I'm here at the Argyle Grafton Streetscape redesign.
It's the groundbreaking project based on a pretty groundbreaking idea.
Get it?
Because it's a groundbreaking idea and it's literally breaking the ground.
I hope some people get that type of humor.
We've been hearing about the Argyle grafton shared streetscape project for some time.
You might seen renderings for the redesign, which included this really sassy lady.
Or perhaps you visited the area during the pilot project.
Well after a lot of digging and rebuilding, these streets represent a whole new way to
experience downtown halifax.
So, what's new?
Well, the most obvious change is that we now have argyles on Argyle Street.
Proving that the city does have a sense of humor sometimes.
And that your grandpa's sweater is still somehow relevant.
Hey, I actually like this sweater.
But one of the main changes is how people use Argyle Street.
This project is based on the idea that streets are for more than just moving.
The really lively ones act like a public space, or a plaza, and in case you haven't noticed,
argyle and grafton street are bumping.
To accommodate all the activity, the plan is to make these streets a shared space for
pedestrians and cars and bikes and skateboards, longboards, and hoverboards.
No, actual hoverboards.
The redesign also opens up possibilities for closing the street now and then for activities.
I mean, look at all this floorspace - you could do aerobics in here, so many activities.
Well, if that sounds pretty complex, don't worry.
The main change is actually quite simple.
Streets usually have curbs separating sidewalks and roads, directing water into gutters.
With this redesign, Argyle Street doesn't have any curbs.
Kind of making it a plaza, it's as easy as that.
Well, who are we kidding?
A project like this was a huge and complex undertaking.
It meant tearing up 5700 square metres of pavement, digging up hidden rooms, discovering
an underground tunnel...that turned out to be old sewage pipes.
And installing 36,000 pavers, all in just one summer.
But on top of all that this project included a lot of really innovative ideas.
For example, these soil cells beneath the street are for tree roots.
Usually, street trees are forced into tiny spaces and the roots end up causing damage
to roads and sidewalks.
But these soil cells will let trees extend their roots, allowing them to grow much stronger
without damaging the road itself.
And to make sure the rain goes somewhere, now that there aren't any curbs, they've installed
these trench drains to catch the water.
Just make sure to keep an eye on your stilettos.
But the main thing they had to consider was how people use the street.
So, let's get into that.
So not much has actually changed for navigating Argyle and Grafton Street.
Both cars and pedestrians will be able to get around, but instead of having a sidewalk
and a road, we've got the pedestrian zone and the shared zone.
Here's a better view.
The pedestrian zone is for pedestrians, so no driving allowed.
It's also where you'll find the patio spaces, benches, trees, public art, signage, the works.
The shared zone is for everyone, including cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Yes, you heard right.
Pedestrians can cross the street wherever they want.
That being said, pedestrians still have to yield to traffic, unless they're on a crosswalk
on street corners.
Basically, enjoy the street, but make sure you still look before crossing.
For drivers, Grafton Street remains a two-way street, and cars can still drive one-way on
Argyle, but they'll need to go slow.
Because remember, it's a shared zone.
Not a shared nacho zone!
We've been over this.
The idea behind the shared zone is to make it easier for people to ping pong between
all of the different things to do in this area.
The theatres, stores, bars, restaurants, conventions, and literally ping pong.
Now you might be wondering 'how do you tell the difference between the two zones?', well
with this, down here.
This black, bumpy line will tell you where the shared street ends, and the pedestrian
zone begins.
It allows anyone to both see and feel where the two zones are.
This is especially important for visually impaired users of the street.
Finally, curb ramps and more bumps let you know when you're approaching an intersection,
and the end of the shared street.
Sorry to break the news, but there isn't going to be any parking on Argyle or Grafton Street,
with the exception of one accessible parking spot for every block.
But there are many parkades nearby, and who really enjoys parallel parking anyway?
But on the plus side, three words: year round patios!
Yes, removing parking spaces means you can enjoy the outdoor patio experience in February.
Sounds like the most Canadian thing ever.
And even without parking spaces, pick ups and drop offs are still allowed for vehicles,
so you can catch a ride from a friend, grab a cab home, drop your family off for a night
at the theatre, and delivery trucks can still deliver stuff.
Now there's a lot more going on here that we couldn't cover in one video so I hope you
come down and see some of the changes for yourself but I'd also like to end on this
note.
There are bound to be some people that think this is just too much time and money going
into a couple of roads.
But it's clear that Argyle & Grafton are more than just roads.
They're places to gather, socialize, and every now and then wonder why I still go to nightclubs
at 3 in the morning.
It holds the heartbeat of downtown halifax's social life and hopefully a project like this
makes that heartbeat a bit stronger.