*Mature trees worth saving, not just replacing *
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/mature-trees-worth-savin…
THE elm bark beetle kills 15 mature elm trees in Winnipeg every day. The
emerald ash borer that arrived in late 2017 could kill every ash tree in
the city in the next decade.
Winnipeg has the unfortunate distinction of being the only city in North
America at war with both of these tree-killing insects at the same time,
and the two species they destroy make up almost two-thirds of the city’s
public trees.
Our urban forest is on the cusp of devastation, but a sense of public
urgency has yet to set in. In Ottawa, more than 100,000 ash trees have been
lost in the eight years since the emerald ash borer’s arrival. Our day is
coming. As we battle the invaders, management of our street trees will mean
replanting more diverse species as old ones are lost, but we should not
undervalue efforts to preserve our existing older trees.
The economic, environmental and social benefits of street trees increase
exponentially with size, and it can take generations for the value of a
lost mature tree to be regained. A replanted basswood, as an example, will
be less than half of its mature height and breadth after 30 years of
growth. A disease-free American elm can live up to 300 years, and doesn’t
reach full maturity until 150 years. With salt and other environmental
pollutants in today’s city, most replanted trees will never reach the scale
of our current canopy.
Because of this, investment made to preserve larger trees will have
significant payback over several decades. The costs will be high, but there
are few public expenditures with greater return on investment than
protecting our street trees.
The majestic beauty of leaf-filtered light streaming through the cathedral
arch canopy of towering street trees inspires a sense of place that
emotionally connects people to their neighbourhoods and cities. They create
a comfortable pedestrian experience by providing shade and wind protection,
while establishing an intimate pedestrian zone that separates cars and
people.
This perception of safety is enhanced as street trees define the road edge
and enclose a driver’s field of vision, which instinctively calms traffic
and lowers driving speeds. *A 2008 study by the Texas Transportation
Institute found that the presence of large street trees lowers the average
cruising speed of vehicles in suburbs by almost 5 km/h.*
This more comfortable pedestrian environment translates into economic
benefit. A study from the University of Washington determined that when
shade trees are added to a retail street, the positive impact on the
experience makes people stay longer and shop more, increasing spending by
as much as 12 per cent on average. It also found that the attraction to
mature street trees can increase residential property values by as much as
15 per cent. In Portland, Ore., this was calculated to be worth US$15
million in added property tax revenue for the city.
Street trees also improve physical and mental health. A large tree can
remove up to 25 per cent of nearby airborne fine particulates and gaseous
pollutants emitted by vehicles and buildings. Large mature trees remove 70
times more urban air pollution than the small trees planted to replace
them. Recent findings published in the Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
Journal indicated that across 86 Canadian cities, the combined reduced air
pollution from urban trees saves the health-care system $227 million
annually, avoiding 22,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms.
A Toronto study, Neighbourhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban
Centre, found exposure to trees can be psychologically and physiologically
restorative. The study asked 31,000 residents in different communities to
assess their perceived state of health.
When the data were overlaid on tree maps, they revealed that having 10 or
more mature street trees on a block had the equivalent self-reported health
benefits of feeling seven years younger. People in poorer areas with
plentiful street trees reported health that resembled affluent
neighbourhoods, and those living on wealthier streets without trees
reported health like that of people in poorer areas.
As trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere, they can play an important role
in reducing a city’s contribution to climate change. Once again, size
matters. As trees age, their climate benefits increase disproportionately,
with as much as 50 per cent of their carbon accumulation occurring in the
last quarter of their lives, and almost three-quarters in the last half.
The cooling effect of shade trees also reduces the energy requirements for
the air-conditioning of buildings, which in turn reduces GHG emissions. A
study by the City of Sacramento determined that large street trees can
reduce summertime energy use by as much as 35 per cent, twice as much as
medium-sized trees, with small trees having very little effect.
With climate change increasing the frequency of high-volume stormwater
events, street trees are playing a more important role managing runoff and
relieving pressure on municipal infrastructure.
Large street trees can absorb as much as 60 per cent of the water in a
rainfall, with capacity being directly related to the size of the tree’s
canopy and root system. Losing our large trees would likely have
catastrophic effects on Winnipeg’s combined sewer system — pipes that
collect both raw sewage and rainfall, with a replacement cost pegged at
more than $4 billion.
Winnipeg without its majestic street tree canopy is difficult to imagine.
The economic, social and environmental impact would be devastating. The
battle to preserve as many large old trees as possible, and to replace the
ones that are lost, will take a significantly increased commitment from
private citizens and all levels of government.
Their benefits show that a city’s trees are not merely leafy decoration,
but should be considered an essential piece of urban infrastructure, no
less valuable than roads, sidewalks and sewer lines.
*Brent Bellamy is a senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural
Group.*
*City council passes budget with 11-5 vote*
[Note: see highlighted text below]
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/city-council-passes-budget-with-11-5-vote-1.434…
With spring on the horizon, Winnipeg driver Armond Eaglestick says his
street is showing signs of wear and tear.
"There's a lot of potholes," said Eaglestick.
He says Winnipeg streets aren't doing his truck any favours.
The shocks are always going, you got to pay you know shocks and tires,
sometimes they pop," said Eaglestick.
Winnipeg city council passed the 2019 budget by an 11 to 5 vote, but there
was no last minute money added to fix residential streets.
The outcome came in spite of lobbying efforts from the Manitoba Heavy
Construction Association and others to find some cash.
"This year you wiped out all significant work on neighbourhood streets,"
said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.
Because of a $40 million funding dispute with the province, the city says
it was forced to chop the local roads budget this year. Fifty-three street
and lane projects fell by the wayside, even though homeowners are paying
more in taxes.
"This was I believe a fiscally responsible reaction to the shortfall," said
Mayor Brian Bowman.
Prior to the budget vote, councillors Ross Eadie and Jason Schreyer tabled
a motion to borrow $10 million this year to reconstruct some of those roads.
"There is an expectation on our residents that they actually see some work
this year," said Eadie.
Council voted against that plan.
"I for one do not believe it is appropriate to pull out the city's credit
card to make Winnipeg taxpayers pay the province's bill," said Scott
Gillingham, chair of city council’s finance committee.
But all might not be lost for the city's residential roads. The Trudeau
government's federal budget this week contained a pledge to double gas tax
revenues.
Winnipeg's share comes out to around $40 million.
"You know local roads could be one area for consideration by council, there
could other things, active transportation,” said Bowman.
Mayor Brian Bowman says it's unclear when that money could flow.
Armond Eaglestick says the sooner the better.
"You can't really drive anywhere you have to dodge the holes and
everything," said Eaglestick.
*Family suffers ‘profound shock’; mother recovers in hospital*
* Newcomer girl, 4, hit at crosswalk dies *
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/girl-4-struck-by-vehicle-at-crosswa…
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl who was struck by a vehicle at a Winnipeg crosswalk
Monday has died.
The girl, named Galila, recently arrived in Canada from Eritrea with her
parents and six-year-old brother. She died at the Health Sciences Centre,
where she and her mother, who was also hit by the vehicle as they crossed
Isabel Street at Alexander Avenue, had been listed in critical condition.
“It’s a profound shock,” said family spokeswoman Dorota Blumczynska, who
was at the hospital late Tuesday to console the child’s father.
“Everything has happened so quickly,” said the executive director of the
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM), which
runs the transitional housing complex on Isabel Street where the family
lives.
“The family has continued to ask for privacy.”
On Monday, just before noon, Galila and her mother — identified Wednesday
by Blumczynska as Genet Bruk — were walking to pick up Galila’s
six-year-old brother, Lamek, at Dufferin School. The pair was hit by a
northbound vehicle at the crosswalk.
Police have not released more details about the incident, other than that
Galila died as a result of her injuries.
Blumczynska said Bruk remains in hospital in stable condition. Her husband,
Rezene Bruk, was there when his daughter died Tuesday evening, she said.
“Now he has to direct his energy to his wife,” said an emotional
Blumczynska, after she and other IRCOM staff held a vigil at the hospital
with the Bruks until the early hours Wednesday.
The couple is in the early stages of learning English and an interpreter is
helping them through the complex medical information at HSC. The language
of grief, however, is painfully simple.
“The father and I exchanged some words of profound sadness,” Blumczynska
said through tears.
“The mom needs to fully recover and it will be a long journey for her...
She and her husband and son need our continued prayers and love and support
to make it through this.”
Galila’s death echoes a similar tragedy in the city, a little more than a
year ago.
In February 2018, eight-year-old Surafiel Musse Tesfamariam was on his way
to École Varennes with his mother, when he was hit and killed by a vehicle
at a crosswalk on St. Anne’s Road.
After Surafiel’s death, St. Vital residents pushed for greater safety at
the crosswalk, Coun. Brian Mayes said.
“I got more calls and emails on this than anything,” he said. “It was
upsetting for the whole community.”
In May, city councillors on the public works committee unanimously approved
an administration plan for the installation of eye-level, flashing warning
lights at the St. Anne’s Road crosswalk. Tree branches that could obscure
the existing flashing amber lights at the crossing were pruned to improve
visibility. The cost was roughly $25,000.
“I think it improves visibility,” the councillor for St. Vital said, adding
he would like to see more crosswalks get beefed-up warning lights.
“Anecdotally, people have been positive about it,” said Mayes, who is
waiting for a formal report on the effect of the improvements at the St.
Anne’s Road crosswalk.
Manitoba Public Insurance’s more recent statistics show the number of
pedestrians hit by vehicles has gone up. MPI doesn’t have specific
crosswalk data, but its 2017 report shows 179 people were killed or injured
that year — an involvement rate of 13.2 per 100,000 people, compared with
an average of 11.4 per 100,000 from 2012 to 2016.
Most pedestrians in Manitoba were hit on a weekday (82 per cent) and
between noon and 6 p.m. Almost half (41 per cent) were hit at an
intersection and had the right of way.
Manitobans ages 55 to 64 had the highest rate of being hit and killed, MPI
numbers show.
Children under the age of 10 had the lowest rate of pedestrian deaths and
injuries in Manitoba. Their deaths, understandably, often prompt the
biggest response, Mayes said.
“When a child is killed, people want action,” the councillor said.
In April, the city’s Riel community committee will consider a request from
Surafiel’s mother to put an honorary street name topper on the sign at the
corner where he died. The blue sign would say “Surafiel,” Mayes said.
He said he’ll vote to approve the sign staying up for 10 years.
carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca
*Pedestrian death, injuries put renewed focus on road design and safety*
*Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says the city is following a plan to reduce
collisions*
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-safety-vision-zero-1.506…
The death of a four-year-old girl after she and her mother were hit by a
vehicle in a crosswalk on Monday has put renewed focus on pedestrian safety
in Winnipeg.
Some people, including Coun. Janice Lukes, have called on the city to adopt
a concept called Vision Zero. Developed in Sweden, it aims to change
infrastructure and road design to reduce the number of serious injuries and
fatalities from motor vehicle accidents, with the aim of zero injuries and
fatalities from car collisions.
Edmonton adopted the strategy in 2016 and has seen a reduction in the
number of people hurt and killed on their streets.
"We feel we've been very fortunate over the last three years," said Gerry
Shimko, executive director of Edmonton's office of traffic safety.
Serious injuries have gone down 17 per cent, from 385 people hospitalized
in 2015 to 319 last year. Pedestrian injuries are down 21 per cent, cyclist
injuries are down 29 per cent and motorcycle injuries 26 per cent over the
last three years, Shimko said.
"So it's all trending in the right direction," he said.
Changes under the program include narrowing roadways so drivers don't feel
like they can speed through, and setting speed limits at 40 km/h in some
communities.
The strategy also proposes raising crosswalks to encourage drivers to slow
down, and putting in curb extensions to reduce the distance pedestrians
have to cross,
"One of the primary focuses is to really look at identifying where
your high-risk locations are for fatalities and serious injuries," he said.
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says the city's road safety improvement efforts
are following a plan adopted by the federal government called Towards Zero.
"That's been incorporated and has been demonstrating, notwithstanding the
fact that accidents are still going to happen, is still demonstrating some
good, positive successes," Bowman said.
The four-year-old girl and her mother — newcomers to Canada — were
hit while in a crosswalk at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue around noon
Monday.
On Wednesday, a pedestrian was taken to hospital in critical condition
after being hit on Osborne Street near Morley Avenue and Bartlet Avenue.
Bowman said he's committed to discussing ways to improve safety for
pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the city.
Shimko said anyone interested in learning from Edmonton's experience is
welcome to visit.
"At the end of the day we believe that everybody's family should leave and
come home safely."
Got bikes that are just sitting around collecting dust. The WRENCH needs
bikes. We are critically short. Please help if you can.
Oh and if you would like to support the WRENCH while enjoying a cold beer,
Barn Hammer Brewing Company is having their monthly Barn Raising in support
of the WRENCH tomorrow. See details here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/419737035440805/
Thanks
Dave
o
_ ( \ _
(X)\ /(X)
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Wrench Volunteer Coordinator <wrenchvolunteer(a)gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 12:09 PM
Subject: Got unwanted bikes? We need 'em for spring programming!
To:
*The WRENCH needs your help* to ensure that children and families across
the city can experience their summer by bike!
During the snowy months bike donations slow down drastically but WRENCH
programming keeps going strong all winter long. In fact we are doing more
youth programming and giving out more bikes to community organizations &
schools than ever before!
Yes it is a very exciting time at The WRENCH, but the challenging situation
is that now that spring is in the air our bike stock is critically low
while demand is rising.
*Support vital bike programming in your community by dropping off your
unwanted bicycles and parts at any 4R Winnipeg Depot
<https://winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/recycle/4rdepots/>today!*
[image: WRENCH needs bikes square.jpg]
*(Incase you can't see the above image...) Please bring your donations
here:*
1) Brady 4R Winnipeg Depot 1777 Brady Road, south of the Perimeter Highway
Weekdays 8am – 8pm. Weekends 9am – 5pm.
2) Pacific 4R Winnipeg Depot 1120 Pacific Avenue
Weekdays (except Wednesday) 10 am – 6 pm. Weekends 9 am – 5 pm.
3) Panet 4R Winnipeg Depot 429 Panet Rd
Weekdays (except Wednesday) 10 am – 6 pm. Weekends 9 am – 5 pm.
4) The WRENCH 1057 Logan, basement of the Animal Services building
Thursdays Noon – 5:30 pm. Saturdays 2 pm – 4:30 pm.
*For further information on bike donations, email: resource(a)thewrench.ca
<resource(a)thewrench.ca> *
City of Winnipeg seeks public input for two transit projects
Released: 4:08 p.m. March 15, 2019
https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2019/nr_20190315.stm#2
The City of Winnipeg is kicking off two major transit projects today and
inviting Winnipeggers to share their input over the next month.
*Winnipeg Transit Master Plan*
The City wants to hear from Winnipeggers about the future of our transit
system to help shape the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan. The Winnipeg Transit
Master Plan is a 25-year plan that will cover all aspects of the transit
system – Transit, Rapid Transit, and Transit Plus (formerly Handi-Transit)
service and infrastructure.
“We expect Winnipeg to be home to nearly one million people within the next
25 years and our transit system needs to grow along with the city,” said
Kevin Sturgeon, Senior Transit Planner. “This project will give us an
opportunity to talk to Winnipeggers about what’s important to them in a
transit system for the future.”
In the first phase of public engagement, the project team will talk to
Winnipeggers about how they currently use transit services, what is
important to them, and what they would like to see in the future. The
information gathered will be presented in a report that identifies key
areas of study for the Transit Master Plan project.
>From March 15 to April 20, Winnipeggers are invited to provide input
online, by email at: transitmasterplan(a)winnipeg.ca, or in person at one of
five open houses, or at one of six pop-up events throughout the city.
*Open house details:*
*Date*
*Time*
*Location*
April 9, 2019
3:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m.
South Winnipeg Community Centre – Waverley Site
1885 Chancellor Dr. <https://goo.gl/maps/PD4JyJTfZvv>
April 10, 2019
4 p.m to 8 p.m.
Transcona East End Community Centre
517 Pandora Ave E. <https://goo.gl/maps/srNK8zHQGLQ2>
April 11, 2019
4 p.m to 8 p.m.
Seven Oaks Arena
745 Kingsbury Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/h6ZYjqQxd2x>
April 16, 2019
4 p.m to 8 p.m.
Sturgeon Heights Community Centre
210 Rita St. <https://goo.gl/maps/u1PfvJALXtC2>
April 17, 2019
4 p.m to 8 p.m.
Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain
340 Provencher Blvd. <https://goo.gl/maps/T2WnpRWLDTE2>
*Pop-up details:*
*Date*
*Time*
*Location*
April 4, 2019
10 a.m to 1 p.m.
Charleswood Library
4910 Roblin Blvd.
<https://www.google.com/maps/place/4910+Roblin+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3R+0G7/@4…>
April 5, 2019
10 a.m to 1 p.m.
Windsor Park Library
1195 Archibald St. <https://goo.gl/maps/Fuiv2rbB2nq>
April 6, 2019
10 a.m to 1 p.m.
St. Norbert Farmers Market
3514 Pembina Hwy. <https://goo.gl/maps/UbGuLwQbQfG2>
April 8, 2019
4 p.m to 7 p.m.
Elmwood Kildonans Pool
909 Concordia Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/tcjySn5Jm892>
April 12, 2019
11 a.m to 2 p.m.
Merchants Corner
541 Selkirk Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/iGgud4SECNx>
April 13, 2019
1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
Lindenwoods Community Centre
414 Lindenwood Dr. W. <https://goo.gl/maps/NvQ7U4KPDnM2>
Work on the Transit Master Plan will continue throughout the year, with an
anticipated completion date in 2020.
For more information on the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan, please visit:
winnipeg.ca/transitmasterplan.
*Southwest Rapid Transitway Route Planning*
Winnipeg Transit is proposing improvements to bus routes in southwest
Winnipeg to coincide with the opening of the Southwest Transitway (Stage 2)
in spring 2020, including a new spine and feeder network, subject to
Council approval.
The implementation of the proposed new routes using a spine and feeder
network will ensure optimal use of Winnipeg Transit’s resources so that it
can improve the delivery of efficient, fast, and reliable transit service
for residents in the southwest of the City.
The proposed network changes include a central spine, with feeder routes.
The proposed BLUE Line is the backbone of the Southwest Transitway,
providing frequent high-speed service between Downtown, the University of
Manitoba and St. Norbert. Short routes will connect neighborhoods in
southwest Winnipeg to the transitway but will not operate on the transitway.
A mobile Ideas in Motion bus will be popping up in communities throughout
southwest Winnipeg in early April where residents will have an opportunity
to learn more about the proposed system and route changes, and share their
input with the project team in person. An online survey
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSZXQ9R> is also available on the project
website until April 15, 2019.
*Date*
*Time*
*Location*
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
12 p.m to 2:30 p.m.
University of Manitoba Station
Dafoe Rd. @ Gillson St.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Dafoe+Rd+W+%26+Gillson+St,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3…>
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
3:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m.
Osborne Junction Bus Loop
Pembina Hwy. @ Osborne St.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Southbound+Pembina+at+Osborne+Junction/@49…>
Thursday, April 4, 2019
2:15 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
University of Manitoba Station
Dafoe Rd. @ Gillson St.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Dafoe+Rd+W+%26+Gillson+St,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3…>
Saturday, April 6, 2019
11 a.m to 1 p.m.
St. Norbert Farmers’ Market
Eagles Club, 3459 Pembina Hwy.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Eagles+Club+No+3870/@49.7678078,-97.156272…>
Saturday, April 6, 2019
2 p.m to 4 p.m.
Bridgwater Centre
Exact location to be determined
Monday, April 8, 2019
3 p.m to 5 p.m.
South Pointe School
615 Kirkbridge Dr.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/South+Pointe+School+%2F+%C3%89cole+South+P…>
Monday, April 8, 2019
6 p.m to 8 p.m.
Kenaston Common
1665 Kenaston Blvd.
<https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Northbound+Kenaston+at+Wal-Mart/@49.822787…>
(Walmart parking lot)
[image: Ideas in Motion Bus Promo Picture 2]
Input gathered throughout the public engagement process will help further
refine the proposed route improvements before recommending changes to
Council for its approval in advance of the opening of the second stage of
the Southwest Transitway.
For more information on the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) project,
please visit winnipeg.ca/southwestrapidtransitway
<https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2019/nr_20190315.stm#2>.
Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of
the recorded February APBP webinar in the EcoCentre
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…>
boardroom.
This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay.
cheers,
Beth
*AT Webinar: Wed, March 20th, 2-3pm*
Navigating without curbs: Accessibility on shared streets
Shared streets are becoming a common Placemaking tool for our communities.
Creating streets where the curbs are removed in favor of low-speed and
vibrant shared spaces creates challenges for users who have vision
impairment, both in terms of identifying conflicts with other users and
navigating a corridor with minimally defined edges. This webinar will
explore the latest guidance in addressing the needs of persons with no or
low vision in shared streets and plazas.
Presenters:
- James Elliott, Toole Design
- Elizabeth Hilton, Federal Highway Administration, Office of
Infrastructure
- Dylan Passmore, City of Vancouver
- Janet Barlow, Accessible Design for the Blind
--
Beth McKechnie* | *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your green living hub
Support our work by becoming a member
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at
CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>
<http://www.gomanitoba.ca>