03-04-2019, 06:50 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-04-2019, 06:51 PM by danbrotherston.)
(03-04-2019, 06:34 PM)jeffster Wrote: Buffalo tried something similar when they opened up their metro, by closing some DTB areas to cars. I don't have a lot of detail, but this is from Wiki:
Quote:In April 2011, the group stated that the 600 block of Main Street, which has Shea's Performing Arts Center along with hotels and bars, should be converted into a mixed automobile and rail system. The 600 block was re-opened to automobile traffic in 2015.
As for comparing Kitchener to Denver, I don't think that's a good metric. I am not saying it wouldn't work, but the two cities are very different.
For example, Denver's average Dec-Feb high is 7 degrees, versus the -1 in Kitchener (minus extremes). Buffalo is much closer to our temps, with about +1 being the average between Dec-Feb.
As for the city itself:
Denver Pop: est 704,000 -- Metro -- 2,888,000
Buffalo Pop: est 258,000 -- Metro -- 1,134,000
Kitchener Pop: est 248,000 -- Metro -- 540,000
Other issue: No LRT in DTK. It's off to either side. If the rails were running right down the King St, then perhaps the idea *might* fly. But even if Buffalo, a much larger urban centre, didn't have success, I just don't see how it might work here.
I would argue the LRT is in DTK. Downtown extends more than just King St. I live at Joseph and I absolutely consider myself downtown. Further, even if it you didn't, there are stops on King at Victoria and at Frederick.
The LRT will still serve the same purpose of generating ped traffic.
The real missed opportunity however was to convert the street into Bus/LRT only. Not only would this have been a better system for users, it would have saved a fair bit of money and sped the LRT up a fair bit.
Alas, such an opportunity, much like logical stations at University and Columbia have passed.
The one hope I have is that one day, people think the LRT splits at downtown because the city didn't want the LRT going through this wonderful pedestrian plaza, and people will have entirely forgotten that cars were king on King and that's why the LRT splits.