[fromyeg]

As part of the Strathcona Neighbourhood Renewal there were plans to turn sections of 98 St into linear parks and close them to traffic. Part of the idea was to reduce people shortcutting through the neighbourhood.

Apparently there was significant pushback. Not sure all the details, but there were the usual “concerns” about emergency vehicle access.

Now there are two sections reduced to a single lane of vehicle traffic and some added benches, trees etc. Definite improvement from before, but not as nice as if they took the full step and closed the section to traffic.

Let’s hope this goes through in Wîhkwêntôwin!

(Also let’s hope something moves ahead on the Jameson site. I biked by the hole recently and it made me sad. )

 

[Clearshades]

Paul Kane Park is one of the better used parks in the city.

For dog runs.

 

[Seamusmuldrew]

Like Paul Kane is so busy that no one bothers to use it, so let us built another one to maintain that "non-usage" momentum.

Huh? It is well used. I'd argue this would make the park even more permeable by integrating the active thoroughfare into the greenspace.

 

[Seamusmuldrew]

121st is a pretty important multi-use N/S link.

Calm it sure, but IMO it needs to be open to a variety of movement options.

It's not really that important for cars. The AAWDT (average annual weekday traffic) volumes sit around 2,500 vs. 12,000 on 116 St, 3,000 on 118 St, and 10,000-20,000 on 124 St.

 

[northlands]

Closing 121 to vehicle traffic would be great for The Jameson, but the owners of the site directly north (Neararctic?) would probably be a lot less enthused as it becomes accessible by rear alley only

And yeah Clearshades not sure if you're mistaking Paul Kane park for somewhere else but there are a lot of days where it's freaking packed. Bet it's one of the most utilized neighbourhood parks in the whole core.

 

[Vacs]

Haha I was just scrolling down wondering when IanO would pipe in to defend cars... and here it is.

I love this proposal and I don't see any real reason not to shut it down for cars. It's not an important north/south connector, come on. There is so little traffic on this street because basically all you can do is connect from Jasper to 104 Ave which you can do one block west or one block east (and virtually every other block).

Let's get this done. Ian can get that vibrancy feeling from his precious traffic elsewhere ;-)

I used 121 all the time to get from jasper to 104ave.

it was always busy.

 

[Didama]

Like Paul Kane is so busy that no one bothers to use it, so let us built another one to maintain that "non-usage" momentum.

You clearly don't spend any time at this park. I'm there daily (virtually) and I can tell you that it is a VERY busy park that definitely could use expansion.

 

[Tropical]

It's not really that important for cars. The AAWDT (average annual weekday traffic) volumes sit around 2,500 vs. 12,000 on 116 St, 3,000 on 118 St, and 10,000-20,000 on 124 St.

Where does one find this information?

 

[Gus Haynes]

The fact that Clearshades thinks that Paul Kane is used only for "dog runs" makes me think that Clearshades might be thinking of the wrong park entirely. Baffling comments.

 

[Seamusmuldrew]

Where does one find this information?

Transportation Data | City of Edmonton

Traffic and transit trends are evaluated and monitored to help manage Edmonton's transportation network.

www.edmonton.ca

Got that info from the AAWDT volume map but there's also information on pedestrians, cyclists, collisions, etc.

 

[Barnaby]

I used 121 all the time to get from jasper to 104ave.

it was always busy.

Pre LRT. You won't be able to turn left onto 104th ave anymore with VLW construction. That intersection is being closed permanently.

Patterns have changed, and will change further after construction.

 

[Barnaby]

Closing 121 to vehicle traffic would be great for The Jameson, but the owners of the site directly north (Neararctic?) would probably be a lot less enthused as it becomes accessible by rear alley only

I'm sure the city would be willing to have discussions about activating a back alley like is somewhat planned for the Jameson already.

Whoever owns the land, I haven't seen them building anything, but they're welcome to come up with architectural solutions to what certain people see as a problem. Ultimately many buildings have accessible entrances on the front and rear. The Hendrix comes to mind as a building that could completely lose its front vehicle access without any consequences because of good design.

 

[IanO]

That's Narctic.

 

[Glenco]

Pre LRT. You won't be able to turn left onto 104th ave anymore with VLW construction. That intersection is being closed permanently.

Patterns have changed, and will change further after construction.

Really

 

[Barnaby]

Really
View attachment 576322

I guess I was mistaken unless they've since changed it. I don't see the problem though, the tradeoffs are obviously worth it since they benefit the people spending time in the neighbourhood more than those just zipping through.