We are residents of Corktown and are writing because we are deeply concerned about street safety in our neighbourhood. This letter was prompted by a recent accident on May 28th, but please be assured that these issues are persistent and dangerous every day. Even with recent traffic calming measures, we consistently observe speeding, reckless driving, and disregard for traffic signage, and many of us have had very alarming close calls. We are also concerned about how the rapid development in this area will exacerbate these issues. Many studies have found that drivers will speed as fast as the street is built for and if we’re relying on drivers, we will inevitably see a fatal accident. We don’t want to see this happen and believe that the City of Hamilton has a responsibility to build safer roads. We are asking for a Complete Streets audit for this neighbourhood and an aggressive, holistic plan that takes local and arterial routes into consideration.
Why Corktown needs this: We recognise that many areas of the city are experiencing similar issues, but please consider the attributes of our neighbourhood that make it especially concerning and in need of high priority attention:
Location surrounded by busy arterial roads.
Density: Corktown is small, but we’re many!
Upcoming Development: We will see an addition of 2000+ new residents in this area, which will exacebate existing issues.
Vulnerable Populations: Pedestrians, seniors, and youth.
Lacking Amenities: Corktown is missing basic walkable amenities, such as a grocery store, which necessitates additional car traffic.
Zoning: Corktown has more area zoned as business and institutional than other areas that are largely residential. As such, we experience more traffic from those commuting in and out.
This is what we’d like to see:
a neighbourhood meeting with you and transportation staff specifically focused on street safety to discuss next steps
a Complete Streets audit of the neighbourhood that considers the impact of future development (the LRT, a significant increase in population)
an aggressive neighbourhood-wide plan to slow traffic (this might include additional traffic lights on arterial routes, raised crosswalks, raised intersections, curb extensions, traffic diverters, mini-roundabouts, etc.)
a commitment to take the appallingly reckless driving on arterial roads like Charlton, Hunter, Main, James and John as seriously as they do the local streets
more enforcement of speeds through the use of speed cameras, particularly in areas where drivers are entering from arterial routes (railway tunnels on Young and on Walnut, Young and Wellington, Charlton, etc.)
more parking enforcement to ensure that cars are parked safely (not blocking sidewalks or bike lanes, staying clear of the intersection to allow for proper visibility, etc.)
a commitment from the city to maintain and increase driving alternatives (bike- and carshares, bike lanes, etc.)
a commitment from the City to use whatever discretion they have to coerce developers to prioritise walkable and much needed amenities, such as grocery stores, laundromats, indoor recreation, additional daycare spots, etc. that reduce the need for driving out of the area.
Please note, that we are purposely NOT making specific suggestions as we are not professional city planners. However, we will insist on an effective, holistic, and aggressive plan.
We recognize that this is a great neighbourhood: inclusive, diverse, and welcoming. Due to its proximity to downtown, public green space, and existing mix of high and low structures, we understand why it’s well suited for more density. However, if the city is expecting us to absorb 2000+ new residents in the coming years, it must also take bold steps to adapt the streets to make this growth sustainable and safe. We assure you that we are fully committed to seeing this through and will be persistent until we see action.