A report going before Windsor City Council Monday is against lane closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Ward 3 Councillor Rino Bortolin still hopes to see it happen.
Bortolin proposed the closure of some city streets to make them more pedestrian friendly if social distancing orders continue at last week's council meeting. Several city departments raised issues over cost, emergency service access, traffic, safety and encouraging people to be out during the pandemic.
He says lanes along Riverside Drive from Devonshire Road to Caron Avenue should be closed at the very least as people are drawn to the riverfront for fresh air and exercise.
"We see a huge increase of people walking up and down the trails and it makes it very hard for social distancing to happen," he says.
The report assumes two lanes would be closed, but Bortolin plans on reducing that request to one.
"The northern lane that abuts the park system ... I think that will help reduce the cost and address all the safety concerns as far as things like police and fire being able to get through if there was any traffic," added Bortolin.
Council voted 8-2 in favour of getting more information last week; Bortolin hopes to see the same support Monday afternoon.
"I'm hoping that they see the need and once I ask some of the questions and get some more information they see it's a worthwhile endeavour to move forward on," he says.
Ward 1 Councillor Francis and Mayor Drew Dilkens voted against the report last week.
Council will be live streamed beginning at 1 p.m.