Week 12 -Site Access and Navigation

Current Predicament

Currently, the central space where Queen and Albert Streets presents challenges for pedestrians to navigate. The two main contributors to this are the overabundance of available street front entrances/exits and the channeling of pedestrian traffic. Large obstructions in the center of the street and narrow side awnings mean people tend to cling to the side of the street, either for shelter or simply because there is no other way to get through. When a junction is reached, these channeled streams collide creating areas of conflict. By far the worst location is outside Hungry Jacks. Because this is an iconic and identifiable location, the area outside has become a meeting point/lingering area severely disrupting the flow of pedestrian traffic.

Future Proposal

My proposed solution to this problem is to open up the space by removing the corners, as the corners were the primary reason for there being areas of conflict. Also by opening up the central street areas approaching the junction, people will be encouraged to use the whole street. When inclement weather occurs, improved larger side awnings will provide shelter and channel pedestrian traffic less than previously. New high-density developments will replace the current low-density buildings on the northern corners of the site. The iconic Hungry Jacks will be re-developed but remain, thus helping the site keep its identity. The new buildings will have more clearly definied entrances and exits, none more so than the new subway station access located under the pod tower.