A recommended plan for a new subway that will take traffic under the Canadian Pacific Railroad line at 11th Street SW will be unveiled this week.
But it is possible that two recommendations will be submitted to the city council for final approval, including one that does not involve road traffic at all.
Shane Lebutilier, a senior planning specialist with the city’s transport department, said they had offered six options for community engagement.
In essence, two of the options include vehicle traffic, as well as other mobility modes such as pedestrians and cyclists, but four of the first six options do not include vehicle space at all.
“Usually we only have one option going forward. This time we have one option, but we have an alternative,” LeButille said.
“Because we think differently about our rights on the road, we want to offer both options so that we can have a fruitful discussion with the council.”
The best recommended options will be revealed by the city on Wednesday.
The counselor maintains an open mind
There will be a public open day online on June 15, with the commitment period remaining open until the end of June.
City councilor Terry Wong said he was open about which option he would support.
“It’s important for us to hear how people in the city center, the west end, and the Beltline feel,” Wong said.
“If you take vehicles off the road, it will obviously change traffic patterns, and we want to make sure we understand the implications of all this.”
Green space is wanted
A spokesman for the Beltline Neighborhoods Association said the group supports vehicle-free options, as it would add much-needed public green space to this part of the core.
Tyson Bolduk said drivers could quickly reach the nearby Eighth Street SW and 14th Street SW subways, but pedestrians, cyclists and other types of mobility, which are currently blocked as trains pass through the area, face much longer detour routes in terms of travel time.
“Given the relative lack of park space and comfort space in Beltline, the opportunity to actually use that and create significant urban spaces for Beltline, for the center, for the west end, I think it potentially changes the game for this crossroads.” said Bolduk.
After another round of public engagement on preferred options, the final report will go to the city council later this year to select the final concept.
While the project is not currently funded, officials say a subway could be included in the city’s four-year budget plan, which will be discussed by the council in November.
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