Main Street Conversion Study

On May 11, 2022, Hamilton City Council approved a motion focused on the development of safety enhancements on downtown major arterial roads, including the conversion of Main Street from a one-way to a two-way road. Following this approval, City staff have moved forward in developing an implementation plan for the two-way conversion of Main Street between King Street E (the “Delta” intersection) and Longwood Road S.

The implementation plan will integrate a Complete Streets redesign that will enable safe use for all road users including public transit passengers, pedestrians, motorists and cyclists and will also incorporate a climate change lens by considering additions such as urban trees and permeable surfaces in the planning process.

Improvement measures will be identified and implemented in a phased approach. Staff will assess each measure and classify it as either a short-term or long-term project: short-term meaning that implementation is immediate or in the near future; or long-term meaning that additional work is required (i.e. studies, design work, coordination with the capital program, etc.) before implementation.

While the study is ongoing, staff has completed safety improvements between 2022 and 2023. Improvements include:

• Expanded and enhanced pedestrian space
• Temporary lane reductions
• Adjustments to permitted parking locations
• Reduced speed limits
• Traffic signal timing alterations
• No right turn on red restrictions at intersections
• Enhancements to pedestrian crossings
• Leading pedestrian intervals

Details regarding safety improvements implemented throughout the study period will be shared at www.hamilton.ca/mainstreetconversion

The implementation plan will incorporate the principles of Vision Zero in order to focus on the safe and efficient movement of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Applying the Vision Zero safe systems approach, the City recognizes that a transportation system must be designed in a way that prevents errors as much as possible and lessens the impacts of errors when they do happen. This is accomplished by focusing on the design of our communities and roads, how we set and manage speeds, how vehicles are designed and permitted to operate, what transportation options exist where and for whom, and how norms and rules are set for moving about.