Portage and Main study moves forward By Joyanne Pursaga http://www.winnipegsun.com/joyannepursaga, Winnipeg Sun

First posted: Friday, April 10, 2015 03:17 PM CDT

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/04/10/portage-and-main-study-moves-forward

A city committee has taken a step to ensure pedestrian access at Portage Avenue and Main Street continues well beyond the occasional hockey celebration.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said the fact fans flocked to the iconic intersection Thursday night to celebrate the Winnipeg Jets' playoff berth highlights its significance.

"People went down to Portage and Main to celebrate, which, I think, shows you that even when you close something for 35 years, people will not forget that's a place for people," said Gerbasi.

Winnipeg's most famous intersection is closed to foot traffic due to a 40-year agreement with property owners of an underground shopping mall at the site. But that contract expires in 2019 and Mayor Brian Bowman has pledged to re-open the intersection to pedestrians.

The downtown development motion would direct city staff to lay out guidelines for a full traffic study and determine any other steps needed to allow the change. It still requires full council approval.

The committee also received confidential legal advice on the matter, which didn't appear to impede further work toward the alteration.

"We didn't hear anything that would cause us to stop a study," said Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), the committee's chair.

Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) cast the sole opposing vote to the motion, fearing it would cause traffic woes.

"Certain parts of our traffic network, key arterial routes, go through our downtown and I think opening it up to pedestrians would be a detriment to that flow," said Browaty.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca