Saint John is proposing big changes to a key transportation corridor connecting the uptown and south end.
Plans for Charlotte Street include a dedicated bike lane, fewer on-street parking spaces, and more one-way blocks.
Tim O’Reilly, the city’s public works director, said the goal is to improve access for all transportation users.
“Driving and parking are going to continue to be a need in our community … but walking and cycling are becoming other alternate modes of transportation that we want people to start using more and more of,” O’Reilly told council recently.
The city is planning to add a dedicated bike lane to the west side of Charlotte Street between Union and Broad streets.
It would also restrict on-street parking to the east side of the street, resulting in the loss of about 25 parking spaces.
In addition, Charlotte Street would become one-way between Duke and St. James streets. That would extend the one-way traffic flow along Charlotte from Union to St. James streets.
Two-way traffic would be maintained between St. James and Broad streets to support the development and operation of the new school at Rainbow Park.
Coun. Gerry Lowe questioned whether staff considered a 150-unit development planned for the corner of Charlotte Street and Queen Square North.
“To me, it very well could affect what we’re doing from Duke Street to Queen Square South, or Duke Street to St. James Street. It’s a large development,” said Lowe.
O’Reilly said sometimes decisions need to be made about what use is a higher priority when looking at the width of the street.
Work is expected to begin in 2024 and take place over the next several years, he said. It will be combined with other planned work in the area to maximize the use of available resources.
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