Keep Pedestrian Bridges

EH has challenged a consultants’ report that would eliminate the pedestrian bridge at Pearl Street and not replace one recently demolished at Poulette Street in the Kirkendall neighbourhood. The bridges cross the CP rail line that bisects the area. The only alternative crossings are at Dundurn, Locke and Queen.

The consultants balked at the $200,000 price tag for each new pedestrian bridge. We pointed to the $2 million recently spent on a vehicle bridge at MacNab Street located much closer to existing bridges than the proposed pedestrian facilities.

We also noted that the study analysis relied on an unrealistic walking speed of 6 kilometres an hour and took no account of the challenges facing seniors, the disabled and young families in getting to recreational facilities in the neighbourhood.

“The city’s Vision 2020 plan and the more recent GRIDS Principles emphasize the need to reduce car dependency and replace as many trips as possible with transit, cycling and walking,” stated the EH submission. “The city’s Public Health and Community Services Division is strongly encouraging residents to walk as much as possible to reduce obesity levels and improve their overall health.”

We also pointed to principles endorsed in the city’s master transportation plan adopted last year, and in provincial planning documents such as Places to Grow which advocates for the “creation of mixed-use, transit-supportive, pedestrian-friendly communities”.

Our submission also noted that “Hamilton has been talking about reducing car dependency since the early 1990s, but when ‘the rubber meets the road’ it always seems to turn out that the “commitment” goes no further than talk.”

As of June 6 we had not yet received a response to our comments.