Victoria will speed up creating car-free spaces in the city in an effort to 鈥渆stablish stronger communities, greener streets and quieter, safer neighbourhoods.鈥�
In a unanimous vote Jan. 18, council asked staff to identify, accelerate, and pilot partial or complete road closures, and shared streets, to create or enable new boulevards, community spaces, placemaking initiatives, and green spaces, using a variety of criteria to ensure successful implementation.
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There are exciting examples of former roads that have become popular community spaces, including the popular Fernwood Square, which was built by closing a portion of Gladstone, and Centennial Square, which was established by closing a portion of Cormorant Street in the 1960s, says a news release issued by councillors Matt Dell and Jeremy Caradonna.
鈥淰ictoria is a city of villages, and pedestrianizing more under-utilized roads will increase safety, build community and enhance a sense of place. I鈥檓 thrilled that council supports this vision moving forward,鈥� Caradonna said.
Council outlined key goals of increasing safety for children, pedestrians and seniors, and working with local residents and businesses to ensure success. Opportunities for trial road closures on the table include Ryan Street in the Oaklands, which cuts off Oaklands Elementary from the school field; Haultain Street in Oaklands to create a similar space to Fernwood Square; or Simcoe or Toronto street at the Five-Corners in James Bay, which could reduce traffic congestion and build community space.
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鈥淧eople in Victoria are eager for greener neighbourhoods, slower streets, and more spaces for community to gather. One of the easiest ways to do this is by converting underutilized road space in key community locations into pedestrianized public space. This has been done successfully across the world, and I鈥檓 excited to see it happen more in Victoria. This work aligns closely with our climate goals, our community building ambitions, and with proven practices to build a wonderful city,鈥� Dell said.
City staff will begin to work with local communities and seek opportunities to identify more pedestrianized spaces as part of the 10-year Official Community Plan review.
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