Diagram of "Fake Trees" - Photo courtest of West side Action
Post by Stephan Telka
Those of you living or working in Ottawa Centretown will likely have experienced the “joy” that is Bronson Avenue. During rush hour, cars, trucks and buses inch along the stretch from Albert Street all the way into the Glebe. The pedestrian experience is far from ideal, with narrow sidewalks, little greenery, and long waits at limited pedestrian crossings (up to 10 minutes at Bronson and Christie). Cyclists know the street should be avoided.
The Plans
As part of an ongoing infrastructure renewal process, the City of Ottawa has scheduled Bronson Avenue for reconstruction, including the installation of new sewers, sidewalks, and naturally, a fresh layer of asphalt. Designated an arterial road in the 1970s, the street has turned into one of central Ottawa’s main north-south routes. As such, initial plans by an engineering consulting firm hired by the City, unveiled at two Public Advisory Committee meetings in April and June of last year, propose that the roadbed be expanded by at least 35% in an attempt to increase traffic speed.
Fake Trees?
The expansion of the road in an already small space will leave little room for sidewalks, bus shelters and street furniture, such as benches and garbage bin. To make up for the lack of greenery on the street, initial plans proposed metal ‘architectural features’ (a.k.a. fake trees) to provide shade to pedestrians, and create a visual barrier between the road and the sidewalk. Construction was to begin in the spring of 2011, but due to budget constraints at City Hall, has been postponed, much to the satisfaction of the grassroots “Rescue Bronson Avenue” committee.
Road Diet
Comprised of the Dalhousie Community Association, Centretown Citizens Community Association, Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation and Somerset Ward Councillor Diane Holmes, the committee has challenged the City’s plans for Bronson, and prescribed what’s known as a “Road Diet”. This would see Bronson reduced from four to three lanes, providing room for a median of trees and greenery between the sidewalk and roadway. While the ‘diet’ would enhance the pedestrian and cyclist experience, providing a much more navigable transition between Chinatown and Centretown, it would also be car friendly, according to the Rescue Bronson committee member and Dalhousie Community Association President Eric Darwin in a recent letter to local newspaper Centretown Buzz.
Moving Forward
At the November Public Advisory Committee meeting for ‘north Bronson Avenue’(from the Queensway up to Sparks Street), the City agreed to return to the drawing board and conduct traffic modelling using a “road diet” approach. Depending on the results of the modelling exercise, the City could change its plans for Bronson (including the much-lauded “fake trees”). However, with the removal of the project from the 2011 infrastructure renewal list, timelines are up in the air. The Rescue Bronson Avenue committee intends to continue lobbying the City for a road diet approach, and continues to collect signatures on its online petition.
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