Moncton Council Scraps One-Way And Bike Lane On Main Street
MONCTON – A pilot project to change Main Street to one-way and add a bike lane between Botsford and Lutz Streets is expected to abruptly end later this week.
Twenty-six businesses signed a petition to get rid of the changes and Downtown Moncton Centreville Inc. delivered it to City Hall last week.
Councillor Greg Turner says tourism was anticipated to be more vibrant and more downtown workers were expected to return to their offices.
“We have to face reality, we’re listening to the feedback from the merchants, from the property owners and from the community. They feel that we should go back to the way we were,” said Turner.
Some councillors wanted to do all three readings of the bylaw during a single meeting but city staff said that wasn’t legally possible.
Councillor Bryan Butler says the situation has turned into quite a mess and he believes some businesses are suffering.
“From what we’re getting, it’s an emergency from the merchants. They are saying that downtown is dying… to me that’s an emergency,” noted Butler.
While the bylaw has unanimously passed first reading, a special public meeting will be scheduled later this week for the second and third readings.
Council made the changes in late June to help support businesses expand their patios following the pandemic lockdown.
The pilot project was originally intended to run until September 30.
Allan Dearing is a reporter with 91.9 The Bend, a Huddle content partner.