A vision for better Benton and Frederick Sts.

Fix a 1960's era mistake that has cut apart our neighbourhood.

Please support this project.

Staff have recognized the unnecessary width of Frederick St. for at least a decade, but no changes have been made. In the meantime, the ION Project reconstructed parts of Frederick St. while retaining the four lane configuration.

This proposal provides an option for improving the entire length of the street, including improving access to the ION stations.

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Proposed Improvements

The proposal includes many modernization features designed to improve safety and livability of the street. Many are derived from the Kitchener Complete Streets Guide (KCSG).

Smaller Turn Radii

Reduced turn radii reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians, as well as slow turning vehicle traffic. Both improve safety and livability of an intersection.

Two Lanes

The road is four lanes wide but only needs two lanes to carry the volume of traffic. That extra space is wasted. Repurposing it into a cycle track, extra parking, and turn lanes leads to shorter crossings, calmer traffic, and a safer more efficient road for everyone.

Curb Bumpouts

Curb bump-outs reduce the crossing distance at intersections for pedestrians, while also narrowing the road to reduce turning speeds of cars and preventing parking too close to the intersection. This allows parking to be retained without making the road less safe.

Floating Bus Stop

Creates a safe place for transit riders to wait, while also allowing the bus stop stop without conflicting with the bike lane.

Expanded Parking

Some of the space reclaimed from the unnecessarily wide road can be used to expand short and medium term parking in areas that need more parking.

Improve LRT Station Access

The Frederick St. LRT station was constructed without access to the north-east end of the station, improving Frederick St. this proposal will correct this deficiency.

Improved Lancaster St. Intersection

At Frederick St., Lancaster St. turns into a small residential street. However the oblique interection is poorly configured for pedestrian access. This proposal would improve safety at this intersection by removing excess road space.

Green Cycleway

Building a cycletrack through the cities core in this excess space will help improve transportation options for our community, connect urban and suburban areas, and improve health and equity in our community.

Downtown Grid

This project enhances the proposed Downtown Grid by creating many new connections.

Phases

The project is split into phases that could be completed in one year.

Overview of Phase 1

Benton and Fredrick Sts. are relics of a 1960's project to extend a four lane road through DTK. This project, long since cancelled, has left us with an excessively wide, wasteful, dangerous road which cuts up our neighbourhood. This proposal redresses this historical error.

  • Since the DTK through road was cancelled, 4 lanes are no longer needed, so narrow the road to 2 lanes, with room for parking.
  • Add a modern two way protected bikeway with floating bus stops.
  • Improve the pedestrian realm by narrowing the road, tightening corners, shortening crossing distance, and improving pedestrian access to the LRT and reconnect our neighbourhood.
  • Parking is retained.

This proposal is low cost and entirely feasible in the current road allowance. It can be completed with only constructing new curbs, without requiring a full road reconstruction.

Overview of Phase 2a

The proposed second phase of contruction would continue east to Lancaster St. E. This would link a public school, the proposed Otto St. multi-use trail, as well as numerous municipal and arts buildings. There are two different options proposed here. Option A shifts the cycleway to the south side of Frederick St.

  • The south side has fewer and lower traffic driveway conflicts.
  • Significant modification to the Lancaster St. intersection would improve pedestrian safety significantly.
  • Numerous new crosswalks added to access important destinations.
  • Substantial new parking added.
  • Provides buffer between school yard and sidewalk from the roadway.
  • Requires shifting the cycleway from north side to south side at Duke. This can be accomplished with a dedicated cycling and pedestrian phase at the intersection.

Overview of Phase 2b

Option B continues the cycle way on the north side of Frederick St. It provides many of the same benefits, but with a few different trade offs.

  • The north side has significantly more and higher traffic driveway conflicts.
  • Significant modification to the Lancaster St. intersection would improve pedestrian safety significantly.
  • Numerous new crosswalks added to access important destinations.
  • Substantial new parking added.

Overview of Phase 3

Phase 3 of the project would continue the cycleway to Bruce St. with a connection to the multi-use trail along Victoria St. S.

This section has significant property constraints. Since there is no cost effective option to continue the cycleway while maintaining two way traffic, and since the narrower road here is substantially more pedestrian friendly and suited to the neighbourhood, no modifications are suggested between Lancaster St. and just west of Edna St. The proposed solutions is to divert the cycle route either north on Ellen St. E. to Mansion St. or down on Lancaster St. to Bingeman St. Both of these are quiet residential streets that can provide a cycleway if crossings and wayfinding is provided.

Connections and improvements can be made on Edna St., and on Frederick St. from Edna St. across the expressway to Bruce St., and also on Bruce St. These improvements will make connections from Victoria St. N. to Frederick St. much safer and friendly.

  • Property and space constraints require diverting the cycleway onto a parallel road to maintain two way traffic.
  • Significant improvements to Bruce St. and Edna St. will improve nearby neighbourhoods, as well as improve connections between Victoria St. N. and Frederick St.
  • A safe crossing of the expressway is provided, which otherwise serves as a substantial barrier to active transportation.

Overview of Phase 4

Phase 4 of the project would complete the cycleway from Bruce St. to Victoria St. N.

This section of Frederick St. is significantly wider that necessary. This width creates high speeds and long crossings which harms the neighbourhood it cuts through. By narrowing the road, traffic speeds are reduced, and space is made for parking and cycling.

  • Traffic in the neighbourhood will be significantly calmer.
  • Many added crosswalks and shorter crossing distances will significantly improve connectivity and safety for pedestrians.
  • This would connect the neighbourhood with the future cycleway planned on River Rd.