OrilliaMatters has received the following letter to the editor from Orillia resident Carol Strickland who is concerned about a possible plan to reduce Front St. to three lanes.
*************************
I am responding to the article on the DOMB’s concerns regarding reducing Front Street to three lanes, one being a turning lane.
Front Street does provide a main access to the downtown from either ends of the city, but in order to patronize the downtown merchants, people have to be able to get out of their cars and walk along the main streets, or park their bikes in the downtown area.
To do this, they need to be able to turn easily off Front Street to the main streets, but in particular they need to be directed to parking lots for the downtown, or know that there will be secure bike parking at reasonable intervals along the main shopping streets. Having to slow down a little along Front Street, actually promotes traffic to the downtown.
The Coldwater Street experience has been an excellent example of how three lanes with one being a turning lane facilitates traffic, rather than complicating it.
Speaking as one who regularly uses Coldwater coming into town, the three lane system has made the journey more comfortable and pleasant - not getting trapped behind a sudden left turner, for example.
I believe that upon reflection, DOMB should get solidly behind the three lane proposal for Front Street.
Carol Strickland
*************************
