Grand River Transit

[mpd618]

Connecting Victoria Park to the city's central public space with a pedestrianized street seems like a huge win. Yes please.

[Jonny]

Hamilton is proposing a similar corridor on Hughson St, connecting the LRT at Gore Park to the GO Station. Not fully pedestrianized, but one way with streetscape treatments to create a pedestrian friendly space.

Here’s a link to the design documents: https://d3fpllf1m7bbt3.cloudfront.net/si...ection.pdf

I think a similar idea on Gaukel would really solidify the connection between downtown and the park. I’ll sign that petition.

[kitborn]

My dad worked at the gas plant on Gaukel in the 50's. It looked completely different and was stinky with tar ponds and gas storage. It would look lovely as a pedestrian entrance to Victoria Park.

[tomh009]

I think this sounds really good. A pedestrian short, even if a fairly short one, without a significant automobile traffic impact (which in turn should make it easier to get approval). But it shouldn't be just a "park entrance", it should be an engaging pedestrian experience. To achieve that, the future plans for both sides of the lower block will be critical as the upper block has far fewer improvement options, between the hill and the existing/approved buildings.

[danbrotherston]

I think this sounds really good. A pedestrian short, even if a fairly short one, without a significant automobile traffic impact (which in turn should make it easier to get approval). But it shouldn't be just a "park entrance", it should be an engaging pedestrian experience. To achieve that, the future plans for both sides of the lower block will be critical as the upper block has far fewer improvement options, between the hill and the existing/approved buildings.

This would definitely help make the space even better.

The biggest problem is the topology of the road, given the hill up to the square, they feel slightly disconnected, it would be good if we could do something to connect them, and making the space engaging would go a long way to achieving that.

[Viewfromthe42]

None of the presence between King and Charles will have any engagement, aside from perhaps public art.

[danbrotherston]

None of the presence between King and Charles will have any engagement, aside from perhaps public art.

Why not?

We have a near 20 meter right of way, not the biggest space, but only slightly narrower, and much longer than Vogelsang Green and Market Green. Plenty of room to do something engaging.  It's amazing how much space there is when we remove the need for cars.

[Viewfromthe42]

I am probably still thinking in terms of roadway design where we usually have a roadway haha. I meant more in the context that Pizza Pizza/the old bank/Thalmic Labs/Charlie West all ignore Gaukel, and there is no chance any of them changes.

[tomh009]

None of the presence between King and Charles will have any engagement, aside from perhaps public art.

Why not?

We have a near 20 meter right of way, not the biggest space, but only slightly narrower, and much longer than Vogelsang Green and Market Green. Plenty of room to do something engaging.  It's amazing how much space there is when we remove the need for cars.

Right. There is easily room for some green space and/or patios there. More options between Charles and Joseph, but this part is not a write-off, either.

[robdrimmie]

There may be a small hitch with Heartwood Place (http://www.heartwoodplace.ca, 19 Gaukel, the nondescript apartment building beside Thalmic) and access for moving vehicles etc. The catch is only that Hall's Lane is one way (southeast only) between Water and Ontario. There seems to be enough room to change that restriction, however.

[tomh009]

There may be a small hitch with Heartwood Place (http://www.heartwoodplace.ca, 19 Gaukel, the nondescript apartment building beside Thalmic) and access for moving vehicles etc. The catch is only that Hall's Lane is one way (southeast only) between Water and Ontario. There seems to be enough room to change that restriction, however.

What's the problem with being on a one-way street?

[robdrimmie]

What's the problem with being on a one-way street?

My understanding of the notion being discussed is that it would close Gaukel to traffic between King and Joseph. Hall's Lane currently runs one way from Gaukel (between King and Charles) to Ontario. If you close Gaukel without changing Hall's Lane to two-way there is no (legal) way to enter it from Ontario. If it stays one way but the direction is reversed, there is no way to get out once you're in.

I looked into it because I was curious how folks in the apartments would access parking (though it doesn't look like there is any), or get large trucks close by to move in or out, and didn't really describe the situation well, I am sorry for being confusing. It's a very small change that would be required, but it's one that does need to be noted for our theoretical planning session.

[tomh009]

What's the problem with being on a one-way street?

My understanding of the notion being discussed is that it would close Gaukel to traffic between King and Joseph. Hall's Lane currently runs one way from Gaukel (between King and Charles) to Ontario. If you close Gaukel without changing Hall's Lane to two-way there is no (legal) way to enter it from Ontario. If it stays one way but the direction is reversed, there is no way to get out once you're in.

I looked into it because I was curious how folks in the apartments would access parking (though it doesn't look like there is any), or get large trucks close by to move in or out, and didn't really describe the situation well, I am sorry for being confusing. It's a very small change that would be required, but it's one that does need to be noted for our theoretical planning session.

It continues from Gaukel St to Water St, so there would still be access, albeit only from one direction.

There is also some commercial parking on Hall's Lane.

[danbrotherston]

My understanding of the notion being discussed is that it would close Gaukel to traffic between King and Joseph. Hall's Lane currently runs one way from Gaukel (between King and Charles) to Ontario. If you close Gaukel without changing Hall's Lane to two-way there is no (legal) way to enter it from Ontario. If it stays one way but the direction is reversed, there is no way to get out once you're in.

I looked into it because I was curious how folks in the apartments would access parking (though it doesn't look like there is any), or get large trucks close by to move in or out, and didn't really describe the situation well, I am sorry for being confusing. It's a very small change that would be required, but it's one that does need to be noted for our theoretical planning session.

It continues from Gaukel St to Water St, so there would still be access, albeit only from one direction.

There is also some commercial parking on Hall's Lane.

That commercial parking could easily be accessible from Hall's Lane.

I assume you mean there would be access if the Laneway was made two way, currently it's one way.

Otherwise, you allow cars through the greenway, which is also an option, albeit probably not preferred, if not for traffic, then at least for the requirement of a clear space with a hard surface.

[Viewfromthe42]

The parking garages for Manulife (King side of Charles) and Charlie West will both dump out onto Hall's lane, so there would be a decent amount of car traffic wanting needing to go towards Water if everything was closed on Gaukel.