From the Star:
Mixed views on Queens Quay
Success of 10-day project debatable
Easy being green, hard being a driver
Aug. 22, 2006. 05:46 AM
ANNA PIEKARSKI
STAFF REPORTER
Just like the red carpet after an awards show, the grass along Queens Quay was rolled up yesterday, ending a 10-day experiment that turned the street into a pedestrian-friendly boardwalk.
For almost two weeks, eastbound lanes were closed between York St. and Spadina Ave. as pedestrians and cyclists took over the road. But the success of the temporary project is debatable. While many people would like it to be permanent, there was criticism of the expense incurred for such a short-term test.
"I think it's a huge waste of money. Ten days hardly seems to be enough time to see if it works," said Leah Perrault, who lives in a condo on the north side of the street. The project turned one lane into a lawn while the other was used by cyclists and pedestrians. A flower bed separated the area from the streetcar track.
Perrault said she and her husband enjoyed being able to easily bike and rollerblade along the closed road to the Martin Goodman Trail. She was angry as she watched the workers dismantle the grass.
"Put it in and leave it. Don't put it in for 10 days and then rip it all apart."
Opened Aug. 11 by the Waterfront Revitalization Corp., the test was funded by the three levels of government at a cost of $1 million.
"A million dollars is a lot of money, but I think if it helped convince people this is doable it's well worth it," said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Waterfront Revitalization Corp.
"The broad consensus is that everyone is really supportive. We're quite happy with the outcome," Campbell said. Over the 10 days, the corporation surveyed individuals to get their reaction to the redevelopment. Traffic and bikes were also counted. The results of the study will be available soon, Campbell said.
"It's not very practical," said Teena Winter, who lives in a condo on the south side of Queens Quay. Getting her car out of the parking lot was a challenge, Winter said, explaining she had to weave through pedestrians and speeding cyclists to get to the westbound lane.
Winter's daughter Amy, who also lives in the condo, said people seemed afraid to step onto the grass. But many allowed their dogs to walk on the lawn.
Winter lived in New Zealand before moving to Toronto four years ago. She said she was shocked to learn how much money was spent on the project.
"I've never lived in a country that spent this much money on an experiment," she said.
Campbell admitted there were traffic issues west of Spadina, where two lanes of one-way traffic merged into a single lane. "That was a problem we knew we created," he said.
The final version of the redevelopment will be started next summer, Campbell said, with a planned single lane of traffic travelling in both directions. Queens Quay would become more like a local road, with more vehicles using Lake Shore Blvd. Throughout the year, the public will be given opportunities to consult on the final design, Campbell said.
Many people are already talking about the proposed changes, said Queens Quay Starbucks employee Jen Weddell, who heard many comments on the state of the street.
"I think the general consensus was, that it was for such a short period of time, what was the point?" Weddell said.
Business was a bit slower in the mornings Weddell said, surmising many people were avoiding the street during their commute to the office, but "the weekend was crazy."
It was difficult to tell whether the pedestrian-friendly set-up attracted more business, said Starbucks employee Chris Smith, explaining the International AIDS conference brought a lot of people to the city and many were seen wandering along the lakeshore.
There was definitely a surge in tourist traffic, said Samantha Queffelec, who works at a boat tour ticket kiosk along Queens Quay.
"It was really busy. There was a lot of bike traffic," Queffelec said.
Campbell confirmed there was a definite increase in the number of cyclists. He said most didn't seem to be tourists, but instead residents who were using the path.
AoD