Two more Saint John streets are undergoing a “road diet” aimed at improving accessibility for everyone.
The latest are a section of Station Street and City Road from Smythe Street to just east of the Stanley Street pedestrian bridge
Four vehicles lanes will be reduced to three — one lane in each direction and a center turning lane.
The space freed up by that fourth lane will be used to install dedicated bike lanes on both sides of the road.
“Traffic studies confirm that the lane reductions will maintain acceptable service levels, ensuring smooth vehicle flow while repurposing historically overbuilt roadway space,” the city said in a news release.
Combined with the existing sidewalks, officials said the redesign will create a key active transportation corridor as part of the Trans Canada Trail, linking Harbour Passage and the Stanley Street pedestrian bridge and further connecting the south central peninsula to Rockwood Park.
The city also referenced studies by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration which indicate that road diets can reduce crashes by 19 to 47 per cent, while also making pedestrian crossings safer.
“This initiative builds on the success of previous road diets in Saint John, including Metcalf Street, Somerset Street, Millidge Avenue, and University Avenue,” said the city.
