Crucial infrastructure projects aren’t financed

Eyebrows raised over what’s not in budget

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/02/08/eyebrows-raised-ov...

THREE major infrastructure projects are notably absent from the City of Winnipeg’s proposed multi-year budget; no funding was earmarked for the now closed Arlington Bridge, Kenaston Boulevard (Route 90) widening or Chief Peguis Trail extension.

That’s despite some councillors and advocates pushing the city to prioritize replacement of the 112-year-old Arlington Bridge, a major connection between the North End and West End over the Canadian Pacific Railway yards.

Funding demands grew louder in November when the city suddenly closed the bridge — even for pedestrians — due to structural concerns.

“We should (have started) funding a replacement (bridge) quite some time ago because we knew it was going to fail,” said Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski), whose ward includes the structure.

Eadie said he would have liked to see the city devote part of the revenue raised from frontage fees, which the previous 2023 budget raised by $1.50 per foot, to start saving for a replacement. A 2018 report suggested a new bridge would cost about $330 million.

Eadie said the bridge is a “critical” link between communities, with emergency response times to some homes likely running longer since its closure.

Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said the loss of the bridge also cut off a key active transportation route. “Realistically, we need to be seeing money to replace the Arlington Bridge to include (new) protected bike lanes … or to see money going into rail relocation (so the bridge is no longer required),” said Cohoe.

While the Chief Peguis, Kenaston and Arlington Bridge projects aren’t financed in the draft 2024 to 2027 budget, it notes Mayor Scott Gillingham promised revenue from the 2023 frontage fee hike could be used for the road projects. That revenue was allocated to general road repairs but would be diverted to Chief Peguis and Kenaston “trade corridor” projects, if federal and/or provincial funding is confirmed.

“Once we’re ready to proceed with Kenaston (that can raise money) to pay for the city’s portion of it,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).

Browaty, who leads council’s finance committee, said unallocated roads funding in the six-year capital plan could also be used.

The proposed municipal budget assumes the province’s strategic infrastructure funding to the City of Winnipeg will remain frozen at $89.8 million each year until 2027, with all the money already allocated to various capital projects.

Ian Bushie, Manitoba’s municipal relations minister, was tight-lipped about a possible increase to the city’s infrastructure funding being included in the NDP’s first budget in the spring.

It will be up to the city to bring forward a proposal that prioritizes the Arlington Bridge and other major capital projects before the provincial government makes any decisions about financial support, said Bushie.

“We’ve had continued… discussions to see how we can best accommodate the City of Winnipeg with their significant challenges,” Bushie said, He said a seven-year freeze on the city’s provincial operating grant under the former Tory government is forcing it to catch up in a lot of areas. “When they bring their priorities to the table, we’re open to having those discussions.”

As for the widening of Kenaston Boulevard and the western extension of the Chief Peguis Trail, Bushie said discussions continue across levels of government.

“I can assure you that we are more than willing to be an advocate and open to those discussions to see how we can best support,” Bushie said.

The mayor plans to wait on the results of business case studies on the feasibility of the Kenaston and Chief Peguis projects before taking further city action.

Browaty noted the city will wait for an ongoing engineering study on Arlington to be finished before deciding its fate. All three studies are expected this year.

If approved, the Chief Peguis Trail extension would stretch from Main Street to Brookside Boulevard and Kenaston Boulevard would be widened to include three lanes in each direction between Ness and Taylor avenues for a combined cost of about $1 billion.

— With files from Danielle Da Silva

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