January 2010 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Public Consultations for AT infrastructure ... and more
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '10

25 Jan '10

From: Bike to the Future <admin(a)biketothefuture.org> Sent: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:57:39 -0600 Subject: [Bike to the Future] Public Consultations for AT infrastructure ... and more Public Consultations for AT infrastructure In December 2009, Winnipeg City Council approved $20.4 million in capital funding to support an extensive active transportation network throughout the city. The funding comes from the three levels of government. This active transportation program involves the creation of 35 projects that range from multi-use pathways to bike boulevards. It is critical that the infrastructure is built to the highest standards possible, and that it is built for everyone to access. 5 public consultation drop-in sessions have been scheduled during the next 11 days. Bike to the Future will be formally submitting input, but it is vital that the City receives as much public input from cyclists as possible. We've been assured the input will be heard. * Fort Rouge / River Heights routes: Saturday January 30th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Earl Grey Community Centre, 360 Cockburn Street North * Yellow Ribbon Trail connection to the east: Tuesday February 2nd from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Silver Heights Community Centre, 2080 Ness Ave * Sherbrook / Maryland South: Wednesday February 3rd from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Westminster United Church, Maryland St and Westminster Ave * Sherbrook / Maryland North: Thursday February 4th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at St Matthews Anglican Church, Maryland St and St. Matthews Ave * Berry / Ferry: Thursday February 4th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Bourkevale Community Centre, 100 Ferry Road More info is at http://biketothefuture.org under Upcoming Events. More public consultation drop-in sessions will be announced in the very near future, so please check http://biketothefuture.org for updates. Background: $20million of active transportation infrastructure will be built in Winnipeg in 2010 ___________________________________________ Osborne Bridge Rehabilitation -- Open House Saturday January 30th from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Holy Rosary Church Hall, 510 River Avenue Learn more about the Osborne Bridge rehabilitation. Chat with project representatives, read storyboards, and view the project options and drawings. The City wants to know what you think. More details are at http://biketothefuture.org under Upcoming Events. ___________________________________________ Walking & Cycling Success: Perspectives from communities who are 'building it right' This session was scheduled for this evening (Monday January 25th), but today's winter storm has postponed it to tomorrow evening. * Tuesday January 26th at 6:30 PM at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People building at The Forks In 2010, the City of Winnipeg will be spending $20 million on active transportation infrastructure as a result of Federal Stimulus Funding. Please join us to hear perspectives from Quebec and Minneapolis -- communities who are 'building it right'. Complete info about the evening ___________________________________________ Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Co-Chair http://biketothefuture.org ____________________________________ Bike to the Future -- announcements announce(a)lists.biketothefuture.org http://biketothefuture.org

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RESCHEDULED: 'Building It Right' event has been RESCHEDULED!
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '10

25 Jan '10

From: Building It Right <buildingitright(a)mts.net> Sent: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:20:41 -0600 Subject: RESCHEDULED: 'Building It Right' event has been RESCHEDULED! We are happy to report that the 'Building It Right' event has been rescheduled. Tuesday January 26th, 2010 Manitoba Theatre for Young People building, The Forks 6:30 pm: Registration & refreshments - limited seating. 7:00 pm: Opening remarks from the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg RSVP: BuildingItRight(a)mts.net Limited seating Free: Everyone Welcome! For details, go to http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2010/01/12/walking-cycling-succe… . Thank you - the organizers and sponsors of Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' Organized & sponsored by: Province of Manitoba www.gov.mb.ca The Forks www.theforks.com Winnipeg Trails Association www.WinnipegTrails.ca One Green City www.OneGreenCity.com Supporting Sponsors: City of Winnipeg www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation The Centre for Sustainable Transportation www.centreforsustainabletransportation.org Bike to the Future www.biketothefuture.org Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club www.prairiepathfinders.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Manitoba Cycling Association www.cycling.mb.ca Refreshment Sponsors: Marr Consulting www.marrcc.com Stantec www.stantec.com

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CANCELLED: Tonight's 'Building it right' event has been CANCELLED !
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '10

25 Jan '10

If you are registered for tonight's "Building it Right" session at The Forks, please note that it has been cancelled due to the weather (see below). Stay tuned for a possible rescheduling for Tuesday evening. ---------- Forwarded Message ----------- From: Building It Right <buildingitright(a)mts.net> To: <buildingitright(a)mts.net> Sent: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:38:27 -0600 Subject: CANCELLED: Tonight's 'Building it right' event has been CANCELLED ! Due to weather, tonight's 'building it right' event has been cancelled. In light of the fantastic response, we are very optimistic that we'll be able to reschedule the event for tomorrow evening. Please stay tuned. Thank you - the organizers and sponsors of Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' Organized & sponsored by: Province of Manitoba www.gov.mb.ca The Forks www.theforks.com Winnipeg Trails Association www.WinnipegTrails.ca One Green City www.OneGreenCity.com Supporting Sponsors: City of Winnipeg www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation The Centre for Sustainable Transportation www.centreforsustainabletransportation.org Bike to the Future www.biketothefuture.org Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club www.prairiepathfinders.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Manitoba Cycling Association www.cycling.mb.ca Refreshment Sponsors: Marr Consulting www.marrcc.com Stantec www.stantec.com

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Active & Green Winter 2010
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Welcome to the Winter 2010 issue of Active and Green! We hope you will share it widely with co-workers, colleagues, family and friends. The newsletter can also be downloaded as a pdf file: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Winter%202010… Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Invitation Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' January 25 2010
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jan '10

13 Jan '10

Message----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Lukes Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 6:33 AM Subject: Invitation Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' January 25 2010 Hi all - A SUPER event to attend - please share with your members and ANYONE interested. Limited seating - we are expecting a very good turnout. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Walking & Cycling Success: Perspectives from communities who are 'building it right' As Manitoba positions to spend unprecedented funding on walking and cycling routes - please join us to hear perspectives from Quebec and Minneapolis communities who are 'building it right'. Monday January 25th, 2010 The Forks Food Court area, The Forks (Use entrance beside Pancake House) 6:30 pm: Registration & refreshments - limited seating. 7:00 pm: Opening remarks from the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg RSVP: BuildingItRight(a)mts.net Limited seating Visionary visual presentation by Anders Swanson, visual artist, global cycling advocate & recipient of Manitoba Eco-Networks' Environmental Award 2009. Province of Quebec: Celebrating 40 years of building 4,000+ km of bikeways in the Province Marc Jolicouer: Marc Jolicoeur has been research coordinator at Vélo Québec since 1995. Author of the Technical Handbook of Bikeway Design, he has served on numerous committees on bikeway safety and standards. He also coordinates technical support for the development of the Route Verte bicycle network. A professional engineer, he has been involved in transportation for over 15 years. An avid cyclist since childhood, he is a regular bicycle commuter in Montréal. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Recognized as one of the top 5 cycling cities in the U.S.A Jay Walljasper: Jay Walljasper, author of the Great Neighborhood Book, chronicles stories from around the world about how citizens and public officials are rolling up their sleeves to improve their communities. A year-round bike commuter in Minneapolis, he is an authority on livable communities and sustainable transportation initiatives. He is a senior fellow at Project for Public Spaces, a New York-based organization; a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine; and editor of OnTheCommons.org. As a social observer, he has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio and the Toronto Star. * * * * * * * Organized & sponsored by: Province of Manitoba www.gov.mb.ca The Forks www.theforks.com Winnipeg Trails Association www.WinnipegTrails.ca One Green City www.OneGreenCity.com Supporting Sponsors: City of Winnipeg www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/ The Centre for Sustainable Transportation www.centreforsustainabletransportation.org Bike to the Future www.biketothefuture.org Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club www.prairiepathfinders.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Manitoba Cycling Association www.cycling.mb.ca Refreshment Sponsors: Marr Consulting Stantec

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WFP: New Disraeli plan satisfies drivers, cyclists (Jan.12'10) plus press release
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jan '10

12 Jan '10

Local New Disraeli plan satisfies drivers, cyclistsClosure avoided; bike, foot traffic to get own span By: Bartley Kives NORTHEAST Winnipeg motorists and cyclists both got what they want from the final design for a rehabilitated Disraeli Freeway: No extended closures during the construction period and a bike-and-pedestrian bridge that doesn't require a detour.The Disraeli Bridge over the Red River will be replaced by a brand-new, four-lane vehicle bridge with a sidewalk and a separate, lower span for bikes and pedestrians, the city announced on Monday, as it unveiled the configuration for the rehabilitation of the 1.1-kilometre Disraeli Freeway, which connects downtown to Elmwood. Motorists will be able to use the existing Disraeli Freeway during the construction of a new vehicle bridge over the Red as well as a new vehicle overpass above the CPR Keewatin line in Point Douglas. The new design replaces a previous rehabilitation plan that would have seen the busiest link between downtown and northeast Winnipeg closed for about 16 months. Northeast Winnipeg residents resented the proposed closing, while cyclists were annoyed by a plan to build a separate active-transportation span three blocks to the east. The new design was commissioned this fall, after the Manitoba government pledged to spend an additional $53.3 million on the Disraeli Freeway rehabilitation, effectively increasing the budget to around $195 million. City officials then asked three private construction consortia to come up with creative ways to spend that money. "We said, 'This is what our budget is; you guys come forward with the best possible solution,' " said Henry Hunter, the city's procurement manager on major projects. Winnipeg wound up choosing a design by a group called Plenary Roads Winnipeg, comprised of financier Plenary Group, PCL Constructors, Wardrop Engineering, Stantec Consulting and Borland Construction. Plenary Roads' design calls for a new Disraeli rail overpass to rise to the east of the existing overpass, while a new Disraeli Bridge will be built to the west of the existing span over the river. Piers from the existing bridge will be trimmed down and used for a new bike-and-pedestrian bridge, while roadways in Point Douglas, Elmwood and downtown will be reconfigured to match up to the new curving freeway design, according to a promotional video on the city's website. "Re-using the piers from the river bridge for active transportation is quite innovative," said North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, one of four city councillors who voted against the previous Disraeli plan. The rehabilitation plan remains a public-private partnership. The city plans to borrow money to spend $75 million up front, while the remaining $120 million will be financed by Plenary Roads, which will design and build the new freeway, then maintain it for 30 years. The city will then make service payments to cover both the capital costs and maintenance fees, Hunter said. While the city did not initially intend to build a new vehicle bridge over the Red River, the recession helped make the new design possible within a $195-million budget, Hunter said. "When we originally looked at this project, we were experiencing unprecedented cost escalations," he said, adding construction inflation has since cooled off. Construction on the project will begin in 2011 and likely be completed in 2013. It will take another year to finalize the design and obtain environmental approvals, Hunter said. The existing freeway is safe to use. "If it wasn't safe, it wouldn't be open," he said. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release - Monday, January 11, 2010 Traffic along the Disraeli will Continue to Flow During Construction of the Disraeli Bridges Project Winnipeg, MB. - Winnipeggers will continue to drive over the Disraeli Bridges during construction of the Citys Disraeli Bridges Project under the terms of a proposal submitted by Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the team the City chose today as the projects preferred proponent. The proposed plan will see minimal disruption to motorists and features construction of a new separate Active Transportation (pedestrian/cycling) bridge over the Red River, built alongside a new vehicular bridge, allowing Winnipeggers to use all forms of Active Transportation while crossing the Red River, away from traffic. This was the highest scoring proposal and the best value for money choice in terms of costs and benefits, said Henry Hunter, the City of Winnipegs procurement process Lead for the Disraeli Bridges Project. Key features of the Plenary Roads Winnipeg proposal include: · During construction, traffic along the Disraeli will not be interrupted during peak travel times Mondays to Fridays, with a minimum of four travel lanes being available. · The existing bridges will be replaced with new structures. · The roadway will be realigned, and exits and entrances will be redesigned to allow for smoother traffic and pedestrian flow. · A separate new Active Transportation bridge will be built over the existing river bridge piers, providing an accessible, functional and aesthetically pleasing crossing of the Red River. This dedicated bridge will contribute to the Citys overall Active Transportation network. The Plenary Roads Winnipeg team comprises Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd., PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Wardrop Engineering Inc., Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Borland Construction Inc. The team has global and local experience. The Disraeli Bridges Project follows the design-build-finance-maintain (DBFM) model of procurement. Under this model, the private-sector partner is responsible for all financing, design, construction and maintenance costs during the term of the contract, which in the case of the Disraeli Bridges Project is 30 years. For its part, the City will make a commissioning payment and then annual performance-based service payments to the private-sector partner. The new bridges have a design life of 75 years. The Citys capital budgets have allocated a total of $195 million for the project. This is a preliminary estimate, and the actual amount may change as plans are finalized. The Governments of Canada and Manitoba have also contributed funding towards the Disraeli Bridges Project. The Disraeli Bridges were originally constructed in 1959/60 and have served the City for 50 years. Construction of the new Disraeli Bridges is expected to begin in 2011 following finalization of project agreements, detailed design and environmental approvals. -30- For more information about the Disraeli Bridges Project, visit: http://www.winnipeg.ca/DisraeliBridges

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Free Bicycle Mechanics Course for Teachers
by Stephanie Fulford 08 Jan '10

08 Jan '10

Last minute opportunity - there are a few spots left! Free Bicycle Mechanics Course for Teachers Interested in bike repair? Interested in learning about the basic systems of the bicycle and how to repair and maintain them? The Manitoba Student Transportation Network and Natural Cycle have partnered to offer a free bicycle mechanics course for teachers wanting to develop their repair and bike building skills. This offer is intended to help support the development of bike repair skills, workshops, cycling trips and other activities at YOUR local school or youth organization. We are offering this course free-of-charge because we believe in sustainability, and the bicycle as an efficient and accessible form of transportation for all age-groups and all income levels. So, have fun, and share your passion for bicycles where you can, when you can. Student to instructor ratio is 3:1. If we cannot accommodate everyone, we will keep your name on reference for the next course. DATES: Six consecutive Sundays starting January 17th, 2010 TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (15 hours total) LOCATION: Natural Cycle. Lower Level - 91 Albert Street. Winnipeg. To register, please email <mailto:cycleworks@naturalcycle.ca> cycleworks(a)naturalcycle.ca or call 957-5762 by THIS WEDNESDAY January 13th, 2010. Leave your name, phone number and the name of your school or organization. We will contact you shortly afterwards to confirm enrollment. Thank you! Stephanie Fulford Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3774 Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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