Party proposes radical changes to Brussels' streets

The Flemish socialist party wants to turn Brussels’ main thoroughfares into one-way streets to ease the city’s chronic traffic congestion and make it more liveable. Brussels parliament member Jef Van Damme said that radical solutions were needed to tackle traffic congestion in the capital.

SP.A’s plan would affect the main roads into Brussels, known as steenwegen/chaussées. These are often congested due to commuter traffic, making it difficult for buses and bicycles to use them. Van Damme says that the socialist proposal to reduce cars to one lane would make it easier to lay down tram lines, bus lanes and cycle paths. “This would encourage a lot of Brussels residents to leave their cars at home,” he said. “So we would be able to decrease pollution and improve the quality of life.”

Under the plan, streets such as the Waversesteenweg/Chaussée de Wavre and the Ninoofsesteenweg/Chaussée de Ninove would bring traffic into the centre, while the Leuvensesteenweg/Chaussée de Louvain and the Bergensesteenweg/Chaussée de Mons would take traffic out of the city.

The party also proposes the creation of about 10 new pedestrian areas in districts such as Louiza, South Station and the area between Schumanplein/Place Schuman and Luxemburgplein/Place du Luxembourg (pictured). The most ambitious plan is to create a four-kilometre pedestrian route to connect North Station with the Dansaert quarter and Molenbeek. “This would be the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe,” said Van Damme.

The politician admits that Brussels already has ambitious plans to solve the traffic problem, but they are long-term strategies. “We can’t wait another decade for a new metro line,” he said. “It’s better to go for affordable projects that will bring immediate improvements.” 

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