Councillor moves to calm fears as residents worry two-way proposal could spill into neighbourhood streets

A one-way sign at the corner of Wyandotte Street West and Dougall Avenue, shown on Nov. 25, 2025. (Sanjay Maru/CTV News Windsor)

A little more than one week after Windsor issued a public feedback survey on converting some one-way streets back to two-way traffic, a downtown open house revealed a new point of tension: concern from residents who fear the changes could creep into residential neighbourhoods.

At an informational open house Tuesday at the Caboto Club, Ward 3 councillor Renaldo Agostino stressed that any potential conversion is aimed at select commercial streets in the downtown core, not the residential blocks surrounding them.

“There seems to be a lot of confusion,” Agostino said.

“Residents were concerned their neighbourhood streets would be turning into two ways. That’s not what I was focusing on. We’re really looking at parts of the downtown core that could benefit... certainly not residential neighborhoods.”

The comments mark the clearest public signal to date that the proposal — previously discussed by councillors including Ward 4’s Mark McKenzie — is not intended to alter the city’s tight residential corridors.

McKenzie told CTV News earlier this week that traffic calming and speeding on one-way routes were major concerns, particularly on bus routes like Gladstone and Lincoln.

Agostino, speaking at the open house, said confusion around the idea underscored why public consultation is needed.

“When you look at the tunnel exit, Ferry Street, University Avenue — there’s confusion between one-way and two-way sections,” he said. “Cleaning some of that stuff up could create more foot traffic, safer places for people to be, and get more eyes on downtown businesses.”

He added that cost alone would make residential conversions unlikely.

“I don’t think the city’s budget would have allowed for the infrastructure for that to happen, because widening some of those roads would be a lot of money,” he said.

Still, some downtown residents remain uneasy.

Mary Ellen Zalev, who lives on Dougall Avenue near the city’s downtown, said even the possibility of two-way traffic near residential blocks raises red flags.

“It would really affect the well-being of the people that live in that area,” she said. “It’s going to increase noise, pollution, safety concerns. It’s harder to cross the road.”

Parking was another worry.

“Most of the downtown area housing does not have driveways,” she said. “Having a two-way street, you’re not going to have any parking at all.”

Zalev argued the city should focus on larger downtown issues like business vacancies, homelessness and mental health challenges before rethinking traffic direction.

“It’s kind of like putting the cart before the horse,” she said. “Let’s get businesses down there, increase the population, and then take a look at traffic flow.”

Agostino said no changes are imminent. Any actual conversion would require further study and a future council vote.

“I don’t know if it’ll be within next year — maybe two years or the next term of council,” he said. “These gatherings are here to get public feedback... and sometimes to quash some fears.”

Residents who missed Tuesday’s session can participate online until Dec. 12.