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

Reminder: Jane's Walks coming to Winnipeg neighbourhoods this weekend
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

Come out to explore Winnipeg neighbourhoods on a Jane's Walk this weekend! The walks are FREE and led by volunteers. Explore Winnipeg's diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods while walking, talking and sharing. Celebrate the legacy of Jane Jacobs - urbanist and author whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Saturday, May 1 * Rapid Transit Walk - 10 a.m. * History Lives in North Point Douglas - 11 a.m. * Downtown: The Heart of the City - Noon * Magical Urban Forest: A Walk in the Bois-Des-Esprits - 12:30 p.m. * The Heart of Fort Rouge: Riverview A Place With it All - 12:30 p.m. * Transcona: From Town to City to Community - 1:00 p.m. Sunday, May 2 * Sharing Cars, Sharing Gardens: Osborne Village - 10:00 a.m. * Downtown: The Heart of the City - Noon * Echoes of Our Past: A Walk Along the Historic Seine River in St. Boniface - 12:30 * Scotia Heights: Unique Places and Play Spaces - 1:00 p.m. * Walking Meditation: Assiniboine Park - 1:30 p.m. * Faith and Service: Churches in an Evolving Urban Neighbourhood (Wolseley) - 2:00 p.m. * A Walk through Old St. Vital - 3:00 p.m. Find all details and descriptions online at http://janeswalk.net/cities/category/winnipeg/. ** Please circulate widely - thanks! **

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New resource - AT and the built environment
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

Hi everyone, In case you haven't seen it yet, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has a new resource called "Shaping Healthy Active Communities" that provides practical advice. It looks at the role of the built environment and people's physical activity levels (including walking and cycling). Here's a snippet: Active, healthy community design strategies - such as good public transit, well-maintained parks, and safe, efficient walking and cycling networks ? make it easier to get the physical activity Canadians need to promote heart health, prevent stroke and maintain a healthy lifestyle. With Canada's high rates of physical inactivity and obesity in adults and children, it is more important than ever to build active, healthy design supports into local environments. Residents and community organizations can play an important role in making this happen. Download it at: http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.5847487/k.2ED3/Healthy_L… cheers, Beth

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Invite: Active School Travel and Risk Management Webinar, May 3, 2:00 p.m. CST
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

***Apologies for Cross Posting*** Please join us for a webinar on Active School Travel and Risk Management Resource Conservation Manitoba will be a participation site for the webinarbelow on Monday, May 3rd from 2-3 pm central. Please join usat our offices 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue; Winnipeg. RSVP to asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca. Alternatively,you can register for the webinar by e-mailing Sandra Jones at scjones(a)telus.net and take part from thecomfort of your own desktop. Participation is free! Enjoy! Ifyou have any questions, please dont hesitate to contact us at 925-3773 or asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca. Cheers, JackieAvent From: Sandra Jones [mailto:scjones@telus.net] Sent: April-12-10 1:43 PM To: Sandra Jones Subject: Invite: Active School Travel and Risk Management Webinar, May3, 3:00 p.m. EST STP facilitators, schoolboard trustees and staff, municipal staff, ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL AND RISKMANAGEMENT Is liability an issue in yourarea? Invite those needing answers to take part in this webinar. This is an opportunity forthose hesitant to fully embrace School Travel Planning due to liabilityconcerns, to hear from both an expert in risk management and a fully engagedSTP school district. How is the liability issue mitigated and school travelplanning made successful? Doug Wyseman of Municipal RiskServices Limited willbe joined by a Halton School District Board member to presenton the important issue of liability. They will be introduced by Jacky Kennedyof Green Communities Canada. The presentations will be followed by anopportunity for questions. This free webinar isscheduled for 90 minutes on Monday May 3 at 3:00 p.m. EST Please register yourself andany colleagues, invited guests, by replying to this email at: scjones(a)telus.net Instructions for joining thisimportant WIMBA webinar will follow. Thank you for your interest,I look forward to your reply. Best wishes, Sandra Sandra Jones School Travel Planning www.saferoutestoschool.ca/schooltravel.asp scjones(a)telus.net T 604.946.1480 C 604.786.0803 JackieAvent Active and Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd Floor - 303 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 (204)925-3773 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and theenvironment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Pleaseconsider making a donation. ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba Tel: (204) 925-3772 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Active Transportation Open Houses
by Erik Dickson 22 Apr '10

22 Apr '10

Hello everyone, Apologies for any cross posting. There are two upcoming Public Open Houses and Community Drop-Ins scheduled as part of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Stimulus Project. For more information regarding the upcoming open houses as well as previous open houses, please visit: http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/HikeIt BikeItLikeIt.asp Public Open House: New Routes in South East Winnipeg: Seine River / Dakota / Dunkirk / Archibald / Lagimodiere / Eugenie Thursday, April 29 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Morrow Gospel Church 755 St. Anne's Road Community Drop-In Workshop: North End Bikeway System Tuesday, May 4 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm William Whyte School 200 Powers Avenue This session is another opportunity to provide input on new AT facilities in the North End. The open house will be drop-in format (come any time between 5:00 and 8:00) but the workshop will follow the schedule: 5:00 pm King / Charles / Flora (King to Selkirk) 5:45 pm Church / Machray (Keewatin to Main) 6:30 pm Manitoba / Pritchard / Flora (Keewatin to Main) 7:15 pm Powers (Sutherland to Leila) If you have any questions please feel free to call me. Have a good day! Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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Jane's Walks - coming to Winnipeg neighbourhoods May 1 & 2
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

Jane's Walk is series of FREE walking tours led by volunteers on the first weekend of May. Explore Winnipeg's diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods while walking, talking and sharing. Celebrate the legacy of Jane Jacobs - urbanist and author whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Find Winnipeg walk times and locations online at www.janeswalk.net . New walks still being added! ** Please circulate widely - thanks! Also, poster attached if you have spots for it in your neighbourhood or workplace. ** cheers, Beth 925-3772

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Active Transportation: What is it? Where do I start? How can I make it work for me? - Friday, April 23
by Deanna Betteridge 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

** Please forward ** Hello, Please join Winnipeg in motion and Kate Dykman from Resource Conservation Manitoba <http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/> to learn more about active transportation - how to get started and how to do more if you are already active. We will discuss tips on how to get started, how to stay safe while walking and cycling in Winnipeg and give an update on all that is new in Active Transportation in Winnipeg. Who should attend? - Recreational walkers, cyclists and other active commuters interested in walking and riding more... to work or to destinations in and around your neighbourhood. When: Friday - April 23, 2010, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. Where: Millennium Library - Carol Shields Auditorium Admission is FREE and registration is NOT required. Contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648 for more details. The first 75 people to attend the session will receive an in motion reflective arm band - enhancing visibility for walkers and cyclists. This session is part of "in motion Fridays", a series of monthly workshops that promote physical activity for better health. The in motion @ the Library series is sponsored by Winnipeg in motion and the Millennium Library. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library> . See you at the library, Deanna ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, BESS, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-940-3264 (w) 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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Webinar invitation - Environmental Measures for Safe Routes to School: Understanding the Basics of Air Pollution
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '10

20 Apr '10

***Apologies for Cross Posting*** Please join us for a webinar on Environmental Measures for Safe Routes to School: Understanding the Basics of Air Pollution Resource Conservation Manitoba will be a participation site for the webinar below on Tuesday, April 27th from 12-1 pm central. Please join us at our offices - 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue; Winnipeg. RSVP to asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca. Alternatively, using the link below you can register for the webinar and take part from the comfort of your own desktop. Participation is free! Enjoy! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at 925-3773 or asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca. Cheers, Jackie Avent Jackie Avent Active and Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd Floor - 303 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 (204) 925-3773 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. From: Michelle Gulley [mailto:mgulley@americawalks.org] Sent: April-20-10 9:48 AM To: asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Subject: Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar - April 27th Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar - April 27 (1pm ET) Environmental Measures for Safe Routes to School: Understanding the Basics of Air Pollution Presenters: Pat Childers, U.S. EPA Dan Powell, Planner, Greenville County Planning Dept. Helping to reduce air pollution is often cited as a reason to walk or bike. However, most of us are unfamiliar with the different types of air pollution and how they affect children compared to adults. In this webinar, Pat Childers, of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will walk us through a basic introduction to the different sources and types of air pollution and how they relate to Safe Routes to School. This basic overview will also teach you how to determine the types of air pollution that are of the greatest concern in your area. Mr. Childers will also discuss various school-related air pollution programs being implemented by EPA. Mr. Childers presentation will be followed by a ten minute overview of the work Dan Powell is doing with schools in the Greenville County area to reduce idling, improve air quality, and increase walking and bicycling to school. Dan will also discuss how to involve students in the process of evaluating air quality changes. This webinar is part of the Safe Routes to School Coaching Action Network Webinar Series, developed by America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School. For more information please contact Michelle Gulley at mgulley(a)americawalks.org REGISTER NOW Forward email This email was sent to asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca by mgulley(a)americawalks.org. Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeT | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by America Walks | 4604 eisenhower avenue | alexandria | VA | 22304

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WFP: Bike-path, walkway boom (Apr.20'10)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '10

20 Apr '10

Winnipeg Free Press Bike-path, walkway boom Cash for active-transportation routes nearly outstrips budget for roads By: Bartley Kives For the first time in Winnipeg's history, the city will spend almost as much money building bike and pedestrian routes this summer as it will fixing local and regional streets. The city plans to stagger the construction of 34 active-transportation projects over the next six months, as engineering and construction firms race to build $20.4 million worth of new bike and pedestrian routes before Halloween. The unprecedented expansion of Winnipeg's active transportation network will add 101 kilometres of new AT routes -- 30 kilometres of dedicated bike and pedestrian paths and 71 kilometres of cycling routes on streets -- to the city's existing network of 274 kilometres. During a regular year, the city only spends $3.25 million to expand its active-transportation network. But the availability of federal infrastructure funds convinced the city and province to shell out more for AT in 2010. Since all the money must be spent by the end of October, the city's public works department and outside consulting firms found themselves under pressure to complete the initial design and engineering work. Construction tenders and the actual work will be staggered between late April and October to prevent any one company from struggling beneath the weight of too much work, active-transportation co-ordinator Kevin Nixon said. Most of the projects will be completed by the deadline, he predicted. But it's unclear what will happen in Omand Park, where opposition from several dozen Wolseley residents scuttled a $1-million bridge over Omand's Creek. Another route planned for Kildare Avenue was moved to Pandora Avenue following consultation with Transcona residents, Nixon said. The city has one more public consultation planned for the project. New routes along the Seine River, Dakota Street, Dunkirk Drive, Eugenie Street, Lagimodiere Boulevard and Archibald Street will be on display at a Morrow Gospel Church open house on April 29. But Winnipeggers may still be unaware some lanes of existing city streets will be converted into bike routes featuring either bike lanes or separated bike boulevards. For example, three or four roundabouts will be placed on Grosvenor Avenue to calm traffic in River Heights. Portions of Nassau Street North will only allow motor vehicle traffic in one direction. A downtown stretch of Assiniboine Avenue will also include one-way sections to prevent the loss of parking spaces alongside a new bike boulevard. One of the side benefits of the project is preventing cars from shortcutting through residential neighbourhoods, explained Nixon, who worked alongside city transportation managers. But the main goal is to make it easier and safer for cyclists to commute through Winnipeg. "We're not trying to replace the automobile. We're not trying to get anyone on a bike," he said. "What we're trying to do is give people options." Some motorists, however, remain skeptical. Mike Mager, president and CEO of CAA Manitoba, said even though most drivers support the expansion of cycling infrastructure, they're also annoyed by increasing congestion on Winnipeg's streets. An informal survey of consultants working on the AT project confirmed Nixon's prediction of project completion by the end of October, albeit with a caveat: There will be gaps on several routes, as some legal easements have yet to be obtained. The creation of trail signage also may have to wait until 2011, Nixon added. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Get informed Plans for new southeast Winnipeg activetransporation routes will be on display Thursday, April 29, at Morrow Gospel Church at 755 St. Anne's Rd., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Find information on all the projects at winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/HikeItBikeItLikeIt.asp *** 274 kilometres Winnipeg's existing active-transportation network 30 kilometres Additional bike-and-pedestrian paths the city plans to build by the end of October 71 kilometres Additional bike boulevards and bike lanes the city plans to build on city streets by the end of October $20.4 million Cost of the active-transportation infrastructure stimulus program, shared equally by all three levels of government $21.3 million Money devoted to fixing streets this summer, not counting sidewalks, back lanes, gravel roads and major projects -- Source: City of Winnipeg ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba Tel: (204) 925-3772 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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WFP: There's much to emulate in Portland (Apr.19'10)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

Winnipeg Free Press - The View from the West There's much to emulate in Portland By: The Economist The city most comparable to Portland might be Vancouver in Canada, reckons Sam Adams, Portland's mayor, although "we look to Amsterdam, Helsinki and Stockholm" for ideas. Ethan Seltzer, a professor of urban planning in Portland, thinks little Freiburg, in Germany, is the best comparison, with its similar obsessions about recycling, sustainability, public transit and bicycling. Others pick Zurich, which, like Portland, has a view of snow-capped mountains, orderly (bordering on staid) streets with trams, even the same peculiar fondness for direct democracy and tolerance of assisted suicide. This might seem odd for a city on the American West Coast that once was the terminus of the Oregon Trail and has a cowboys-and-rodeos heritage. The locals, in fact, enjoy feeling odd: "Keep Portland weird," say bumper stickers on the city's cars, which all seem to be hybrid-electric vehicles. "Keep Portland sanctimonious," mumble a few contrarians, while others savour the irony that Portland had to steal the slogan from Austin, Texas. But on the whole, Portlanders not only love their city but believe that it is, and ought to be, a model for the rest of North America. Adams has personally contributed by becoming the first (though no longer the only) openly gay mayor of a big American city, and even surviving a recall attempt after a sex scandal (he is now confronting another). Adams has a vision of progressive urbanism: a city where most people cycle or ride the streetcar, recycle what they consume, exist in harmony with nature and live in communities rather than the suburban sprawl of cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix or Atlanta. Nature, in fact, is the main draw for the mostly young and single newcomers to this city, almost the fastest-growing on the West Coast, says Joe Cortright, a Portland economist: the ocean to the west; the Cascade Mountains to the east; and the high desert beyond them. The vineyards of pinot noir and chardonnay along the Willamette Valley are all within a manageable drive. In Portland, "business casual" means wearing a fleece. The area's main industrial cluster is "activewear," led by Nike and Columbia Sportswear and including thousands of smaller companies. The environment is also the main theme of public policy. The biggest force in local politics is not a party (Democrats in effect rule without opposition) but cyclists. The bike lanes are impressive and getting even better now as streets get "bioswales," patches of turf and shrub that capture and filter storm water and simultaneously calm traffic and separate pedestrians and cyclists from the Priuses. Those who can't bike are encouraged to use public transport, which is free downtown. Adams says Portland's success is "totally replicable." But much of it seems to be an unintended consequence of land-use policies dating back to 1973. Back then, Oregon adopted "urban-growth boundaries" to preserve the farmlands that were then the mainstay of Oregon's economy. Over time, the rationale for UGBs changed to "don't Californicate Oregon" i.e., don't become Los Angeles, a freeway sprawl with no centre. The result has been unusually compact living, which is in turn easily served by public transport. But cities with sprawling, California-style layouts will find it tougher to make people use public transport. Phoenix, for example, has an excellent light-rail system, but it is often empty. And it may be even tougher for such cities to get their residents to live more closely together. Joel Kotkin, a Los Angeles-based demographer and author, thinks places like Portland, San Francisco and Boston have become "elite cities," attractive to the young and single, especially those with trust funds, but beyond the reach of middle-class families who want a house with a lawn. Indeed Portland, for all its history of western grit, is remarkably white, young and childless. Most Americans will therefore continue to migrate to the more affordable "cities of aspiration" such as Houston, Atlanta or Phoenix, thinks Kotkin. As they do so, they may turn decentralized sprawl into quilts of energetic suburbs with a community feeling. That is not to belittle Portland's vision. It is a sophisticated and forward-looking place. Which other city can boast its main attraction is a bustling independent bookstore (Powell's) and medical students can go from one part of their campus to another by gondola, taking their bikes with them? Other cities will see much to emulate. Minneapolis, for example, this month displaced Portland as Bicycling magazine's most bike-friendly city ("they got extra points for biking in the snow," grumble Adams' staff). Adam Davis of Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, a Portland polling firm, says Oregonians like to consider themselves leaders but also exceptions. They are likely to remain both. ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba Tel: (204) 925-3772 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Webinar invite: Bicycle Parking Best Practices - Apr 21, 2-3 pm
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Resource Conservation Manitoba will be hosting the following webinar on bicycle parking on April 21st. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca as space is limited. Should be an informative session. Thanks! Webinar: Bicycle Parking Best Practices Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST Location: EcoCentre boardroom (303 Portage Ave, third floor - enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) Bicycle parking programs are essential for communities striving to encourage bicycling for transportation as well as recreation. Convenient, easily used, and secure bicycle parking encourages people to ride and helps legitimize cycling as a transportation mode by providing parking opportunities equal to motorized modes. Attend this webinar to learn about the Association for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professional's (APBP) recommended practices for bicycle parking. In this one-hour session, lead author APBP Board Member Eric Anderson will present APBP's newly updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines, 2nd Edition, with special emphasis on two hot topics: in-street bicycle parking and implementing bicycle parking programs. The session will begin with an overview of changes in the new guide and a review of bicycle parking basics. In the second part of the session, Mr. Anderson will discuss the advantages and challenges of in-street bicycle parking (replacing car parking spaces with bicycle parking spaces), including design guidelines and program elements. Examples from several communities will be presented, with details about concept, site selection, community support, design, installation and maintenance. The presentation will conclude with a description of the nuts and bolts of municipal bike parking programs. Drawing on the experiences of cities nationwide, attendees will learn useful strategies for identifying locations, managing construction, and maintaining bicycle parking racks. Eric Anderson is a member of the APBP Board of Directors and the lead author of Bicycle Parking Guidelines, 2nd Edition. He has nine years of experience in the bicycle and pedestrian transportation field, spanning agency, consulting, and advocacy roles. Before assuming his role as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Berkeley, Calif., he worked for Alta Planning + Design. He previously served as the Director of Planning for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition where he was involved with the planning and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian projects at the regional, county, and local level as well helping to develop the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program. * * * * * Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca 303 Portage Ave, Third Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Disraeli Open House
by Erik Dickson 09 Apr '10

09 Apr '10

Hello Everyone, You are invited to attend the Disraeli Public Open House. Active Transportation is a part of this project. There are two dates and locations. Elmwood Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Bronx Park Community Centre 131 Chelsea Place 4 pm to 7 pm Point Douglas Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Norquay Community Centre 65 Granville Street 4 pm to 7 pm The new Disraeli Bridges to replace the existing 50-year-old structures that span the Red River and the CP Rail mainline will rejuvenate a critical piece of Winnipeg's transportation infrastructure. The Information Open Houses will present detailed descriptions and visual renderings of one of Winnipeg's most attractive and innovative engineering projects. You'll be able to discuss any questions you may have with City engineers and representatives of Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the group the City has chosen to design, build and maintain the new bridges. Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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WFP: Opposition kills Omand's Creek bridge (Apr.5'10)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

Latest News Opposition kills Omand's Creek bridge By: Melissa Martin A beloved neighbourhood sledding hill may live to see many more winters, as the city shies away from a proposed $1-million bridge over Omand's Creek. Last week, Wolseley residents received word that the city's active transportation planners won't push for the bridge to be part of the city's $20-million active transportation initiative. This came after 500 area residents crammed into a March 18 community meeting at Portage Avenue Mennonite Church to voice their concerns about the bridge, which would cover part of a popular sled hill in Omand Park. A final decision will be made by city council in the coming weeks, but the city's active transportation co-ordinator agreed that the bridge isn't exactly the most popular item right now. "It's really important that all these projects fit into the neighbourhood," Kevin Nixon said. "We're not about to jam something into the neighbourhood that the neighbourhood can't accept." Of the original five options on the table for Omand's Creek Park, upgrades to lighting and pathways were favoured by more people at the March 18 meeting than any of four bridge-related plans, one of which would have improved the existing footbridge. Only four per cent approved of the hilltop-spanning bridge. melissa.martin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP Editorial: Cycling his way to a legacy (Apr.5'10)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

Editorials Cycling his way to a legacy Legacies are a funny thing. You never know how or for what you will be remembered after you're gone. Often it's for something completely unforeseen. The late Winnipeg mayor Steve Juba is still famous for championing something that was never even built, a Jetsons-cool rapid-transit monorail system. Former mayor Glen Murray was scorned for his "million-dollar toilet" on the Esplanade Riel, but then again, the elegant bridge has become one of Winnipeg's most beloved landmarks. Mr. Murray is also renowned -- or reviled, depending on one's perspective -- for his $100,000 Get Together Downtown events, which drew thousands to Portage and Main for fun. Mayor Sam Katz's legacy remains to be seen. But curiously enough, it may be for something he, too, could never could have envisioned. Over the last five years, an "active transportation" lobby in the city has slowly gained ground. The goal is to create throughout the city a network of cycling commuter trails. It's a pretty basic philosophy. Create better and safer ways to travel through the city on two wheels, or two feet, and fewer people may drive. That in turn leads to less traffic on the roads, better air quality, healthier people. Winnipeg has been way behind on this trend, despite its easily cycled (i.e. flat) terrain. Calgary has some 900 kilometres of bike routes. Until recently, Winnipeg had about 100. But under Katz's watch, the city has extended that network to some 275 kilometres. Only four years ago, the city's spending on active transportation was $200,000. It's now up to $3.5 million, a huge increase on trails, bike lanes and pedestrian path upgrades. Did the mayor launch his first election campaign in Spandex and a bike helmet, vowing to transform the city into a less car-dependent, more active-transportation mecca? Well, no. He took office in 2004 and immediately cancelled a proposed rapid-transit system. But Mr. Katz has come a long way since then. He has changed his tune on rapid transit; after years of debate, construction for the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor finally began last summer. And just three months ago, the city pledged $6.8 million (matched by the province and the federal government's infrastructure fund, to a total of $20.4 million) to create dozens more people-friendly routes in Winnipeg. One of these projects made the news recently when Wolseley residents opposed the size and scale of a proposed bridge over Omand's Creek. Judging by the debate that ensued, there's a growing passion for active transportation. It's relatively new, and it's nowhere near critical mass, but it's gaining momentum. Mayor Katz's city doesn't hold expensive Get Togethers. But it did sponsor a Ciclovia last year, a $50,000 bike-and-pedestrian street festival that was such a hit, four more Sunday festivals are planned this summer. It started sponsoring Bike to Work Day in 2008, in which thousands -- including Mr. Katz -- proudly participated. And trail advocates were both pleased and surprised last fall when the mayor boldly vowed to buy up more abandoned rail lines to transform into bike trails. "They make ideal active-transportation routes," he said. Mr. Katz has never been regarded as a visionary. His reputation is that of a pragmatist and a promoter rather than a leader. But there is no doubt the wheels have started to turn at city hall -- inspired, no doubt, by a growing number of Winnipeggers bent on making the city a more bike-friendly place. So it's a funny thing that the man who's taken so much heat over things like rapid transit or Assiniboine Park condos may find himself with a surprising legacy years from now. A greener, cleaner city, built one kilometre at a time.

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