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WFP Analysis: Shared streets create vibrancy (Oct21'19)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Oct '19

21 Oct '19

*Shared streets create vibrancy * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/shared-streets-create-vi… WHEN it comes to moving around our cities, Canadians live in a world of rules — green lights, yellow lights, red lights, speed limits, crosswalks, countdowns, no parking, no stopping, no riding on the sidewalk. All these rules are intended to order pedestrians, drivers and cyclists into individual corridors where each can move with blind obedience to lights and signs. They are designed to keep vehicles moving quickly, and naturally prioritize traffic flow for the largest, fastest and most dangerous road users. Sometimes a street has a different purpose, a different story to tell. Some streets are more importantly a great place than a great connector. To be this, they must be designed first as somewhere to linger, not to move quickly through. A street can be the social and economic heart of its community. Those with a strong sense of place can entice people to the sidewalks and public spaces, key to making urban neighbourhoods attractive places to live, work, shop and socialize. But when vehicle speed is prioritized, these streets feel less safe and become less attractive to sit near, live on or walk along. And as they attract fewer people, the businesses falter, the appeal to new residents decreases and the neighbourhood begins to decline. About 30 years ago, a Dutch traffic engineer named Hans Monderman looked at the design of low-traffic streets and considered ways to prioritize all users equally, to make streets safe, vibrant and attractive places for people. His radical solution was to get rid of the rules completely, calling the idea a “shared street.” Imagine sitting on a bench, enjoying a coffee, and the street in front of you looks more like a public plaza than a road. There are no curbs, and no sidewalks. Spaces are defined with trees, planters, benches and outdoor cafés. The paving pattern on the road surface appears as a single, beautiful piece of public art where parents pushing strollers, people riding bikes and even drivers in slow-moving cars mix seamlessly in a choreographed kaleidoscope of movement. It sounds like a utopian fantasy that would in reality lead to carnage in the streets, like a scene from a Mad Max movie, but shared streets exist around the world. They are counterintuitive and initially almost always met with skepticism, but they often work. In the absence of signage, lights and defined areas for each road user, people rely on social interaction to define their space. Instead of robotically following traffic signals, the natural uncertainty of the environment causes drivers to instinctively slow down (typically to 10 km/h) and become more engaged with other road users. People stop looking at signs and begin looking at each other. A pedestrian makes eye contact with a driver — a nod to go ahead, a wave, and they each proceed. When done successfully, the street becomes a place where everyone is equal, creating a safe and welcoming environment that can transform the character of an entire neighbourhood. Now imagine you are watching this scene in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. Coun. Vivian Santos is hoping this will become reality, recently bringing forward a motion which proposes a pilot project for a shared-streets concept on Bannatyne Avenue and Albert and Arthur streets, adjacent to Old Market Square. The motion was approved to proceed by a public works committee. The idea came out of recent debate about the challenges of incorporating loading zones that are being displaced by bike lanes required to protect cyclists from higher-speed vehicle traffic. The shared-streets concept maintains vehicle access, allowing loading to occur for local businesses, and eliminates the need for bike lanes because of the inherent safety of reduced traffic speeds. The proposal has these pragmatic roots, but it represents a much greater opportunity to introduce a new level of vibrancy to the Exchange District, helping to make it the destination and livable neighbourhood that it has the potential to be. Cities across the world are embracing the idea of shared streets. Most began with similar pilot projects to familiarize people with the idea, and the concept is almost always embraced and expanded. Montreal has now implemented more than seven kilometres of shared and pedestrian streets, and offers financial grants to neighbourhoods wanting to create them across the city. Halifax recently transformed two major downtown routes into shared streets, with great success, creating more people-focused spaces that support the vitality of downtown. The notoriously car-centric city of Auckland, New Zealand, has used the shared-streets idea to transform its city centre into a vibrant, pedestrian- focused neighbourhood. A program was developed in 2011 to implement the strategy, and today seven downtown streets are shared space. The results have been overwhelmingly successful, increasing pedestrian volumes by 54 per cent and consumer spending by 47 per cent, and three-quarters of all property owners claim it has added value to their businesses. The number of vehicles has fallen by 25 per cent, far fewer collisions have occurred and about 80 per cent of people surveyed say they feel safer in the area. Winnipeggers are traditionally resistant to change, but the proposal to implement a shared streets pilot project in the Exchange District is an exciting opportunity to look at how we move through our city in a new way. Back-in diagonal parking was introduced a few years ago, to high levels of public skepticism, but after a pilot program, it has become a successful norm. The physical character of the Exchange is similar to popular shared-street precedents in other cities, and represents an opportunity to create a new type of public space that makes streets safer while supporting businesses and residents. It is a progressive step forward in the goal of redefining our downtown as a vibrant and prosperous place for people. *Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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WFP: WPS official grilled on pedestrian safety (Oct15'19)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Oct '19

15 Oct '19

*Councillors question whether increased traffic revenues sending message to drivers* * WPS official grilled on pedestrian safety * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wps-official-grilled-on-pedestrian-… WHILE A Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) finance manager was bragging about a 22 per cent rise in traffic enforcement revenue, two councillors Friday grilled her over whether police work was making city streets any safer. Tara Holowka told the city’s finance committee that while revenue from photo enforcement was down 10 per cent in 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, revenue from traditional enforcement was up 22 per cent. “So, good news on that side,” she said, adding the number of tickets issued by traffic officers was running 46 per cent ahead of 2018. Councillors Shawn Nason and Markus Chambers both took her to task on the statement. Chambers said the number of pedestrian deaths so far this year is triple for all of last year. “Revenues are up, but I don’t know if it’s keeping the population any safer,” Chambers said. Nason asked how any of her figures was good news. “Are our drivers that bad that we’re catching more?” Nason asked. “Is that a measurement of police issuing more tickets or drivers not getting the message?” Chambers asked. Being a numbers person, Holowka answered the only way she could: “It’s good for revenue.” Manitoba Public Insurance said there have been nine pedestrians killed in vehicle collisions in Winnipeg to the end of September, compared to three for all of 2018. Shawna Curtin, the secretary of the Winnipeg Police Board, told the committee that safety and enforcement were separate issues. “I don’t think we can call ticket revenue a performance measure in terms of safety,” Curtin said. “It’s not good news, necessarily, when revenue goes up, but it is a good news story that people are being sanctioned for poor driving,” Curtin said. “It’s impossible to say if that makes us safer or not,” adding similar public discussions at police board meetings and at city hall are having an effect in the community. “People are paying attention if those sanctions do have some effect.” An administrative report to the committee examining revenue and expenses from all departments shows the city is projecting a year-end deficit of $6.9 million, with the WPS accounting for $1.1 million of that. The WPS’ projected year-end deficit is attributed to the decline in photo enforcement revenue. While the WPS Q2 data shows that revenue from traditional traffic enforcement is up 22 per cent compared to the same time frame in 2018, the actual dollar difference is $230,000; while the 10 per cent decline in photo enforcement revenue is almost twice that amount, $510,000. Nason said police and city officials should focus on school zones that have a high incident of speed violations, bringing in traffic officers to target the bad drivers. “Where are the school zones that kids are being put at risk? That is important community information that we should have readily available to us,” Nason said. Nason said he’s been frustrated in his efforts to get data on speeding violations in school zones in his Transcona ward. He said a request to the public works department for an accounting by individual school zone for 2018 cannot be provided to him until sometime in 2020. “Let’s look at where people aren’t paying attention and just put physical enforcement there on occasion to change behaviours,” Nason said following the meeting. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Cyclist seeks driver who hit him (Oct10'19)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Oct '19

10 Oct '19

*Motorist fled, leaving man with broken arm, leg* * Cyclist seeks driver who hit him * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/badly-injured-cyclist-seeks-driver-… A CYCLIST who was hit from behind by a vehicle in a 90 km/h zone is searching for the motorist who sped away. Jordan Sylvestre was disoriented and in distress after he was knocked off his bicycle during his Tuesday morning commute. In thinking back to the frantic moments that followed, the 34-year-old cyclist remembers one thing for certain — “There were no brake lights,” which showed the driver didn’t slow down after hitting Sylvestre. At 6:12 a.m. on Tuesday, Sylvestre was biking southbound on Pipeline Road, just south of the Perimeter Highway, when he was struck by a vehicle that sped off toward the city. “I was blindsided at about 90 km/h, I should be dead,” he said during a phone interview from his home in West St. Paul on Wednesday. He survived the hit and run, but not without being severely injured. Sylvestre broke his leg and arm and suffered abrasions all over his body. Now, he and his family are searching for the motorist responsible. They only know the person was driving a silver Honda. Pieces of the car, including its right passenger mirror, were scattered on the side of the asphalt road after the incident. “If anybody has seen, in their neighbourhood or in a parkade or at work, a silver Honda that’s missing a passenger mirror, and potentially, likely other damage to the front or side, right corner, alert police,” he said. (Anyone can submit a tip to the Winnipeg Police Service at 204-986-6222 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.) A local police spokesperson said the incident took place outside of its jurisdiction, although Sylvestre said he filed a report with Winnipeg police. WPS did not respond to a followup request. RCMP did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Wednesday. Sylvestre has been commuting to his engineering job in the city from the rural municipality northwest of Winnipeg for about two years. He was wearing a helmet and headlamp and his bike was equipped with a back light. While he has always enjoyed the exercise, he said he might put his bike away after the traumatic incident. “I can only be as safe as the most unsafe driver out there, so I need to figure out, especially now with a young (daughter), whether I want to put myself in that position again,” he said. All collisions are preventable as far as the executive director of Bike Winnipeg is concerned. “I don’t think there’s any way you wouldn’t have seen him, unless you’re really oblivious and texting or something, which is also incredibly dangerous,” Mark Cohoe said. Cohoe said there’s a need for the city and province to recognize that suburban areas require infrastructure that protects all road users, including lower speed limits. “I don’t think I’d want to be passed at 90 km/h on that road,” he said. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie

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WFP Analysis: Pedestrian scrambles would be street smart (Oct9'19)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Oct '19

09 Oct '19

*Pedestrian scrambles would be street smart * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/pedestrian-scrambles-wou… LIKE oil and water, vehicles and pedestrians don’t mix easily. Winnipeg has the death toll to prove it. To improve the chances that pedestrians and cyclists can get home safely, the city recently introduced several proactive measures. Another batch of changes is about to be devised, including the expected introduction of pedestrian scrambles, a measure for which the city’s public works department has high hopes. “We think this will have an effect on removing the conflict between pedestrians and motorists,” David Patman, manager of transportation, said during a recent committee meeting. In theory, pedestrian scrambles are a good concept. Signals stop all vehicular traffic simultaneously, and pedestrians and cyclists safely cross the intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time. The scrambles are being considered by public works as part of something called the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, a blueprint to make Winnipeg roads safer. The city advertised for consultants to help compose the plan and will award the contract on Oct. 29. The city is also considering cameras at more intersections, new flashing countdowns at crosswalks and protected left-turn lanes. These would add to a strategy of big and small changes already completed and obvious to everyone who drives regularly on Winnipeg roads. Small changes include signage warning drivers about high-risk intersections, more “walk” signals that count down the time before the signal turns to “don’t walk,” speed tables that grab the attention of drivers by raising the road surface about eight centimetres for a length of seven metres, and a building spree of 43 new stop signs and 27 new pedestrian crosswalks. Larger changes include expanded bike lanes, with Wolseley and West Broadway likely the next to get better cycling routes. Also, several years ago, 30 km/h speed limits were instituted at 230 school zones. The traffic planners at city hall are doing many things right. The problem is a small but hazardous number of Winnipeg drivers who are distracted, aggressive and feel the rules of the road don’t apply to them. Ten pedestrians have been killed in Winnipeg so far in 2019, which is more than triple the three pedestrians killed last year. And all urban cyclists tell horror stories of getting cut off, edged out or hit by vehicles whose drivers scoff at the notion that bicycles have just as much right to the road as motor vehicles. These dangerous drivers will likely get irate when they experience how scrambles negatively affect vehicle traffic. In scrambles, red lights for vehicles last longer so pedestrians and cyclists in all directions have time to get across. That means lineups of vehicles grow longer, particularly during rush hour. In New York, some scrambles have congested vehicular traffic to the point of gridlock. To anticipate how some drivers will react to scrambles, look at the public opposition when 30 km/h speed limits were instituted around schools several years ago. The purpose was to keep children safe; who could object to that? A small but vocal number of Winnipeg drivers, that’s who. Many publicly expressed vexation when ticketed for speeding through the school zones, even though slowing down would have added only about 10 seconds to their trips. Precedent shows some Winnipeg drivers don’t learn easily. Zipper merging is a good example. Advertising campaigns have tried to teach Winnipeg drivers that, when two or more lanes of traffic approach a bottleneck, drivers from each lane are supposed to take turns entering the gap, like a zipper. There’s lots of opportunity to practise these days on the many Winnipeg streets where lanes suddenly end because of construction. But many inconsiderate drivers defend their position in line by blocking others from entering ahead of them. When these same drivers encounter scrambles, some will get clench-jawed angry that their routes have been slowed considerably for the convenience of pedestrians and cyclists. It won’t do any good to tell these drivers they should commend, not condemn, their fellow Winnipeggers who walk and cycle to benefit the environment and their personal health. In Winnipeg, the car culture rules. People choose retail and recreational outings based on the availability of parking, fast-food restaurants find great success by serving diners in their vehicles and zoning bylaws let downtown be dominated by ugly parking lots. It’s not wrong to enjoy our vehicles. But it is wrong for drivers of vehicles to endanger the smart people whose transportation choices include a bicycle or sturdy walking shoes. The angry drivers will just have to live with it as pedestrians and cyclists are prioritized. Scrambles are one more way Winnipeg’s traffic scene is heading in the right direction. *Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.* carl.degurse(a)freepress.mb.ca

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AT Webinar: Estimating Demand for Biking and Walking, Oct 16th, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '19

08 Oct '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly 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. Wed, October 16th, 2-3pm If We Build it, Will They Come? Estimating Demand for Biking and Walking It is an age-old question: How do we make the case for investing in bicycling and walking without solid evidence that the results will pay off? This webinar will explore traditional methods, as well as emerging practices for estimating demand and benefits of bicycling and walking. Presenters: - Summer Jawson, PE, Seattle Department of Transportation - Farnaz Sadeghpour, Ph.D., University of Calgary

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FYI New Zealand: Factors Affecting Cycling Levels of Service
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 08 Oct '19

08 Oct '19

[http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=viewthispdf]<https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/reports/660/660-Factors-…> [http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=sponsorbeta]<http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/179712.aspx> [http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=buythisbook]<https://www.mytrb.org/Store/Product.aspx?ID=> Factors Affecting Cycling Levels of Service https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/reports/660/660-Factors-… 179712 Factors Affecting Cycling Levels of Service New Zealand cyclists' perception of levels of service is explored in a report<https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/reports/660/660-Factors-…> from the New Zealand Transport Agency. The goal of this report is to provide a user-centered approach to assess existing and proposed facilities that would enable better-informed decisions about cycling levels of service to plan and design bicycle facilities in New Zealand. HAPPY TRAILS Terry Zdan BA MEDes

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FYI Why Don’t Women Cycle? A Case Study of Women’s Perceptions of Cycling in San Francisco
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 08 Oct '19

08 Oct '19

Why Don’t Women Cycle? A Case Study of Women’s Perceptions of Cycling in San Francisco<https://odlinks.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTM1NjEyM…> [http://apps.trb.org/images/enewsletter/blank.png]<https://odlinks.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTM1NjEyM…> Women’s perceptions about bicycling in San Francisco are explored in a report<%20https:/safetrec.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/whydontwomencycle_9.3_v2.pdf> from SafeTREC at the University of California at Berkeley. Actual safety and women’s perceptions of it may play significant roles in whether or not they choose to bicycle in urban areas. HAPPY TRAILS Terry Zdan BA MEDes

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20mph zones effective in reducing road casualties
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 07 Oct '19

07 Oct '19

UK researchers show 20mph zones effective in reducing road casualties<https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/10/20191007-20mph.html> 07 October 2019<https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/10/20191007-20mph.html> A review of published evidence by a team of researchers in the UK has found<https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/Allnews/QueensUniversityBelfastresearchersshow20…> 20mph zones to be effective in reducing the number and severity of traffic collisions and casualties. The research, published in the Journal of Transport and Health provides important evidence to support the implementation of 20mph speed zones across the UK and Europe. The research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is part of the largest and most comprehensive study to date into the effects of 20mph speed limits and speed zones to be undertaken in the UK. HAPPY TRAILS Terry Zdan BA MEDes

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WFP: Transit corridor well on track, under budget (Oct2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Oct '19

02 Oct '19

*Transit corridor well on track, under budget * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/transit-corridor-well-on-track-unde… THE southwest transit corridor will be finished eight weeks ahead of schedule, with another $40-million reduction in cost. Councillors on the public works committee were told Tuesday the revised cost is now expected to be $420 million. It was originally set at $589 million. “We’re well under budget and well ahead of schedule,” said Dave Wardrop, the city’s chief transportation and utilities officer. Work on the corridor was scheduled to be substantially complete by the end of the year, and transit service, following several months of driver training, was to begin in April. Wardrop said the active transportation (pedestrian and cycling paths) along the corridor will be open later this month, but the city will not implement transit service until April, to coincide with the start of Transit’s spring bus schedule. Based on figures Wardrop provided to the committee, the city’s share of the project is expected to decline from the original $225 million to between $160 million and $165 million. The provincial share will match the city’s contribution. Wardrop said the federal government’s share of the project will be in the range of $90 million to $100 million. The project’s original cost was reduced by $120 million after the design and construction contract was awarded to the winning consortium, which developed the lower cost estimates. As a result of a motion from Coun. Janice Lukes and the Assiniboia community committee, the administration will be directed to produce an annual report measuring and assessing the value-for-money benefits of the new corridor. Lukes told the committee that the public needs to know the benefits promised with the corridor are actually being realized once it’s put into service. “We need to see data and information and reports... I want the public to see the positive impacts that this almost$500-million investment is making in the city of Winnipeg,” Lukes said. “If we’re going to go forward on more rapid transit corridors, we need to really have a clear understanding how this thing is working and the benefits it brings.” Lukes said the annual reports should clearly demonstrate how the corridor is meeting expectations in terms of ridership, reduced traffic congestion and improved transit service. Lukes also wants to see pedestrian and cycling path linkages to the corridor on a regular basis in future years. “If we don’t see amazing results from a $500-million infrastructure investment, how are we going to convince other people that we should be doing this elsewhere?” Ribbon cutting on the Jubilee/Pembina underpass was held on Sept. 27. Wardrop said all concrete pouring has been completed on the corridor and landscaping work is underway. Other project milestones reached in the project include: ● paint markings and signage on the corridor; ● painting and signage on the active transportation pathway along the corridor; ● and shelter installations at all seven stations. Most of the recent project savings are the result of unspent contingency funding, Wardrop said, but he added contingency dollars are being retained in the budget to deal with unexpected property acquisition costs and potential contractor disputes. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Shared-street concept proposed for Exchange District pilot project (Oct2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Oct '19

02 Oct '19

*Shared-street concept proposed for Exchange District pilot project * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/committee-backs-study-of-shared-str… COUN. Vivian Santos is proposing an experimental street concept for areas of the Exchange District, after the public works department narrowed a portion of a sidewalk along Main Street. Santos said she’s unhappy with the decision by the department to alter the sidewalk on the west side of Main at Bannatyne Avenue, and said the city needs to find an alternative way to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. “I was very disappointed with the new loading zone on Main Street. I wanted to find a better solution for the Exchange District area,” Santos said at Tuesday’s public works committee meeting. The sidewalk was narrowed to construct a pedestrian drop-off at the northwest corner for students attending a private music and dance school, the City of Winnipeg administration said. Santos is proposing a “shared-street” concept for three areas of the Exchange, where vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can safely travel. The changes she envisions through the pilot would include a reduced speed limit; allowing pedestrians to cross the street at any point, not just at controlled intersections; and raising the road bed to match the sidewalk, making it easier for pedestrians, including those with physical disabilities, to cross the street at any point. The locations for the trial would be on Albert Street, Arthur Street, and Bannatyne Avenue between Main and King streets. Much of the Exchange District is treated by pedestrians and motorists as a shared street already, she said. “We all know the Exchange District is a pedestrian-friendly area so I feel Winnipeggers (are) ready for this shift. That’s why I’m calling for a pilot project, just to do small steps,” Santos said. “Eliminating the traditional segregation of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can create a shared and more vibrant streetscape.” The committee supported Santos’s proposal for the city to consult with area businesses and residents about the possibility of implementing the shared street concept on a pilot basis. The administration was directed to develop a cost estimate and conceptual design for the committee within six months. Similar configurations have been implemented in pedestrian-popular areas such as Banff, Alta., and Montreal, Santos said. “I have always been a big proponent of making our downtown and Exchange District more pedestrian and cyclist friendly,” she said. “I know that not every other city’s design concept can work in Winnipeg, but I believe this shared-streets concept is a very positive balance that the Exchange District desperately needs to accommodate vehicular traffic, cyclists and pedestrians.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Councillors disappointed with lack of consultation WINNIPEG city councillors renewed their concerns Tuesday over the public works department reducing the width of a portion of the sidewalk along Main Street without informing elected officials. Couns. Jeff Browaty and Vivian Santos said they were disappointed with the department’s decision to dig up the sidewalk on the west side of Main Street at Bannatyne Avenue to accommodate business operators who wanted a drop-off zone for deliveries and clients. “Main Street is one of those streets where there is a lot of pedestrian activity and we need that space,” Browaty said during the public works meeting, adding he doubted during the winter months there would be enough space left for people to walk when snow gets piled up. “It’s simply too narrow for a street like Main Street.” Browaty said wide sidewalks are specifically cited in civic policies as a way to encourage pedestrian activity. “Arbitrarily taking out a sidewalk… is a step backward that shouldn’t have been done bureaucratically,” he said. “It seems surprising that the department has the autonomy and authority to do this without having to consult with the area councillor or having some political direction.” Browaty later told reporters the work shouldn’t have been done without first consulting the ward councillor (Santos) and he didn’t understand the rationale (the building has a parking lot on the north side and there is parking allowed on the west) or how the department was able to pay for the project. “I’m kind of curious how this all came to be,” Browaty said. Santos told reporters she thought the work shouldn’t have been done, adding, however, she understood the department had the authority after council gave blanket approval to a downtown sidewalk enhancement program. “I’m not accepting it. I still feel it’s very disappointing what’s happened here and I wish public works had at least consulted with me,” she said. City officials acknowledged last month they had not advised or consulted with Santos on the project, and promised not to let that happen again. — Aldo Santin

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