calming measures at the intersections and remove all the parking on that stretch and it could potentially become a very friendly street.

Doing those things would be great, but it's not a necessity to improve the pedestrian realm, considering that Gateway and Calgary Tr could remain as they are even if Whyte was to go on a road diet, for example.
reduce some parking, end the turning lanes and widen the sidewalks (and ban left turns at least between 109 st and 99 st, including turning left onto Whyte Ave from Gateway Blvd), narrow the driving lanes to force a lower actual speed (the 40km/h is absolutely not followed rn)

You have to realize that Whyte Ave serves as a major thoroughfare between the U of A + hospital and the east end that includes Ritchie, Mill Creek, Bonnie Doon, Refinery Row and Sherwood Park. Like it or not, it needs to remain as-is. However, improvements for pedestrians and cyclists need to be done, such as moving the parked cars from Whyte Ave to the adjacent streets and underground parking lots, and replacing them with bike lanes. Improving the timings of the scramble crosswalks wouldn't hurt.

Remaining a main thoroughfare doesn't mean it has to stay as is. In an ideal world it would be reduced to 1 lane each way (and I will die on the hill of no left turns) but keeping it as 2 lanes each way, but narrower and without turning lanes, with wider sidewalks, traffic calming measures (elevated crossings, scramble crossings, the end of the beg button on 108 st in favour of proper lights...) would make it a better pedestrian realm experience.

 

[TAS]

Isnt the plan a dedicated bus lane - this stretch has one of the city's busiest bus routes and it's behind schedule many times because it gets stuck in traffic with mostly single occupancy vehicles. Bus only lane needs to be priority.