Going Pedestrian Priority on Government Street (Again!)
One of the very few benefits of having to endure the pandemic over the last year has been the opportunity to experiment with new pedestrian treatments along some of our streets, and the addition of many new patio spaces where we used to have parking spots for cars. Last June, as perhaps the largest single piece of the Build Back Victoria program, the City of Victoria partially closed Government Street to vehicle traffic and opened it up for pedestrians. You can read my review of the the initial pedestrian priority zone from last June here. As you will see, it was a bit of a mixed review, well now we are getting a second opportunity to try something out along Government Street. Next Thursday, April 22, 2021, city staff are bringing forward a report for council’s consideration regarding how the closure could or should operate this year and whether it should be extended beyond October 2021. You can read the staff report to council here under Item G.
When I go back and read my article from last year, I can see that there was a lot of hope for the potential change in the space and also some criticism of the temporary nature of the closure and the added elements like plastic bollards. It turns out that both criticisms had merit. Even just a few weeks after the initial closure in June, some of the bollards had been run over making them look run down and even missing in certain places. What is even worse was that the moment that the full closure of the 1100 Block could be removed, it was. For those few amazing weeks that it was there during the first trial, despite the challenges we were all facing, Government Street was a shining example of what could be.
During the pandemic, we have seen wholesale re-envisioning of what an urban space can be. While still in its visioning stages, the potential for a brand new Champs Elysees, seems highly likely to occur given all the other changes that Paris has pushed forward. New York’s Open Streets Program has been wildly successful and popular with local residents and businesses. In comparison, our very limited shift on Government Street and Broad Street seems lackluster, especially when we began back-tracking on them so soon after last summer.
The new plan for this year as reported in the documents on the City’s website, seem to be a continuation of the limited approach that Victoria has taken till now. There are some improvements and some steps back. We can go through them one by one.
For the blocks south of Fort Street rather than limited vehicle access all day, they will shift to limited vehicle access from 10pm to noon. From noon to 10pm those blocks will be pedestrian only. I think this is an excellent change for the most part. This time change allows delivery trucks to access the businesses in the morning and even gives some time for people in their cars to drive along Government St. The idea would be to have moveable pieces of street furniture like those that were added along Broad Street so that the space could be easily made into a welcoming pedestrian space. If this was done, and council approved it for the long term, I would hope we would see some more permanent bollards, perhaps even some automatic ones that could rise up at the cross streets during the times that it is a pedestrian space. I do think that the timed use of the street is problematic, especially if after a few years, there are more businesses along the space to take advantage of those walking along there. I would keep it pedestrian only till at least midnight though I think the best option would be pedestrian only with a four hour delivery window for commercial vehicles only from say 6am to 10am.
The plan continues with the same thing we saw last year with the full closure of the 1100 block which I think is great. I don’t think that it is time limited at all. Again if this can be done over the longer term it allows for a wholesale change to the space (more on that later).
What I would like to see: Green for timed pedestrian space - Blue for fully pedestrianised space
Finally with the 1200 block, we see a retreat, with the space from View to Yates street being open to vehicles again. The stated reason in the report is that the businesses along here didn’t take advantage of it. I personally think that part of the reason is the current nature of the businesses in that block and the fact that it was a half closure only. I would extend the full closure all the way between Fort Street and Yates. Again the treatments would be key to making the more northern space successful.
I will say first of all, that I will be happy if council supports this initiative as staff has laid it out, but I think that it could be so much better. The main issue is that the actions are so tentative, when what is needed is bold dramatic change. The change being done in Paris is permanent and that is the way we should be thinking. A successful intervention doesn’t come from half measures because the success rests on people changing behaviours. The changing of behaviour is harder than it seems because you don’t want people to have to remember whether the space is available or not. It should be like a park, always there, so people can head there without having to look online.
As I mentioned before, especially for the 1100 and 1200 blocks, a wholesale change should be made which includes removing the roadway entirely so that from building face to building face the ground is level. The space in-between should be able to have permanent planters, water features and public art. Having all of this while maintaining a fire lane would be easy. Over the long term this permanent space would attract businesses that could take advantage of it, which would continue the attraction.
No matter what though, if you want to see this space turned back over to pedestrians, please make sure you connect with council this week and let them know that this is important and not let us regress backwards. Even better if we can also stop with the half measures. Let me know your thoughts below.