Dedicated bike lane coming to another street on Saint John's central peninsula

Another street on Saint John's central peninsula is in line for a dedicated bike lane as the city pursues more ways for people to get around. 

A bylaw change that came before council Tuesday would allow Sydney Street, a one-way street running from Tin Can Beach to Union Street, to get a bike lane.

The lane would run from Broad Street to Duke Street in the first stage of the project, and eventually to Union Street, a staff report says. 

"This is another important milestone for us as we continue to provide more options for our community to get around [with] active forms of transportation," Tim O'Reilly told council.

The move follows a decision in November to add a dedicated bake lane to the partly one-way Charlotte Street and make the street one way for three more blocks. 

Plans for bike lanes are part of Saint John's long-term transportation plan, MoveSJ and growth plans for central peninsula neighbourhoods.

"Our transportation plan connected pedestrian and cycling facilities installed in strategic locations around our city," O'Reilly said.

Connecting different ends of city

"Both Move SJ and the city's Central Peninsula Secondary Plan envision a north-to-south cycling arterial through the southern peninsula."

The arterial would connect to Harbour Passage, the biking and walking trails that connect the west side and north end of the city to the uptown.

The plan for Sydney Street would put an end to the alternate-side street parking system from Duke Street to Broad Street and allow parking on the west side only.

The bike lane would be installed on the east side. 

According to a council report, the proposal is aimed at bringing a more balanced transportation system to the city that "accommodates and improves access for all users."

The report identified Sydney street, between Union and Broad, as a key corridor for the inclusion of dedicated bike lane infrastructure.

The northbound bike lane would allow bicycle traffic to flow opposite that of the southbound Charlotte Street lane, on the other side of Queen Square, and create a continuous cycling route through the peninsula with connections to other parts of the city. 

No loss of parking spots

The bike lane slated to come to Charlotte Street will result in a loss of 25 parking spots between King Square and Queen Street North, O'Reilly said this won't be the case for Sydney Street.

"There would be no impact to the number of on-street parking spaces," he said. "It's simply moving it all to one side of the street to permit that bike lane."

Council gave first and second reading to changes in the Saint John Traffic Bylaw.

Coun. David Hickey said he is excited about the plan for the street but wants the city to provide renderings so residents will know what's coming.

"Because this is a great one to be able to push out and get people excited about active transportation in particular in the central peninsula and it's accessibility," he said. 

"The more we can get people excited about these initiatives, the better I think."

The design phase for the street is expected to be completed this year with construction beginning in 2025.