New nine-step plan aims to improve pedestrian experience in downtown Edmonton

A group of organizations is working with the city to implement nine actions to make downtown Edmonton more walkable.

Officially called the Downtown Pedestrianization Plan, it outlines ways to create better accessibility and safety for Edmontonians to "walk and roll," whether in the form of walking, biking, driving, using public transit, or mobility aids.

The nine-step plan is co-created by the Urban Development Institute (UDI) Edmonton Metro, Paths for People, and endorsed by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, Downtown Edmonton Community League and Downtown Recovery Coalition.

While some actions out of the nine are currently ongoing, things like enhancing LRT entrances, upgrades to cycling infrastructure, and utilizing heightened operational standards in shared open streets are to be initiated by next year, according to the plan.

Stephen Raitz, chair of Paths for People, says he's heard calls for more secure and better located bike parking available throughout the downtown core.

"We'd love to see developers, already doing a good job of this, but taking it further," Raitz said on Wednesday. "Then also looking at public opportunities within LRT stations for that kind of thing if we were to redevelop those spaces."

Encouraging developers to integrate private and public spaces is to be initiated by the last quarter of 2023. At the moment, the plan says there is "inconsistent direction from development officers" and lack of openness around funding models from the city.

The pedestrianization plan comes after city council rejected a bylaw to keep 102nd Avenue closed to traffic back in February.

Jason Syvixay, director of metropolitan strategy and advocacy at UDI, says the partnering organizations all had varying perspectives on whether the 102nd Avenue proposal would be successful.

"While there are different approaches to downtown, our overlapping interest is in a vibrant walkable downtown," Syvixay said. 

"The plan reviews our individual understanding of walking and rolling in the downtown, as well as sorts through compromise and trade offs of the biggest actions with the biggest impact for our downtown."

There are three major themes for the pedestrianization plan: creating a fun and friendly pedestrian experience year round, connectivity of routes and places of interest, and accommodating all modes of transportation. 

"We all want to walk and roll around a downtown that is made up of consistent sidewalks, streets and public spaces that are well furnished, well built and well maintained," Raitz said. 

Some locations of improvement according to the plan are 105th Avenue, 104th and 109th Streets, and Rice Howard Way.