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CBC: Winnipeg hires CEO of urbanist consulting firm as new planning, property and development director (Apr26'23)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '23

26 Apr '23

Hazel Borys to divest herself of Placemakers, take on helm of city department https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/hazel-borys-planning-director-1.682… The City of Winnipeg has chosen an urban planner who runs a binational consulting firm to be its new director of planning, property and development. Hazel Borys, the CEO of Placemakers in Canada and the United States, will take over the city department responsible for land use at the end of July, Winnipeg chief administrative officer Michael Jack announced on Wednesday. She will succeed Marc Pittet, who's served as Winnipeg's acting planning, property and development director since John Kiernan retired in 2022. Borys said Wednesday she feels like she's taken on the job at "a really critical moment" in Winnipeg's history. "I think we have a number of significant challenges that we'll need to address together and that's really similar to many Canadian cities right now," Borys said in an interview. "But I think we also have both the opportunity and the responsibility to become a more resilient, livable and inclusive place. One of those challenges will involve stemming a burgeoning trend where Winnipeg is starting to lose development opportunities to several of its immediate neighbours. An increasing concentration of industrial, commercial and residential developments have sprouted up just outside city limits in municipalities such as Macdonald, Rosser, West St. Paul and Springfield. Borys said she plans to work with other municipalities to ensure both the city and its neighbours benefit from a new regional planning framework ordered by the provincial government. "My focus as the director of planning, property and development won't be about fighting over the existing pie that the region has, but how when we all work together, we can grow that pie quite a bit," she said. "So I'm not terribly concerned about where today's development capacity is going." Modernizing land use Borys said she believes development can intensify in existing Winnipeg neighbourhoods if the city modernizes outdated rules that govern land use. "What the development community most struggles with is our zoning bylaw hasn't yet caught up with the policies that we have in place to help do those things," she said. "That means that development takes longer — and time is money, from a developer's perspective." Borys suggested the city must focus on densification to achieve its development goals. "I think we have to get back to our agricultural roots and instead of thinking about dollars per new development, we need to be thinking about dollars per hectare and jobs per hectare," she said. "So how we can use our land more productively, just like a farmer looks at how to use her land more productively as well." Winnipeg's mayor, a centrist conservative who hired a number of urbanists to his own staff, referenced the incoming property director's progressive leanings when he welcomed her to the city. "Hazel has an incredible reputation as an innovator, placemaker and community builder and I look forward to working with her in this new role," Scott Gillingham said in a tweet on Wednesday. Borys, however, chose not comment on several hot-button issues facing Winnipeg's planning, property and development department, including the revitalization of Portage and Main and a pending decision in a lawsuit against the department by developer Andrew Marquess. Born in Alabama, Borys was educated in Ohio before she moved to Winnipeg in 2008 with her husband, Stephen Borys, who runs the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq. Borys has worked in the urban planning field for 19 years. With Placemakers, she consulted for both developers and governments. She helped the City of Winnipeg develop its long-term planning framework and also sits on the Manitoba Municipal Board. Borys said she has tendered her resignation from the municipal board, whose powers have been expanded to include the ability to overturn City of Winnipeg land-use decisions. She also said she will divest herself of an ownership stake in the U.S. side of Placemakers and dissolve the Canadian company of the same name.

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WFP: ‘Sky garden’ among ideas floated for Portage & Main (Apr26'23)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '23

26 Apr '23

City seeks public input on concepts to improve pedestrian access, enhance appearance at reimagined intersection *‘Sky garden’ among ideas floated for Portage & Main* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/04/25/sky-garden-pedestrian-pl… THERE’S a chance Winnipeggers could finally be able to cross the street again at the city’s most famous intersection… but they’d be doing it six storeys above traffic. A “sky garden,” with a plant-adorned circular walkway, potential bridge connections to adjacent buildings and glass elevators connecting the street, plaza and underground concourse, as well as an option to add a set of four lookout towers with viewing platforms (one at each corner), are among several ideas to revitalize Portage Avenue and Main Street the city is now seeking public feedback on. “The City of Winnipeg sees Portage and Main as an iconic, historic destination and worthy of a little bit of extra attention… and that’s why we’ve looked at ideas that are somewhat conventional, as well as some that are more bold,” said Kurtis Kowalke, a principal planner for the city. The changes — advanced by a city consultant — could allow for temporary pedestrian access at ground level, such as for special events. However, the vision doesn’t pursue a long-debated call to permanently restore surface-level pedestrian crossing. The intersection has been closed to pedestrians since 1979, and Winnipeggers voted down a non-binding plebiscite to reopen the corners in 2018. The new vision is being considered as the city prepares to replace an ailing waterproof membrane that protects the underground concourse, which has been deemed beyond its useful life. A deal struck by the city in 1976 to construct the concourse and an above-ground building guaranteed the developer a barricaded intersection for 40 years, forcing pedestrians into the underground mall. Crews must excavate the intersection’s surface to repair the membrane, which an engineering report once estimated would cost between $15 million and $20 million. Kowalke said public input will help the city narrow down design ideas to reimagine the public space, and the crumbling concrete barriers will likely be replaced with more-attractive fencing or bollards. Other options to revamp the site could add “living art” (a raised garden ring with no pedestrian access) or “monumental public art,” such as a large, dome-like structure above the street (depicted as an example in the city survey). Multimedia lighting poles could also be added with or without canopies. At street level, the city could add public art to building walls, plant trees and spruce up the site’s paving. Cost estimates for the new options were not provided. Mayor Scott Gillingham declined to offer an opinion on which, if any, of the ideas he supports. “It has to be something that is reasonable but also exciting. It’s our most iconic intersection,” said Gillingham. The idea of simply reopening pedestrian access at street level has triggered intense debate for years, with supporters arguing the change is needed to help revitalize and better connect downtown. Opponents say allowing foot traffic would snarl vehicle traffic, cost millions of dollars and increase road-safety concerns. In the 2018 plebiscite, 65 per cent of Winnipeggers voted against removing the barriers. Advocates for pedestrian traffic argued most of the no votes were cast by people living in the suburbs who did not want to be inconvenienced by longer stop-light waits at the intersection that would be required for walkers to cross the street. One advocate who urged residents to “vote open” at the time questions the logic of diverting pedestrians upward, instead. “I don’t know if you need to invest as much as some of these designs are going to cost. I think we can have a really great intersection if we have a pedestrian crossing at grade and some nice, artistic, culturally relevant designs going on at street level,” said Adam Dooley. Pedestrian access at an overhead walkway could perhaps be seen as a compromise keeping vehicle and foot traffic apart, but a grade-level crossing remains his first choice, he said. The president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said the new options to enhance the site are worthy of discussion. “It elevates the conversation that we’ve been having for far too long around this intersection… from one of barricades or removing barricades to one… (about what) kind of downtown centre… we want to have for our community,” said Loren Remillard. Kate Fenske, chief executive officer at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, said street-level access remains her organization’s top priority. “Allowing pedestrians to cross the street at Portage and Main would have a minimal impact on drivers but drastically reduce the time for pedestrians to get across…. A good design is one that encourages more people at street level. That’s critical for economic activity, for improving safety and for vibrancy of downtown,” said Fenske. She also questioned how adding a raised circular walkway would stack up against other priorities for limited city dollars. Some city councillors agree the primary focus at Portage and Main should be to add a ground-level pedestrian crossing. “Before we start contemplating the budgets involved (with) pedestrian overpasses that might be pretty and might involve greenery… I’d like to just ask that basic question… (of) how to make it accessible at grade,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins. Rollins is backing a new motion at city hall, which calls for staff to study options to add surface-level access at Portage and Main. The public works committee is expected to consider ordering that report next month. On Tuesday afternoon, folks in the Portage and Main area shared mixed views on the ideas. Adam Enns said paving and tree improvements make sense but an above-ground circular walkway isn’t realistic. “What’s the function of it, just to look nice?…. It seems like a waste of money to me,” said Enns. Jennifer Olson feared the “sky garden” walkway may not best serve downtown residents. “It looks nice but what is in it for the people who live here? I’d like to see a grocery store, some more services… not necessarily some elevated walkway. And I would like to see Portage and Main reopened (to pedestrians at the surface level),” said Olson. Jay Rodgers said he liked the “sky garden” at first glance, though its potential cost must be considered. “I think it’s very attractive,” Rodgers said. “It looks modern and I think it would increase traffic circulating in the area.” A survey at winnipeg.ca/portageandmain will seek public feedback until May 26. The city will also host two events on the ideas, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 at the lobby of 201 Portage Ave. and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at Portage and Main’s underground concourse (near Scotiabank). joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Nature article: Suburbs are a climate disaster, but they can be redeemed
by Jackie Avent 25 Apr '23

25 Apr '23

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01369-3 How to create liveable suburbs <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> The sprawling outer areas of US cities are the physical embodiment of unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity, argues urban-design researcher Dana Cuff. Rigid and often absurd planning rules prevent the construction of blocks of flats <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>, shops, schools, health facilities and workplaces. “It will take many creative solutions to redeem suburbs,” Cuff says, such as building housing for teachers on underused school land or offering loans for constructing affordable housing. Nature | 5 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Nature Briefing <briefing(a)nature.com> Date: Tue, Apr 25, 2023 at 1:04 PM Subject: First close-up images of tiny Mars moonlet To: <Jackie.avent(a)gmail.com> What matters in science | View this email in your browser <https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?e=4e0751221c&u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Tuesday 25 April 2023 [image: Nature Briefing] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Hello *Nature *readers, Today we discover that researchers have sequenced the genomes of more than 10,000 ancient people, find out why parrots like to video call each other and marvel at the first close-up images of Mars’s tiny moonlet Deimos. [image: A bleached human skull lies on its side on mossy ground. The skull’s lower jaw has become detached, lying separately in front of the skull. More bone fragments and broken skulls are visible in the background.] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> These 2,000-year-old human remains were found in a stone chambered cairn in Greenland. There has been an ‘ancient-DNA gold rush’, with the number of ancient-human genomes exponentially increasing since 2018. (Ashley Cooper/Getty) Ten thousand ancient genomes sequenced <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> More than 10,000 ancient-human genomes have now been sequenced. In 2010, the first ancient-DNA sequence was published, of a man who lived 4,000 years ago. Since 2018, thanks to technological advances, there has been an explosion in the number of ancient genomes sequenced. The vast majority come from people who lived in Europe, Russia and the Middle East <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>. “We need to shift that focus and obsession with numbers” and look at genomes from other parts of the world, says palaeogenomicist María Ávila-Arcos. Nature | 4 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Reference: bioRxiv preprint <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> (not peer reviewed) [image: A line chart showing the quantity of genome data from ancient-human remains. The data set has grown rapidly since 2018, owing to advances in DNA sequencing, and extraction and has risen to 10,067 in 2023.] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Parrots call each other to be less lonely <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Giving pet parrots the opportunity to video call other birds helps to counter isolation and boredom <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> in the intelligent animals. Researchers trained 18 pet parrots, ranging from macaws (*Ara*) to cockatiels (*Nymphicus hollandicus*), to phone a friend using Facebook Messenger. “All caretakers reported perceived benefits, some arguably life-transformative, such as learning to forage or even to fly by watching others,” write the authors in their paper, which includes some well-worth-watching video <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> of parrots chatting. The Guardian | 4 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Reference: *CHI '23: Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems* <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> paper <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Reader poll [image: Pie chart illustrating poll results to the question “What do you think about the commercial space age?”] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Today, a lunar lander built by the Japanese firm ispace will touch down on the Moon’s surface <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>. It will be the first private company to land on the Moon, and the first of several commercial lunar trips flying this year. Briefing readers had mixed feelings about this burgeoning commercial space age: more than half of the respondents to our poll last week said they preferred when space exploration was led by governments only. Another 40% welcome private space missions. Many readers felt the money pumped into space missions — both private and public ones — could be better spent on Earth, for example on addressing climate change. There were concerns about the amount of space debris that missions would create, and about the environmental impact of rocket launches. “There should be an international agency to regulate who can send what into space and clean up afterwards,” writes librarian Penelope Bulloch. “I think we should reframe the conversation altogether,” suggests sustainability project manager Joan Suris. “Every time we have started mining resources on Earth we have created more environmental and social problems than we have solved. What are the unforeseen consequences of ‘commercial exploitation’ of the Moon?” Features & opinion Deep ocean exploration isn’t about science <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Attempts to reach the bottom of the sea have a surprisingly long history, as Jeff Maynard recounts in *The Frontier Below*. The book is a brisk tour of diving and submersibles <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>, heavy on engineering and light on science. “That’s fitting, because the endeavour was hardly ever about science,” writes reviewer and *Nature *reporter Alexandra Witze. Instead, it was about retrieving goods from wrecked vessels, military interests or finding a ‘lifeless’ place to dump nuclear waste. Nature | 6 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> [image: Nature Special: Nature+] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> ACCESS *NATURE* AND 54 OTHER NATURE JOURNALS <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Nature+ gives you immediate online access to *Nature* and 54 other journals. Nature+ is a flexible monthly subscription and is currently available only to personal users in the United States <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> and in the United Kingdom <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> . Learn more about Nature+ in the US <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> or in the UK <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> How to create liveable suburbs <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> The sprawling outer areas of US cities are the physical embodiment of unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity, argues urban-design researcher Dana Cuff. Rigid and often absurd planning rules prevent the construction of blocks of flats <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>, shops, schools, health facilities and workplaces. “It will take many creative solutions to redeem suburbs,” Cuff says, such as building housing for teachers on underused school land or offering loans for constructing affordable housing. Nature | 5 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> The far-reaching impacts of melting ice <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> How does melting ice contribute to destructive wildfires in the western United States? And how does ice loss lead to extreme floods in Nepal? A sobering yet hopeful quiz, accompanied by stunning visuals <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>, clarifies how the shape of coastlines, the weather and the survival of communities are all tied to ice. NPR | Interactive 5-min scroll <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Image of the week [image: The moonlet Deimos, looking like a small grey space potato, floats serenely in front of the giant red shape of Mars in the background.] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> The first up-close images of Mars’s little-known moonlet Deimos have revealed that it is made of the same material as the red planet. The tiny, 12.4-kilometre-wide moon probably formed together with Mars <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>, rather than as an asteroid that was captured in the planet’s orbit. (Nature | 4 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>) (Emirates Mars Mission) Quote of the day “I often have a nightmare with my tombstone that reads: ‘What did she think she was doing?’ Because all of us have to reckon with the fact that the future will look back on us with new tools and a new framing.” <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Neurologist Helen Mayberg hopes that deep brain stimulation — invasive surgery that helps people with severe depression — will eventually be seen as outdated. (Nature Careers Podcast | 25 min listen or 15 min read <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> ) As we celebrate World Penguin Day, spare a thought for what the word ‘penguin’ actually means to you <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>. Psychologists found that even such simple words can signify wildly different concepts for people — and we’re often oblivious to these variations. Send me your definition of the word ‘penguin’, alongside any other feedback on this newsletter, to briefing(a)nature.com. Thanks for reading, *Katrina Krämer, associate editor, Nature Briefing <briefing(a)nature.com>* *With contributions by Flora Graham* We’ve recently launched two new e-mails you might like. They’re free, and of course you can unsubscribe at any time. - *Nature Briefing: Cancer* <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> — a new weekly newsletter written with cancer researchers in mind. Sign up here <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> to receive the next one. - *Nature Briefing: Translational Research* <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> covers biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma. Sign up here <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> to get it free in your inbox each week. [image: nature] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> Join our community [image: twitter] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> [image: Facebook] <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…> You received this newsletter because you subscribed with the email address: Jackie.avent(a)gmail.com Please add *briefing(a)nature.com <briefing(a)nature.com>* to your address book. Enjoying this newsletter? You can use this form to recommend it to a friend or colleague <https://us17.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d&id=9…> — thank you! Want to switch to the weekly edition? Update your preferences <https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d…>. Had enough? 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CBC: Circular walkway, massive orb, towers among Portage and Main redesign options (Apr25'23)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '23

25 Apr '23

Circular walkway, massive orb, towers among Portage and Main redesign optionsCity seeks public feedback on designs that would see existing barricades come down — without pedestrian access https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-main-redesign-options-1.682… A circular walkway above Portage and Main, a massive orb and a quartet of lookout towers are among eight potential and in some cases fanciful redesign options for Winnipeg's most famous intersection. The City of Winnipeg is seeking public opinions about new designs that would see the existing concrete barricades at Portage Avenue and Main Street be replaced by a more esthetically pleasing streetscape that would still bar pedestrians from crossing at street level. The city must remove the barricades as part of a multimillion-dollar repair job at the intersection, where a leaky membrane allows surface runoff to damage the underground pedestrian concourse. The barricades are to be replaced as part of a broader redesign. The city has launched a public opinion survey <https://engage.winnipeg.ca/portageandmain> and will hold a pair of public events in May to solicit feedback on the options. They include an above-ground walkway called a "sky garden," a hanging garden with no pedestrian access, lookout towers, a row of lights, a row of lights mixed with trees, new paving, both with and without trees, and a "monumental" orb at Portage and Main reminiscent of the laser pyramid floated by former mayor Susan Thompson after she left office. None of the options are costed out in the survey, which is open until May 26. The survey asks whether respondents live or work downtown. The public events will be held May 10 in the lobby of 201 Portage Ave. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and May 11 in the underground concourse, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The survey also asks what other amenities Winnipeggers wish to see at Portage and Main, such as food trucks and Indigenous programming. The City of Winnipeg will make officials available to speak about the project this afternoon. Portage and Main closed to pedestrians in 1979. Winnipeggers voted against reopening the intersection in a non-binding plebiscite in 2018.

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WFP: Residents weigh in on Portage and Main proposals (Apr22'24)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '23

24 Apr '23

*Residents weigh in on Portage and Main proposals* Report renews debate over iconic intersection https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/22/residents-weigh-i… A report regarding the future of Portage Avenue and Main Street has renewed discussions surrounding the contentious intersection, with residents weighing in on the potential of street-level pedestrian crossing. On Tuesday, the city will release the findings of a study it commissioned in 2021 to assess upgrades for the iconic intersection. Current plans involve removing and replacing the concrete barriers that bar pedestrian passage, but future designs may be adaptable, allowing people to cross at street-level for special events, or during designated times, city documents show. “The debate over Portage and Main has been a perennial discussion in Winnipeg for more than 40 years,” Winnipeg transportation planner Jairo Viafara said by phone Saturday. “If we are to open it, there must be a balance.” The intersection, which spans up to eight lanes at some points, presents a particular challenge for city planners. While keeping the intersection closed to pedestrian traffic compromises accessibility, opening it will likely impact traffic flow and may frustrate stakeholders who’ve made significant investments in and around the underground concourse, he said. Among possible solutions is a suggestion from Coun. Jeff Browaty to allow pedestrians to cross outside of peak traffic times, possibly between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. when the underground passage is closed. Viafara was hesitant to endorse this idea, citing safety concerns because the area is surrounded by several bars and restaurants. “I do not want pedestrians who have drinking and dancing their way through the night to step out on the street in their merriment and (be struck by a vehicle),” he said. Pedestrian safety and economic development must be paramount concerns as the city deliberates how to improve the intersection, he said. City officials are not exploring permanently opening the intersection, but promised to allow residents to weigh-in on the design options through an online survey. People passing though the underground concourse Saturday afternoon voiced mixed opinions on the subject. “It is a bit of a nuisance to have to come down particularly because… downtown has gotten a lot sketchier in the last few years,” said Francine Martin. “It doesn’t always feel (safe) and it’s dirtier than it used to be.” Martin, who described herself as a “non-motorist” pointed to a 2018 plebiscite in which 65 per cent of people in Winnipeg voted against reopening street-level crossings at the intersection. According to voter demographic data released at the time, people in suburban areas felt most strongly that the intersection should remain closed. “Maybe they should survey people in the core areas who actually use this intersection as non-motorists,” Martin said. “If we’re the ones using it, or perhaps more likely to use it, then maybe our vote should count for a little bit more.” Others passing through felt the opposite. “I don’t think its a good idea to take the barriers down. It’s going to snarl traffic even more than it is now. It will be a complete hassle,” said Lisa, an Exchange District resident who asked to withhold her last name. “Yeah, its a hassle to come down here, but I’d rather have that hassle (than open the intersection),” she said. “If you live (downtown), you understand why the barriers are there… We’re going to find out real fast if they allow pedestrian traffic up there how inconvenient it is.” Another group of men, who declined an interview but paused long enough to offer their opinion, agreed. “There’s just way too much traffic on Portage and Main,” one said. Corey Yantha, a visitor from Halifax who found himself lost in the underground concourse, said he’s encountered similar underground crossings in other Canadian cities, but found navigating Winnipeg’s confusing. “I think it’s pretty annoying… I don’t really know which way to go,” he said. “It should be a lot easier to get to the other side of the street.” Others passing through had similar experiences, with one group saying they paused several times to check if they were heading the right direction. Regardless of the proposal report, the intersection is likely to see significant construction in the near future. A waterproof membrane surrounding the underground concourse needs to be replaced and it can only be accessed from above. Preliminary estimates suggest the project could cost between $15 million and $20 million. tyler.searle(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: New vision for Portage & Main coming next week (Apr22'23)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '23

22 Apr '23

*Survey to allow input into options for intersection* *New vision for P&M coming next week* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/21/new-vision-for-po… A LONG-AWAITED vision to revamp the iconic Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection will be released to the public Tuesday. In 2021, the City of Winnipeg hired a consultant to provide options to improve the above-ground crossing and its “pedestrian environment.” A request for proposal noted the design should also be adaptable to potentially let pedestrians cross at street level on a temporary basis, such as for special events, without permanently restoring that access (which was blocked in 1979). On April 25, the city will release design options for the site, along with an online public survey. “We’ve known for a lot of years that there needs to be repairs to Portage and Main, and we did call for a report to come back two years ago, so we’re going to get it soon,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, who declined to share further details. The consultant was also tasked with providing options to replace a waterproof membrane that separates the underground concourse from the road above, which has been deemed beyond its useful life. A preliminary estimate found it could cost between $15 million and $20 million, according to a 2019 engineering report. Since the 40-year-old membrane is located two to three metres below the pavement and can only be accessed from above, “any investment in streetscape design enhancements will need to be co-ordinated with membrane renewal work,” the RFP notes. Coun. Jeff Browaty said councillors expect to receive updated cost estimates for replacing the membrane later this year — though there is now some sense of what the intersection might look like after current barricades at the surface are replaced. “Subject to what the public comes back with (as input), I think the thinking is that the new barricades… will be more visually appealing,” said Browaty. He expects it could include options for a transparent material that can be altered to allow foot traffic during special events. Browaty, who has been a vocal opponent in the sometimes heated debate on reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians, said he remains concerned doing so full-time would wreak havoc with traffic. “I have zero appetite to the opening of the intersection to regular pedestrian crossings during the day.” However, Browaty said, he is now open to exploring whether pedestrians could cross the intersection at the surface overnight, when traffic volumes are lower. In the middle of the night, when the traffic impact isn’t going to be material… there’s really no cost, in terms of… making physical changes to the intersection (once it is altered).” The North Kildonan councillor said there may be a growing need for overnight pedestrian access because the underground concourse at Portage and Main was open 24-7 before the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now restricted to daily hours of 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. “So, in the middle of the night, you literally do have to go and walk several extra blocks to get through that intersection,” said Browaty. Supporters of reopening the intersection to pedestrians argue doing so would better connect downtown, making it more walkable and vibrant. The consultant was not asked to create a plan for a permanent reopening of the intersection to pedestrians. The report notes 65 per cent of Winnipeggers voted against the reopening in a 2018 plebiscite. Meanwhile, a councillor whose ward includes part of downtown, said she fears the feedback of residents who live closest to the intersection won’t be privileged over other public input — even though consultations on intersections outside downtown focus more on immediate neighbours. “It can be very frustrating, as a downtown councillor, to… understand there are shared interests there, but… watch your residents take back seat to the discussions of whether or not they can cross a street near where they live,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Road Safety week - May 15-21
by Kristine Hayward 17 Apr '23

17 Apr '23

The UN Global Road Safety Week is coming up – May 15-21. #RethinkMobility is the theme. See additional information and resources - https://www.roadsafetyngos.org/news-events-orig/events/un-global-road-safet… Kristine Hayward (she/her) Physical Activity Promotion Coordinator Population & Public Health MB Health and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca<mailto:khayward@wrha.mb.ca> Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave and McDermot. Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo__;!!IqQd2s…> Metered street parking and pay lots in the area – please note designated loading zones and spots requiring a disability permit. Disclaimer : This email (including any attachments or enclosed documents) is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, return the original (if applicable) and delete the email. Avis : Le présent courriel (y compris toute pièce jointe) est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé, et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels, privés ou protégés par un privilège juridique. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous avez reçu le présent courriel par erreur, veuillez en informer immédiatement l’expéditeur, retourner l’original (le cas échéant) et supprimer ce courriel.

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WFP: Council to consider sidewalk snow-clearing cost study (Apr15'23)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '23

15 Apr '23

Council to consider sidewalk snow-clearing cost study https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/14/council-to-consid… FOLLOWING repeated complaints that snow isn’t cleared off sidewalks quickly enough, the city may study an option to speed up the service. An annual snow-clearing report could be tasked with determining a cost estimate to clear snow off all sidewalks and active transportation paths within 72 hours after a significant snowfall. That measure would be reached when an inspection finds clearing is needed following a five-centimetre snowfall or equivalent drifting. A motion passed by public works committee this week calls for that element to be explored in the report, though the change requires a full council vote. “I think it’s important that people understand the cost and the requirements (to ramp up service this much). Dozens of machines would have to be purchased, dozens of staff would have to be hired,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, the committee’s chairwoman. The motion, raised by Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt, also calls for the city to study how the increased service level could be phased in. Wyatt’s motion states the current frequency of clearing sometimes forces pedestrians to walk on roads and suggests the proposed change would improve quality of life. Under city policy, plowing on all sidewalks on major routes and collector streets should be completed within 36 hours after an average storm ends. Sidewalks on residential streets should see plowing completed within five working days after it begins. Lukes (Waverley West) said she expects continuing to clear sidewalks by priority may better fit the city’s budget. “(It) would be better for the taxpayer to realign the priority system versus making everything a (top priority for clearing). I think we need to do a better analysis on where high density is, where high needs are,” said Lukes. Council will vote on the matter later this month. The annual snow-clearing report is expected in June. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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new date - Rapid Implementation of Bikeways webinar
by Kristine Hayward 13 Apr '23

13 Apr '23

[cid:image003.png@01D96E1A.5F3F2880] More information and to register - https://ncceh.ca/hbe-forum#webinar1 Kristine Hayward (she/her) Physical Activity Promotion Coordinator Population & Public Health MB Health and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca<mailto:khayward@wrha.mb.ca> Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave and McDermot. Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo__;!!IqQd2s…> Metered street parking and pay lots in the area – please note designated loading zones and spots requiring a disability permit. Disclaimer : This email (including any attachments or enclosed documents) is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, return the original (if applicable) and delete the email. Avis : Le présent courriel (y compris toute pièce jointe) est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé, et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels, privés ou protégés par un privilège juridique. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous avez reçu le présent courriel par erreur, veuillez en informer immédiatement l’expéditeur, retourner l’original (le cas échéant) et supprimer ce courriel.

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WFP: Icy sidewalks create shut-ins, city told (Apr12'23)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '23

12 Apr '23

Delegate tells committee obstructed, slippery paths a human rights issue Icy sidewalks create shut-ins, city told https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/11/icy-sidewalks-cre… THE mounds of ice and snow that can bury sidewalks in winter too often put people with mobility issues at risk of isolation or dangerous slips and falls, multiple delegates told council’s public works committee on Tuesday. Any effort to clear more sidewalks to “bare pavement” would mark a good first step to ensuring active transportation routes are accessible throughout every season, they argued. Marika Prokosh, who is visually impaired and not able to drive, said the condition of sidewalks is declining, making it increasingly difficult to get around on foot and by bus. “Every year, it’s getting a little harder… It has an effect on how often I choose to go out (and so) it limits the scope of my life,” said Prokosh. Unexpected dips and inclines created by uneven snow clearing can be tough to avoid, she told reporters. Prokosh said she understands many factors, including cost, influence snow-clearing policies. But she stressed the city must also view the service through a disability lens. “What I’m looking for, ultimately, is for the city to figure out a way logistically, economically to ensure that, the majority of the time, the pavements are clear enough that wheelchairs and strollers and people with canes and walkers can pass them with minimal difficulty,” said Prokosh. Sidewalks covered in ice and snow can prove daunting to seniors, said Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities. “Many seniors become shut-ins in winter because venturing out onto the sidewalks is just too dangerous,” said Newman. She told the committee the matter is a human rights issue, as mobility should be possible for people of all ages. “We should all feel safe to walk on our sidewalks… For many, six months of icy sidewalks limits us from getting to the grocery store, to the drug store, to exercise. Access to food is a basic human right,” said Newman. Coun. Matt Allard is making his fourth attempt to have the city explore clearing more sidewalks to bare pavement; three previous motions failed. Allard’s latest recommendation calls for city staff to report on options for a pilot project that would clear snow off sidewalks to a “bare pavement” standard on one street that connects to a bus stop in each council ward. He wants that report to review several options to achieve that, including: testing various de-icing material; plowing efforts specific to snow drifts and windrows; and reducing snow banks at intersections and crosswalks. Allard told the committee Tuesday the matter is an urgent human rights issue. “Do we need someone to bring the City of Winnipeg to the Manitoba human rights tribunal to demonstrate that their human rights have been violated… because they were not able to participate in society like any other able-bodied person could?” he asked. Under city policy, downtown sidewalks adjacent to major routes and collector streets are plowed to a paved surface “whenever conditions allow,” while such sidewalks outside downtown are maintained to a compacted snow surface. Plowing on all sidewalks on major routes and collector streets should be completed within 36 hours after an average storm ends. Sidewalks on residential streets should normally be maintained to a compacted snow surface, with plowing completed within five working days after it begins, the policy states. Some council members stressed work is underway to improve snow-clearing on active transportation paths. Mayor Scott Gillingham said a neighbourhood action team, whose tasks will include sidewalk snow clearing, will be hired by the end of this year. He noted city staff will report back in June on more options to improve snow clearing. “We need to do all we can to assist people to navigate our sidewalks and our streets. I want to see people able to get around,” said Gillingham. When asked if the city could pursue the bare pavement pilot project, the mayor suggested it could come at a significant cost. “We don’t know the price. I think the average person could… (imagine) what it may cost to clear snow to (bare pavement) on all sidewalks across the city,” said Gillingham. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee, said she expects the June report to help enhance winter sidewalk clearing. “When you are harnessing Mother Nature… you’ve got to use many tools in your toolkit to get to the end result… The public service is looking at all kinds of things. New technologies emerge, new machines emerge, new approaches emerge. Winnipeg really leads the way in snow and ice removal,” said Lukes. Last year, council approved $3 million to buy 15 additional sidewalk-clearing machines to ramp up the city’s resources. Due to supply chain delays, those are expected to arrive around June and help improve clearing next winter. The public works committee voted to receive Allard’s motion as information, which means taking no immediate action on it. Council will cast the final vote on the matter. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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