Oshawa residents invited to comment on one-way to two-way feasibility study

Oshawa residents have less than a week to get their thoughts in on the proposed conversion of Albert, Celina, Brock and Colborne streets from one-way to two-way roads.

The One-Way to Two-Way Conversion Feasibility Study, undertaken by CIMA+, is online and residents have until November 4 to have a look at the study’s preliminary findings, potential alternatives and preferred options, and provide some feedback.

The idea to convert the streets to two-way traffic has been on the city’s books since 2014 but it wasn’t until earlier this year when CIMA+ was hired that the plan got any traction.

Ward 4 Councillor Derek Giberson, who made the original motion, noted that the streets started out as two-way but were changed years ago to accommodate shift changes at General Motors in the days when GM affected everyday life in the Motor City.

“They caused significant harm to neighbourhoods,”’ he said. “This is an opportunity for this council to right that wrong.”

Albert and Celina are important north-south arterial roads bringing traffic into and out of downtown and are both south of King Street. Brock and Celine are both residential streets on the northern edge of downtown.

The three alternatives offered in the study are the same for all four streets: Option #1 is Do Nothing, Option #2 is Covert to Two-Way (with road widening) and Option #3 is Convert to Two-Way (no widening).

Each alternative for the four one-way corridors were analyzed against a set of criteria such as future traffic operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, environmental effects, etc. The alternatives were then evaluated against one another and assigned a score based on a scoring system and their respective benefits to the surrounding environments.

For Albert and Celina streets, the preferred option is #2 for the short-term as the conversion to two-way traffic can occur while maintaining on-street parking with a phased approach to eventually widening the roads. As these corridors are re-developed, appropriate right-of-way would need to be obtained before Option #3 can be implemented.

CIMA+ is recommending Option #2 for Brock and Colborne streets as well. Both streets are designated as local roads and there is “little to no opportunities” to widen the streets to accommodate enhanced landscape features.

As there is no need for road widening, Option #2 can be implemented once detailed design is completed.

To see the study, go to One-Way Conversion.

To provide feedback or to ask questions, contact the project manager, Ranjit Gill, Transportation Engineer, by phone at (905) 436-3311 extension 2868 or by email at [email protected]. Feedback will be received until 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 4.