Council votes to convert 'serial killer' Main Street to 2-way traffic

Shortly after protesters outside were chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, killer streets have got to go," Hamilton city council approved a motion Wednesday that will convert Main Street – the location of several recent pedestrian injuries and deaths – to two-way traffic.

Despite opposition from councillors Lloyd Ferguson (Ancaster) and Maria Pearson (Ward 10, lower Stoney Creek), the motion from Coun. Maureen Wilson (Ward 1, west lower city) and Nrinder Nann (Ward 3) passed easily following impassioned pleas from several councillors who said the change would save lives and honour those who have been killed.

"Imagine your best friend just turned 49, and as a dedicated accessible transit driver...  was struck and killed by a driver who jumped the curb," said Nann, referring to the recent death of a DARTS driver near Main and Locke streets after a driver mounted the curb.

"Imagine your dad booked his flight to your wedding but will never make it because [he and his colleagues got hit while walking to work]," she said, referring to a victim killed in March near Gage Park. 

The motion called for the "conversion of Main Street from one-way to two-way be approved as an immediate safety intervention."

It also directs staff to create an implementation plan "that integrates a Complete Streets redesign that will enable safer use for all people who need to use the streets including public transit riders, pedestrians, motorists and cyclists and that these spaces also contribute to climate resilience by providing shade trees and permeable surfaces."

Councillors voted on the part of the motion dealing with Main Street conversion separately from the rest of the document, which also calls for implementing measures including more pedestrian space, temporary lane reductions, the removal of parking restrictions, a reduced speed limit and reviewing the synchronized traffic lights on Main and King streets.

While Pearson voted against the Main Street conversion, she voted in favour of the rest of the measures proposed.

Earlier Wednesday, a handful of protesters blocked Main Street West outside of Hamilton city hall for a few minutes, and a group of more than 50 people demanded city councillors take immediate action to make roadways safer after the string of pedestrian deaths.

Protesters held up signs and banners that labelled Main Street a "serial killer." 

It came after a short demonstration in the city hall forecourt where community members shared stories and demanded change.

"I am not some militant anti-car radical, I'm simply a parent that cannot believe how we can normalize the absurdity on our streets," Tom Flood said to the crowd.

"We have a very simple choice right now, we can protect people in our community or we can continually protect the roads that steal them from us."

The demonstration comes as the city has seen 11 pedestrians killed in vehicle-related incidents this year.