- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Driver pleads guilty in hit and run that killed mother of three (Mar22'25)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '25

22 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Driver pleads guilty in hit and run that killed mother of three https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/03/21/driver-pleads-gui… A WINNIPEG man has admitted responsibility for a fatal hit-and-run collision that killed a 43-year-old Sudanese immigrant. Kelvin Mark Lavallee, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to one charge each of dangerous driving causing death, driving over .08, and leaving the scene of an accident. Lavallee was behind the wheel of a red Audi A4 the evening of Sept. 26, 2023, when he blew through a red light at the intersection of Fermor Avenue and St. Mary’s Road and struck and killed pedestrian Akuch Machuor Kulang. Lavallee did not stop or slow down as he approached the intersection and, after hitting the woman, continued driving for another 3.7 km before pulling into an Esso gas station at Beaverhill Boulevard, Crown attorney Nick Reeves told court. Police arrested Lavallee as he was gassing up his vehicle. While in custody, Lavallee “provided a statement to police admitting to drinking before driving and failing to stop after the collision that killed Ms. Machuor,” Reeves said. Lavallee remains free on bail and will return to court for sentencing Sept. 22, on what was to be the first day of his trial. “It is unlikely (the Crown and defence) will have a joint recommendation,” defence lawyer Zach Kinahan told King’s Bench Justice Sheldon Lanchbery. Court heard an off-duty police officer was driving behind Lavallee minutes before the crash and saw him tailing other vehicles and weaving in and out of traffic. Another motorist stopped at a red light reported seeing Lavallee on his cellphone. “While I am thankful for the legal system providing closure, it is important to recognize that no amount of punishment can fully heal the pain of losing someone so dear,” said Rev. Abraham Monybuny Chuol of Emmanuel Sudanese Mission. Chuol and Machuor met as teenagers living in a Kenyan refugee camp after being displaced during a civil war in Sudan. She arrived in Canada as a refugee in the early 2000s and the two friends reunited. “The memory of Akuch will always be cherished by those who knew and loved her. Let us also remember that she was not just a victim, but a mother and daughter to someone,” Chuol said. At the time she was killed, the single mother of three had just started a new job as a health-care aide. — with a file from Scott Billeck

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WFP: Bill targets driver passing distances for bikes, plows (Mar18'25)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Mar '25

18 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bill targets driver passing distances for bikes, plows https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/03/17/bill-seeks-to-man… A NEW government bill aims to make roads safer by spelling out how much room drivers must give cyclists and snowplows on Manitoba roads. The proposed amendment to the Highway Traffic Act, introduced earlier this month but not made available to MLAs and the public until Monday, says drivers must keep a distance of at least one metre when passing a bicycle or power-assisted bicycle. “The cyclist community has been pretty helpful on this issue for a long time — that they don’t always feel like motorists do pass at a safe distance, so we’re wanting to clarify that,” Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor told reporters Monday. “We’re going to need time to make sure motorists are educated,” she said. The Highway Traffic Act does not specify how close cyclists should ride at the right edge of the roadway or the clearance to be given a cyclist when travelling alongside or passing them. The Manitoba Driver’s Handbook says “drivers should pass a cyclist only when it’s safe to do so” and that “cycling advocacy groups suggest providing at least one metre of clearance.” The bill is a good start but doesn’t go far enough, said Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe. “We would really hope that we would mirror best practices in different jurisdictions … not just a straight, acrossthe- board one-metre passing distance, but really link that passing distance to speed,” Cohoe said Monday. At highway speeds, bikes should be given a wider berth, as in B.C., Cohoe said, where, at 50 km/h or more, motorists are to stay 1.5 metres away, he said. Speed is taken into consideration in the Manitoba Driver’s Handbook: “Extra caution must be exercised and additional space may be required when passing cyclists” on highways. Naylor’s bill also requires a driver follow at least 30 metres behind a snowplow or other winter vehicle and 100 metres if the speed limit is more than 80 km/h. It does not say bikes should be given more room on the highway. “I think that’s something that’s missing here,” said Cohoe, who expects Bike Winnipeg to speak up if the bill proceeds to the committee stage, which is required before becoming law. Bill 38 also prohibits passing a winter maintenance vehicle “unless additional precautions are taken,” putting the onus on a motorist to proceed with caution when meeting a plow in an intersection or travelling in the opposite direction. “It’s important to give a wide berth to snowplow equipment,” Naylor said after question period Monday. The bill also authorizes operators of tow truck or other assistance vehicle to put down traffic control devices. carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Analysis: The cost of road expansion — permanent tax increases (Mar15'25)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Mar '25

15 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. The cost of road expansion — permanent tax increases MICHEL DURAND-WOOD https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2025/03/15/the-cost-of-r… THE city recently released an economic impact analysis on the extension of Chief Peguis Trail, a project slated to cost over $900 million including interest. We’re told it’s needed in order to unlock land for new development, to accommodate the city’s growth and to generate new revenue for the city. But here’s the thing: the analysis calculates that for this project, and all the development it will enable, to just break even on its infrastructure investment, the city needs to levy above-inflation tax increases every year going forward. In other words, the rest of the city will be subsidizing this development forever. It’s often hard to grasp the significance of the city spending dollar amounts in the millions, or even billions, to our own lives. So let me spell it out for you: extending Chief Peguis Trail will force your taxes to go up by more than inflation every year for the rest of eternity. Why would we ever agree to that? If we decide not to increase our taxes by that rate, then it’ll just show up as a sewer rate increase, or a garbage fee increase, or some other fee increase down the line. Sound familiar? And if we choose not to increase our taxes or our fees, then there won’t be enough money to fund the services we currently enjoy, or maintain the infrastructure we already own. So we’ll have to make cuts to library hours, close pools and rec centres, abandon bridges and leave potholes unfilled. This isn’t theoretical, the money is real. And we’re the ones who pay. And yet, this is how we’ve grown our city for nearly 80 years. Extend a road, build out a whole new development to a finished state with no possibility of change, then start again. That it costs more than it returns is the grand bargain we’ve accepted in exchange for the ability to keep our own neighbourhoods from changing. But as we’re seeing, that grand bargain has a compounding financial cost. At the end of 2023, the city’s net financial position was negative $1.2 billion. That’s how much we’ve already spent subsidizing current developments that we’ll need to make up in future budget years, either with above-inflation tax increases, fee increases, service cuts or neglecting existing infrastructure. Our 2024 and 2025 budgets project that to worsen to $1.8 billion by the end of this year. Assuming the province or the feds will help us is forgetting that there’s only one taxpayer. The money is coming from us no matter what. It’s also forgetting that Winnipeg isn’t the only city that has grown this way. There isn’t enough money to go around, and it’s not even close. But there’s a big messy gap between being against an insolvent development pattern that costs more to service than it returns in economic benefits, and being for the things that will help improve our collective fate. From a financial perspective, given that 88 per cent of our infrastructure is just the roads and pipes, our biggest gains will come from making more efficient use of those that are already built. But making better use of those pipes means every neighbourhood in the city will have to accept the possibility of having two, three or four homes where there used to only be one. After all, Canadians use half as much water per person as they did in the 1970s, and many of our older neighbourhoods have half the population today as in the 1970s, meaning some of those pipes are carrying as little as 25 per cent of their capacity compared to 50 years ago. Making better use of our existing road capacity means having more trips taken on foot, on bike and on transit, moving more people in the same amount of space, while leaving more room for commercial traffic. That will only happen by reallocating some of the space to those other modes with wider sidewalks, bike or transit-only lanes and reducing vehicle speeds in some areas. After all, we won’t get more people opting for walking, biking and transit if those choices aren’t safe, convenient and reliable. After eight decades of having our neighbourhoods not change, it is certainly reasonable to expect that to continue. But that has a cost. Choosing to continue with the same approach means we have to accept more above-inflation tax increases, fee increases, service cuts and neglect of our infrastructure. Forever. Ultimately, what we “want” and what we’re willing and able to pay for may not be the same thing. Yes, transitioning to a city that allows a fourplex next door, reduces vehicle speeds and prioritizes active transportation over more road infrastructure is going to be an uncomfortable, awkward and messy process. But looking at the city’s finances, the alternative is certainly much, much worse. Tell your councillor. Michel Durand-Wood writes about municipal issues at DearWinnipeg. com, and is the author of the upcoming book, You’ll Pay for This.

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Our City, Our Podcast - Chris from Active Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '25

14 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://podcast.winnipeg.ca/12

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CBC: Pedestrians now have 5-second head start at nearly 100 downtown Winnipeg intersections
by Beth McKechnie 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City found drop in 'near miss events' after it started testing out system at some intersections https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrians-head-start-downtown-win…

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WFP: Pedestrians get head start downtown (Mar11'25)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '25

11 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. PEDESTRIANS will soon get a five-second head start at many downtown intersections. Workers have begun installing leading pedestrian intervals at nearly 100 downtown intersections, the city said in a news release Monday. The change will give pedestrians a five-second head start to cross a street before drivers travelling the same way get a green light. Council’s public works committee instructed staff last month to make the change citywide at all eligible signalized intersections within the year.

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Community Toolkit for the Primary Transit Network and its feeder routes
by Beth McKechnie 07 Mar '25

07 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Primary Transit Network [City of Winnipeg | Ville de Winnipeg]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Winnipeg Transit Master Plan<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Plan directeur du transport en commun de Winnipeg<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> En français Community Toolkit for the Primary Transit Network and its feeder routes Help us spread the word! We are reaching out with an important update about the next step in the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan. Our new transit network the Primary Transit Network and its feeder routes launches June 29, 2025. Schedules for the new network will go online in late April. New signs will soon appear at a bus stop near you. In the meantime, we have created a community toolkit of resources<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> to help get the word out. It includes a poster, fact sheet, text for newsletters and social media resources. If you are involved in a group or school community of transit users, we encourage you to share these resources as you are able. We will add to this toolkit as more information and resources become available. We have also updated our Primary Transit Network page<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>. It will be the main source for information in the leadup to this launch. Thank you again to everyone who contributed to the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan. And thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts as we finalized the new network in 2024. We look forward to bringing you bus service that is more frequent, direct, connected, and easy to use. Regards, The Primary Transit Network project team ________________________________ Share on X<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> | Share on Facebook<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Boîte à outils communautaire pour le réseau de transport en commun principal et ses lignes secondaires Aidez-nous à répandre l’information! Nous souhaitons vous donner une mise à jour importante sur la prochaine étape du Plan directeur du transport en commun de Winnipeg. Notre nouveau réseau de transport en commun, le réseau de transport en commun principal et ses lignes secondaires, sera lancé le 29 juin 2025. Les horaires associés au nouveau réseau seront publiés en ligne fin avril. De nouveaux panneaux seront bientôt installés à un arrêt d’autobus près de chez vous. Entre-temps, nous avons créé une boîte à outils communautaire<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> contenant des ressources qui vous aideront à faire passer le mot. Elle contient une affiche, une fiche d’information, du contenu pour les bulletins et des ressources associées aux médias sociaux. Si vous faites partie d’un groupe ou d’une communauté scolaire d’usagers du transport en commun, nous vous encourageons à faire votre possible pour diffuser ces ressources. Nous ajouterons d’autres renseignements et ressources à cette boîte à outils dès qu’ils seront disponibles. Nous avons aussi mis à jour notre page sur le réseau de transport en commun principal<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>. Il s’agira de la source de renseignements principale pendant la période précédant le lancement. Merci encore une fois à toutes les personnes qui ont contribué au Plan directeur du transport en commun de Winnipeg. Et merci à toutes les personnes qui se sont exprimées pendant que nous finalisions le nouveau réseau en 2024. Nous avons hâte de vous proposer un service d’autobus plus fréquent, direct, relié et convivial. Merci, L’équipe de projet du réseau de transport en commun principal Partager sur X<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> | Partager sur Facebook<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Connect with us: Suivez-nous : [Twitter]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>[Facebook]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>[YouTube]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>[LinkedIn]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>[Instagram]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Related Winnipeg Transit Master Plan<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Winnipeg Transit<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> winnipeg.ca<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Information reliée Plan directeur du transport en commun de Winnipeg<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> Winnipeg Transit<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…> winnipeg.ca<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/ca8b374c639b6c0f66363fd2c16…>

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WFP: Driver gets jail time for killing cyclist in hit-and-run (Mar6'25)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Mar '25

06 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Driver gets jail time for killing cyclist in hit-and-run https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/03/05/driver-gets-jail-… A 19-year-old Winnipeg man who was driving more than three times the speed limit when he struck and killed a cyclist on Wellington Crescent has been sentenced to three years in custody and prohibited from driving for five years. Beckham Severight previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision for the June 6 crash that killed 61-year-old Rob Jenner. “The sentence must be denunciatory,” provincial court Judge Cynthia Devine said Wednesday. “Causing the loss of a life is the ultimate crime.” Jenner’s death sent shock waves through the city’s cycling community, many members of whom were in court Wednesday for Severight’s sentencing. “Every cyclist in Winnipeg has felt endangered, frightened, distrustful and terrorized at some point over the past eight months,” Devine said Severight asked his roommate, Lyle Barker-Young, on the morning of the collision whether he could take his leased 2013 BMW sedan for a drive. Severight had only a learner’s permit. Barker-Young, 18, had a valid licence and accompanied Severight but did not qualify as a supervising driver. According to an agreed statement of facts previously provided to court, Severight was driving eastbound on Wellington in the curb lane shortly before 7 a.m. when he “rapidly accelerated his speed” as he rounded a curve near the intersection with Hugo Street. Jenner was ahead, cycling in the same lane. Severight saw Jenner and tried to avoid hitting him but lost control of the car and went into a skid before crashing into the back of Jenner’s bike, sending him crashing onto the car’s hood. Witnesses said Jenner was thrown at least 10 feet into the air before he came to rest just off the roadway. A collision reconstructionist determined Severight had been driving at least 159 km/h immediately before the crash. The posted speed limit at the location is 50 km/h. Barker-Young told Severight not to stop and he drove away before stopping a short time later so Barker-Young could drive. “(Severight’s) buddy kept telling him to flee; his conscience kept telling him to stop,” Devine said. “The bad advice from his 18-year-old friend won the day and he drove away.” Jenner was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. Witnesses called police with a description of Severight’s vehicle and the two men were arrested later that morning in a common area of their apartment building. Prosecutors had recommended Severight be sentenced to four years in prison, while defence lawyer Mike Cook urged Devine to sentence Severight to 18 months in jail followed by 18 months of supervised probation, arguing he was a caring young man who had overcome personal challenges in his youth and was deeply remorseful for his actions. Devine said she was satisfied Severight’s experience as an Indigenous man — including a family history of residential school involvement, years spent in foster care and personal tragedy — served to reduce his moral blameworthiness for the crash. More than 30 people provided support letters to court describing Severight as a humble, generous and hard-working man driven to help others. “People who know him were universally shocked to learn of the fatal accident because it was totally out of character for him,” Devine said. Devine credited Severight for time already served, reducing his remaining sentence to just over 22 months, meaning he will serve the remainder of his sentence in a provincial jail, not federal prison. Devine ordered that Severight serve an additional 12 months of supervised probation upon his release from custody. Severight said at a sentencing hearing last month that he was “ashamed” of himself. “I will never forgive myself,” he said. “I have spent countless hours and sleepless nights thinking about the harm I have caused.” Outside court, Wendy Van Loon, Jenner’s partner, said she had hoped Severight would have received a longer sentence as a message to other young drivers tempted to engage in reckless behaviour. “I wouldn’t say I’m pleased, but I understand (the judge’s decision),” she said. Cook said Severight was relieved to have sentencing behind him. “He told me before court he would accept the court’s decision, whatever it was,” Cook said outside court. Barker-Young is charged with leaving the scene of a collision and remains before the court. dean.pritchard(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Portage and Main reopening on track, on budget: staff (Mar5'25)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Mar '25

05 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Portage and Main reopening on track, on budget: staff https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/03/04/portage-and-main-… THE reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians remains on schedule and within the current budget, city staff told Winnipeg’s public works committee Tuesday. The city expects to reopen the intersection to foot traffic by July 1 to coincide with the launch of an overhauled Winnipeg Transit network. Boarding has gone up at all four corners of Portage Avenue and Main Street while work continues on street, curb and sidewalk construction, and utilities. A staircase at the southeast corner, leading to an underground concourse, is being closed off. Lane closures remain in effect. The intersection has been closed to foot traffic since 1979. Council approved the reopening in an 11-3 vote in March 2024, after a staff report found it would cost $73 million and cause up to five years of construction-related traffic disruption to replace a waterproof membrane that protects a pedestrian concourse beneath the intersection. The project’s cost increased to $21 million in November, a month before construction officially began. Crews finished removing the intersection’s concrete barricades in mid-February. The city is looking at options to close the concourse, but has not yet set a date to do so. Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s meeting, the public works committee approved a proposal to conduct an independent “value for money” assessment of extending Chief Peguis Trail in north Winnipeg. The assessment requires council approval before the city can issue a request for proposals. A staff report said the extension from Main Street to Brookside Boulevard would cost $755 million, plus $147 million in interest, if the city funds it solely through debt. The city could explore traditional construction, a public- private partnership and other options to extend Chief Peguis, the report said. fpcity(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:fpcity@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Pedestrian scramble pilot project proposed (Feb27'25)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Pedestrian scramble pilot project proposed https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/26/pedestrian-scramb… CBC coverage: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-king-bannatyne-pedestrian-… THE city’s public service is seeking approval to test a pedestrian scramble in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. If approved by council’s public works committee in early March, the pilot project would introduce Winnipeg’s first pedestrian scramble, simultaneously allowing foot traffic at King Street and Bannatyne Avenue in all four directions. Two options were developed for the pilot, including the recommended $1,000 low-cost option that wouldn’t allow for diagonal crossing at the intersection. The high-cost option, which would permit diagonal crossings, is estimated to cost $360,000 as it would require infrastructure changes. A report to the committee said the recommendation for the low-cost option will allow the public works department time to better understand the benefits and trade-offs before making a decision on the high-cost option. “This is a relatively small investment to do a small trial pilot in one intersection,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “So I’m certainly open to proceeding with that and let’s see how that goes to test it out.” Pedestrian scrambles are said to improve safety by eliminating conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles trying to turn. There are two main types of pedestrian scrambles. Type 1 only allows pedestrians to cross during the scramble phase. Type 2 allows pedestrians to cross during the scramble phases and while motorists travel in the same direction. Type 2 is similar to most signalized intersections, with an added third phase that would halt all vehicle traffic to allow for pedestrian crossings in all directions. The report states a Type 1 scramble was not “considered feasible” at any intersection because of the extensive delays it would cause for people on foot, which would be “expected to negatively impact compliance and safety.” “I think we should do it,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works. “It’s a pilot project … it’s $1,000 worth of signage. The scramble will not be a diagonal scramble for a thousand dollars. It will be intersection to intersection. The timing will allow pedestrians to go from one intersection through the other intersection … King to Bannatyne and across.” Lukes said the more costly option may not be worth the price. “If we are going to look at the diagonal scramble, then we need to do major infrastructure upgrades to that intersection because we have to have accessibility, we have to have lights … and that would require the report to be sent back to the department to find out what it would cost and then where it would fit in our level of priorities. I don’t think, personally, it would fit high in the level of priorities. But we’ll find out from the department.” King and Bannatyne was one of four intersections found most promising after screenings. The others included Albert Street and McDermot Avenue, Arthur Street and McDermot and Princess Street and Bannatyne. Osborne Street and River Avenue was considered in 2024 but was not recommended then, and when reviewed again recently was left off the short list. Considerations for each intersection included high-pedestrian and low vehicle volumes, smaller intersections and active land use. Other factors included construction feasibility and cost, collision history and road user delays for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, trucks and other motorists. “This intersection is adjacent to Old Market Square and considered a relatively high pedestrian activity area in the Exchange District with placemaking opportunities,” the report said regarding King and Bannatyne. “It was the only intersection assessed that showed a Type 2 scramble would reduce pedestrian delay while creating acceptable increases in motorist delay. “The other locations assessed shows pedestrian delay would worsen or stay about the same, which indicates a pedestrian scramble would not have much benefit over existing conditions.” The Type 2 pilot project would shorten pedestrian delays by nine seconds east and west and one second north and south while increasing motorist delays for westbound traffic by seven seconds and northbound traffic by 17 seconds. A Type 1 scramble would see an added 30-second delay for pedestrian traffic going east and west, and 28 seconds going north and south. Motorist delays would be the same as Type 2. If public works signs off on the project, city staff will report back to the committee in April 2026. — with files from Joyanne Pursaga scott.billeck(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Peguis extension pricey but worth it: mayor (Feb27'25)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Benefits for trade, investment outweigh $755-M cost, city says Peguis extension pricey but worth it: mayor https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/26/mayor-says-skyroc… THE cost to extend Chief Peguis Trail in north Winnipeg has risen by hundreds of millions of dollars but city officials predict its benefits would still outweigh its price. Extending the trail from Main Street to Brookside Boulevard would cost $755 million, plus $147 million in interest, if the city funds it solely through debt, a new city report notes. In 2019, the project was expected to cost $449 million, plus $38 million in interest (if funded by debt). Mayor Scott Gillingham said the project is worth its hefty tab, since it would better connect trade routes. “Right now, we as a community are facing the threat of tariffs … We need to be investor-ready so that we can pivot and open up the City of Winnipeg’s economy and the provincial economy to new markets,” said Gillingham. Chief Peguis Trail currently runs from Lagimodiere Boulevard to Main Street. The mayor said the city would need help from the provincial and federal governments to pay for the extension to Brookside Boulevard. He said he’s confident that funding will be provided. “This is an important project for all three levels of government … federal and provincial governments have keen interest in this,” said Gillingham. The mayor credited much of the price hike to construction inflation, while he stressed completing the project would result in a substantial boost to the economy over time. A financial analysis predicts the project would allow the city to develop 1,200 net acres of residential land and 600 net acres of employment land. Over 75 years, the project should create thousands of jobs and trigger a $1.83-billion revenue boost, after expenses are accounted for, according to the report. “It will unlock much-needed residential development, up to 15,000 homes, and needed employment lands,” said Gillingham. The report notes that the financial forecast assumes property tax rates will continue to grow by 3.5 per cent each year, while lower tax hikes would produce far less revenue. “Between 1991 and 2024, the compound annual growth rate in property taxes for the average homeowner has been 1.9 per cent — at this rate, the development would run a significant deficit for the entire analysis period,” writes Brad Neirinck, the city’s manager of engineering. The project is expected to start paying off much sooner if provincial and federal governments help fund it. City staff describe the trail extension as a “major transportation project” that is key to enabling development and supporting Winnipeg’s population growth. “(Chief Peguis Trail) is intended to provide a continuous east-west link between the east and west section of the Perimeter Highway via CentrePort Canada Way, thereby improving access to industrial parks in the vicinity of the airport and further (developing) the strategic road network,” writes Neirinck. He suggests Winnipeggers would also benefit from reduced vehicle travel times, new active transportation facilities and decreased greenhouse gas emissions (due to reduced fuel consumption), if the project is built. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said the city’s top infrastructure priority is completing a multibillion- dollar upgrade of the north end sewage treatment plant. However, Lukes echoed the mayor’s view that Chief Peguis Trail remains a key priority. “It’s a lot of money. And it’ll probably be more money by the time it gets around to being built. … But now with what’s going on in the world, with potential tariffs … Canada needs to think (about) how we move goods internally,” said Lukes. If threatened tariffs become a reality and deliver a substantial blow to the economy, Lukes said that could trigger stimulus spending that helps pay for the project. However, some councillors aren’t convinced the extension is worth its price. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) said a new road project that could cost more than $900 million is tough to justify while the city struggles with a multibillion- dollar infrastructure deficit. Allard said tax-increment financing grants that trigger the construction of new city buildings would likely create a much bigger return on investment than major road projects. “I do acknowledge there is some economic benefit (to the trail extension) but it also comes with a liability of having to maintain the road,” said Allard. If city council approves, staff will complete an independent “value for money” assessment of the project. The city could explore traditional construction, a public-private partnership and other options to build the extension, the report notes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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Bike-bus
by feaver＠mts.net 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/20/cycling-to-school-almos…

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WFP: Pedestrians to get five-second jump on traffic downtown (Feb15'25)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Feb '25

15 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Pedestrians to get five-second jump on traffic downtown https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/14/signal-change-wil… Winnipeg pedestrians will soon get a head start to cross many intersections more safely. Beginning in early March, city officials will start installing leading pedestrian intervals at about 80 per cent of signalized intersections in the downtown, a city staff report notes. “The head start allows pedestrians to be more visible in the intersection before the signal turns green for vehicles,” wrote David Patman, the city’s manager of transportation planning. Leading pedestrian intervals provide a four- to six-second head start for pedestrians to begin crossing an intersection before the signal turns green for vehicles travelling the same direction, Patman wrote. The downtown changes will signal pedestrians to cross five seconds before vehicles. On Friday, council’s public works committee welcomed the signal changes and expanded them. The committee instructed staff to implement the change citywide at all eligible signalized intersections within the year. A progress report is due back in six months. “It gives (foot traffic) a head start in crossing the intersection, versus pedestrians starting and cars just taking off… I strongly support anything we can do to support the vulnerable road user, which is the pedestrians,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works. “Most of the death and carnage… (from collisions happens) at intersections.” Lukes (Waverley West) noted the change resulted in a 13 per cent reduction in collisions in other cities. The traffic signals branch will revise timing throughout downtown to support the reopening of pedestrian crossings at Portage Avenue and Main Street later this year, so the changes happen simultaneously. The public works department can do the work at no added capital cost, the report noted. “It’s a very cost-effective way to increase safety for the vulnerable road user…. If we can even do 50 per cent of (the installations) within a year … That’s fantastic,” said Lukes. The staff report notes some intersections aren’t suited to the change and selection will consider potential traffic delays, pedestrian crash risk and pedestrian volumes. “Not every intersection of downtown is being done. Where there’s… already delay or there’s congestion, we’re not including them,” Patman told the public works committee. Head start signals also won’t be added at intersections that already restrict vehicles from turning during the pedestrian crossing phase, the report said. The city previously installed head start signals at approximately 30 intersections, including at Bannatyne Avenue and Main Street, Broadway and Main Street, Main Street and Market Avenue, Main Street and McDermot Avenue, Osborne Street and Stradbrook Avenue and Osborne Street and River Road. Early results of video surveillance at those intersections (among those with sufficient data) found an average 35 per cent reduction of “near miss” incidents. Between 2012 and 2018, an average of 33 per cent of all road-related fatalities and 10 per cent of all major injury collisions in Winnipeg involved a pedestrian, with most taking place at intersections, according to the report. And from 2015 to 2022, about 275 pedestrians were involved in road-related crashes downtown, including 13 that resulted in major injuries and eight in fatalities. Staff expect the signal change to be completed at the selected downtown intersections in May. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Bus line to launch route from Winnipeg to Flin Flon / Kasper announces Winnipeg to Thompson service (Feb11'25)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Feb '25

11 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bus line to launch route from Winnipeg to Flin Flon https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2025/02/11/bus-line-to-launch-ro… SEVERAL northern Manitoba communities will have another option for bus travel to Winnipeg come spring. NCN Thompson Bus Lines announced Monday it will launch a regular route from Winnipeg to Flin Flon through Dauphin and The Pas beginning April 1. The company also announced its investment in The Pas via a bus terminal building it has purchased and is redeveloping in the town — its third facility in the province, including Thompson and Winnipeg. NCN Thompson is investing more than $1.5 million to upgrade the building and expand its fleet this year, according to Siddharth Varma, co-owner and chief operating officer. The company has aspired to offer passenger bus service up the western side of the province since it started in 2018, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans, he said. The expansion will add regular Monday to Friday daytime passenger service that will connect Flin Flon, The Pas, Swan River, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. Freight pickups and drop-offs will also be available along the entire route, along with final mile deliveries. “We believe community members need something reliable, long-lasting and feasible, so we are here to facilitate that,” Varma said. NCN Thompson has not finalized the ticket pricing yet, but they “will be very affordable and competitive in nature,” he added. The expansion will create jobs in northern Manitoba. Seven new staff based in The Pas — four bus drivers, two bus depot staff and a mechanic — have already been hired. The announcement of NCN Thompson’s Winnipeg to Flin Flon route comes two-and-a-half months after Kasper Bus Lines, an Ontario-based company, launched a regular route from Winnipeg to The Pas through Dauphin. Transportation between northern Manitoba and southern Manitoba is vital, according to Andre Murphy, mayor of The Pas. Some community members don’t have their own vehicles, so they use the bus for medical travel and to connect with their family and friends. “Adding NCN is just going to expand that service level and fill that need that much further,” Murphy said. “We’re very happy with NCN. We’re very happy Kasper Bus Lines has joined us and this is a critical service that’s needed in northern Manitoba.” Kasper Wabinski, president of Kasper Bus Lines, doesn’t anticipate NCN Thompson’s new route impacting his business. “People know what we’re known for: safe and reliable transportation. I’m going to continue to offer a dependable, safe service,” Wabinski said. Varma founded NCN Thompson Bus Lines with James Pelk in 2018 to service Manitoba communities along Highways 6 and 280 after Greyhound ended its Manitoba routes. The company’s registered business name is Thompson Bus and Freight. NCN Thompson is partnered with Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), a First Nation in Nelson House, about 80 kilometres west of Thompson. The company has been accused in the past by customers and former staff of running its buses with little heat in the middle of winter. Varma said Monday that while the company has had “some hiccups” in previous years, he and his colleagues are serious about the safety, security and comfort of NCN Thompson passengers. The company runs its buses 365 days a year, making close to 700 trips between Winnipeg and Thompson annually that transport more than 33,000 people, he said. “Yes, a couple of times we had issues and there have been negative social media posts in the past, but we are giving a lot of serious effort and investment toward making sure the buses are safe and secure and they have operational heat,” he said. By the end of February, NCN Thompson will have added five buses to its fleet, Varma added. Each bus carries around 50 passengers. Two of the buses are 2020 models and three are brand new 2025 models. Details about the new routes will be available on the company’s website soon, Varma said. Kasper announces Winnipeg to Thompson service HOURS after NCN Thompson Bus Lines publicized its Winnipeg to Flin Flon route, Kasper Bus Lines announced Monday on its Facebook page that it will offer a Winnipeg to Thompson route starting in the next month. The service will run Sunday to Friday and cost $100-$130 per ticket, according to Kasper Wabinski, who owns the Ontario-based company. The 30-passenger buses will include bathrooms, Starlink internet access and USB chargers. Kasper Bus Lines joins NCN Thompson and Greywolf Bus, which launched Dec. 26, 2024, in offering service from Winnipeg to Thompson. “Thompson was always part of the expansion plan,” Wabinski said, adding that he wants his company to service all of Manitoba. “I think it’s an appropriate day to make the announcement.” Kasper Bus Lines operates within Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. It has 42 employees and will add at least eight more in the coming months, according to Wabinski, who also heads the Coast to Coast Bus Coalition. aaron.epp(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: City waits to clear snow from sidewalks, then does it fast (Feb11'25)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Feb '25

11 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City waits to clear snow from sidewalks, then does it fast Report finds only Sudbury allows more white stuff to fall before plows come out https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/10/city-waits-to-cle… WINNIPEG gets more snow than other Prairie cities, gets the least snowpack melt, has the fewest days when salt can melt snow — and takes longer than most cities to begin clearing sidewalks. A new city report shows that four of the eight cities that responded to a query from Winnipeg about their sidewalk snow clearing begin plowing as soon as the snow begins to fall. While Winnipeg waits until five centimetres of snow has accumulated before it begins plowing operations, the report found Edmonton, Steinbach, Quebec City and St. John’s begin plowing at the beginning of a snowfall. The report, being presented to the civic public works committee on Friday, found Winnipeg is behind three other cities: Calgary starts its plow as soon as the snow stops falling; Saskatoon starts when there are two centimetres on the ground; and Ottawa calls out the plows when 2.5 centimetres has accumulated. Only Sudbury, which waits until eight centimetres of snow has fallen, takes longer to start clearing sidewalks. Coun. Janice Lukes, the committee’s chairwoman, said while sidewalk plows aren’t deployed immediately, when they are they can cover the city faster because there are more of them — and she believes they are doing a good job. “Honestly, and I’m almost afraid to say this, I think I’ve had one complaint this year on the sidewalks and bike paths,” Lukes said. “Maybe it is because we have more machines and we’ve put more labour into it. We got 15 (more sidewalk-clearing) machines last year — this is the first year we’re really using them. We are out there sooner. We used to wait a lot longer before we went out.” Winnipeg also has more kilometres of snow to clear than most cities, Lukes said. The report states Winnipeg has 3,466 kilometres of sidewalks and paths, less than Edmonton’s 4,400 kilometres, but far more than Sudbury’s 538. City council made some sidewalk snow-clearing changes last year. While the starting amount for operations to begin had already been reduced from eight centimetres of snow to five centimetres, it was also changed to have a deadline of finishing all residential sidewalks within 36 hours. Disability advocates admit this year the city is doing a good job, but there are still problems. Melissa Graham, executive director of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, said the S(NO)W Plow campaign on Facebook it established with other organizations representing people with disabilities and seniors has received nine complaints this winter compared to 14 last winter. “There are still a lot of people who don’t get out because they feel it is unsafe. The plowing has been good when there has been a dump of snow, but what about the in-between? The snow comes down and it adds up. This impacts people,” Graham said. David Kron, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, said he agrees the city has done a better job clearing sidewalks so far this year. “I’ve got to give them kudos. I think they’re doing a better job, but there is always room for improvement. It looks better. I think our (snow clearing) policy has been well established — as long as they follow it, ” Kron said. “I know this is a winter city and I’m willing to work with them.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Weekly: Rebuilt bridge enhances transportation options (Feb5'25)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Feb '25

05 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Rebuilt bridge enhances transportation options https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2025/02/05… As someone who likes to ride a bicycle to get around in St. Vital and Winnipeg, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to the City of Winnipeg for the quality of the newly renovated St Vital Bridge. With the completion of the freshly rebuilt span connecting St. Vital to Fort Rouge, the experience of people who walk and cycle and roll has been dramatically improved. The bridge has been completely modernized, with wide, high-quality sidewalks and cycling paths on either side, in addition to excellent and comprehensive connecting pathways and facilities on both sides. What was once a dangerous choke point that shoved walkers and cyclists up against each other on a narrow sidewalk has become a wide and accommodating deck. It feels welcoming and safe. No longer will people walking and cycling need to get into awkward conflict, with one or both being pinned to the side to pass each other. Those riding on both sides can now get on and off the bridge from convenient, direct pathways that link both back to the on-street cycling network and into the off-street pathway system. This is the latest major infrastructure upgrade in St. Vital to consider the needs of those young and old that travel the community by bicycle and on-foot. The nearby St. Anne’s Road and Fermor Avenue intersection is now a much-improved shared-use space that makes reasonable accommodation for all modes of transport in a busy location. It is heartening to see that the city is heading in the right direction, after many years of delays in trying to create more freedom and practicality of choice for the public. Thank you to the many leaders, activists, and officials who contributed to delivering this encouraging progress. It’s my fervent hope that this momentum continues in the years to come so that my children and generations to come have safe, empowering, and enjoyable streets and outdoors in Winnipeg. Ryan Palmquist is managing director of Save Our Seine and a community correspondent for St. Vital.

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Winnipeg Free Press: Driver fined for speeding 123 km/h near school
by Patman, David 05 Feb '25

05 Feb '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. This is absolutely ridiculous given what happened on Wellington so recently. Driver fined for speeding 123 km/h near school - Winnipeg Free Press<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/02/04/driver-fined-for-….> Driver fined for speeding 123 km/h near school Posted: 3:37 PM CST Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 A motorist has been fined more than $1,000 for driving 123 km/h in a residential zone in Waverley West near a school that was hosting an event on Friday evening. The Pembina Trails School Division alerted families on Tuesday about a police stop that took place shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. "Officers stopped a motorist driving 123 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on North Town Road near Bison Drive, by one of our schools that had an event underway. Buses were in operation, and young pedestrians were present," the school division wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The intersection of Frontier Trail, which turns into North Town Road, and Bison Drive is under 10 minutes by foot from both Bison Run School and Pembina Trails Collegiate. The former, a kindergarten-to-Grade 8 school, celebrated its second birthday last week. The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed the driver was issued a $1,006 fine and a serious offence notice. The individual will have to attend a hearing in front of Manitoba Public Insurance that could result in a lengthy licence suspension. Police had no further details on Tuesday. "Excessive speed puts everyone at risk. It reduces reaction time, increases stopping distance, and makes collisions more severe," WPS wrote in a statement on social media urging motorists to slow down. fpcity(a)freepress.mb.ca [City of Winnipeg logo]<https://winnipeg.ca/> David Patman (he/him) Manager Transportation Public Works City of Winnipeg Telephone: 204-986-5895 Mobile: 204-806-6471 Email: dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca> Website: winnipeg.ca<https://winnipeg.ca/> Address: 101-1155 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E3P1 Connect with us: [Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> [X (Twitter)] <https://twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg> [YouTube] <https://youtube.com/thecityofwinnipeg> [LinkedIn] <https://linkedin.com/company/city-of-winnipeg> [Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/thecityofwinnipeg/> Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this message is intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any use, dissemination, distribution, copying or disclosure of this message and attachments, in whole or in part, by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the complete message and any attachments. Thank you.

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CBC: Winnipeg Transit puts wheels in motion to replace most of its bus routes this summer (Jan30'25)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '25

30 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. New routes coming to most of the city on June 29, when spine-and-feeder system replaces hub-and-spoke model https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-transit-network-overhaul-1…

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WFP: Go with the floe: Ice Cycles back on river trail (Jan25'25)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '25

25 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Go with the floe: Ice Cycles back on river trail https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2025/01/24/go-with-the… AN ICE bike rental company hopes to slide to success after mild weather cancelled its 2024 season. Ice Cycles has set up shop under the footbridge at The Forks and will be open for business starting today. The company rents four different models of ice bikes — vehicles with the body of a bicycle or tricycle, minus the front wheel and mounted on a blade similar to the kind used in skates or on a short ski. There are two models for individual riders, a tandem model and a “minivan” model that can accommodate up to two adults and three children. Due to their stability and ease of use, ice bikes are an accessible winter activity for people of all ages, according to co-owner Sinan Leylek. “This is a great way to open up Winnipeg’s famous river trail to people who say, ‘I don’t know how to (skate),’” he said. Ice Cycles is Canada’s first ice bike company. It’s a division of Spark Rentals Inc., an event equipment rental business Leylek started in 2015. The company provides audio-visual equipment, lighting, dance floors and staging equipment for weddings, socials, corporate events and film productions. Leylek discovered ice bikes while travelling in northwestern China in 2014. He decided to bring them to North America in 2021, after Spark’s business suffered due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Ice Cycles opened for business in January 2022. Leylek was disappointed last year’s warm weather meant Ice Cycles couldn’t operate in Winnipeg. The company is also an international wholesaler, though, and Leylek sold a fleet of the bikes to the City of Edmonton. He’s also sold ice bikes to customers in the Yukon, Ontario, Michigan and Vermont. “(We want to) validate the markets in Winnipeg and show you how much fun it is, how successful it can be, and then find other municipalities or rental operators that want to bring it into their own cities,” Leylek said. Ice Cycles kicked off its 2025 season Jan. 11 at the Assiniboine Park duck pond with free rentals as part of the park’s three-day We are Winter celebration. More than 500 people rode the bikes that weekend, according to Lewis Keller, Ice Cycles manager. “People were excited that it was back,” Keller said. “It just really proved that people love something to do (outside), even if it is the winter. We are ‘Winterpeg’ — the snow’s never stopping anyone from going out and having fun.” The bikes were a welcome addition to We are Winter, said Laura Cabak, Assiniboine Park Conservancy communications director. “For people who might not have skates, this was another fun activity we could offer,” she said. Ice Cycles will be open this weekend: today and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Captain America impersonator will be on hand for two hours Sunday starting at 2:30 p.m. to take pictures with customers. Walk-ups are welcome, but advanced reservations can be made online at sparkrentals.ca. “I’m hopeful for (good) weather to kind of keep the trail open until mid-March,” Leylek said. The Forks officially opened the Nestaweya River Trail on Dec. 31. The trail is currently four kilometres long and will be extended to its full six km length as soon as today, according to Zach Peters, spokesperson for The Forks. Weather conditions last year meant the trail did not open until late January, with only a small section of it open for nine days. In 2023, approximately 220,000 people used the trail, which was open for 72 days — only three days shy of the longest season (2019). aaron.epp(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Demolishing Arlington Bridge a step closer (Jan25'25)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '25

25 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Demolishing Arlington Bridge a step closer https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/01/24/demolishing-arlin… The City of Winnipeg is on track to take on another $20 million in debt to begin the long-awaited replacement of the closed Arlington Bridge. Council’s executive policy committee approved a $22-million plan to demolish the bridge, which is between Logan and Dufferin avenues, and start designing its replacement, on Friday. The plan would also draw $2 million from Winnipeg’s share of federal gas tax revenues this year, pending final council approval of the 2025 budget. Mayor Scott Gillingham confirmed the plan is to eventually replace the bridge. “That’s what we’re moving toward. There’s funds here now to … demolish the decommissioned bridge because we are paying money every year just for maintenance to keep that decommissioned bridge up. There’s also funds there to do design work as a next step to moving forward to building the bridge,” said Gillingham. The Arlington Bridge, which opened in 1912, closed suddenly on Nov. 21, 2023, due to structural concerns, raising questions about its future. In November, the city released a proposal to replace the bridge at its current location. It would cost $166 million, plus up to $27 million more in interest, and require six years to build. Coun. Jeff Browaty, council’s finance chairman, said the bridge is a critical link between communities and must be demolished to protect the rail lines below it. “It’s going to have to come down. We know that. I’ve spoken to engineers … and they’ve suggested if we don’t do it now, it’s going to be more expensive to take it apart later. I think this is a smart investment to deal with it now,” said Browaty. Council’s public works committee had approved a motion that would earmark $30 million of future years’ funding for the bridge, along with a “first charge” to allow $20 million to be spent this year. Gillingham said officials worked to refine early cost estimates after that vote, leading the new total to drop by $8 million. The mayor’s inner circle also approved a call to let Downtown Community Safety Partnership move into the shuttered community connections space at Millennium Library for a two-month pilot project from April 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025. Then there is Millennium for All, an advocacy organization that has fought against reductions in funding for the downtown library. That group wants community connections restored to its previous form and is skeptical of the new proposal. One representative of Millennium for All said the proposal would bring a “police-oriented” presence to the library, which is not what advocates want. Let’s dispense with some of the misconceptions critics could use to derail this worthy idea. DCSP is not a “police-oriented” presence. Its outreach workers are not trained in law enforcement, they are trained to navigate social services and intervene with addictions and mental- health crises. They wear a uniform of sorts, but look a lot more like couriers than police officers. And for the record, the library is absolutely the right place to provide this kind of support. Millennium remains one of the last truly open, public spaces in the downtown. All kinds of people who need help connecting with public services already use the library, which has computers, printers and a host of staff to help people apply for identification, government support, housing and health care. For many newcomers, the library is their first stop in building a new life in Canada. Finally, thanks to the fact that the safety partnership is already widely supported by government and other entities, the proposal to move into space in the Millennium Library comes at no additional cost to the city. It’s win (for the city, which is tight for money), win (for DCSP, which needs a storefront presence), and win for the people downtown who need help navigating public services. Who would try to derail a win-win-win proposition like this? One can only hope that it’s no one. dan.lett(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca>

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Active Transportation & Road Safety Town Hall | March 15th
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '25

21 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Councillor Janice Lukes is hosting a public session on active transportation and road safety. You’re invited to join Councillor Lukes, the Public Works committee – Councillors Sharma, Chambers and Eadie, and members of the public service to discuss upcoming Active Transportation and Road Safety projects. See an at a glance AT Funding<https://janicelukes.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AT-Funding-2025.pdf> A presentation from the public service will be delivered, followed by a robust discussion. Saturday, March 15th Presentation Theatre – RBC Convention Centre 9:00 doors open 9:30 – 10:30 presentation 10:30 – noon, robust discussion Refreshments will be served No need to RSVP – the room holds up to 300 people https://janicelukes.ca/event/active-transportation-road-safety-town-hall/

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FW: Sustainable Safety versus Vision Zero - Free Webinar for CARSP and ITE Canada Members / $50 for non-Members
by Michelle Porter 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

An upcoming webinar that you might be interested in. Michelle Michelle M. Porter, PhD, Professor | Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management | Director, Centre on Aging | 338 Isbister Building | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg, MB CANADA | R3T 2N2 | (204) 474-8795 michelle.porter(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:michelle.porter@umanitoba.ca> | Centre on Aging | University of Manitoba (umanitoba.ca)<https://umanitoba.ca/centre-on-aging/> | https://bsky.app/profile/um-coa-porter.bsky.social | linkedin.com/in/michelle-porter-639890150<https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-porter-639890150> From: CARSP/ACPSER <brenda.suggett(a)carsp.ca> Sent: January 16, 2025 1:43 PM To: Michelle Porter <michelle.porter(a)umanitoba.ca> Subject: Sustainable Safety versus Vision Zero - Free Webinar for CARSP and ITE Canada Members / $50 for non-Members Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals L'Association canadienne des professionnels de la sécurité routière [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/abd86bfa37a97091490314c26/images/9f1c3699-299…] <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…>[https://mcusercontent.com/abd86bfa37a97091490314c26/images/5a2f8614-39c9-d5…]<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…><https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Free Webinar for CARSP & ITE Canada members! Feb 27, 2025, 12pm-1:00pm ET This webinar explores Sustainable Safety and Vision Zero, examining their philosophies, best practices, and practical applications. Through a comparative analysis, participants will gain insights into how these frameworks complement one another and the challenges inherent in integrating them. The session includes case studies from Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands, showcasing diverse contexts shaped by varying local needs, cultural factors, and community scales. These examples will illustrate how to adapt these frameworks effectively to specific road conditions, traffic behaviours, and societal norms. The webinar will balance presentation and interaction, with tools like Menti polls and a dedicated Q&A segment to foster engagement and practical takeaways SIGN UP QUICKLY - SPACE IS LIMITED! [https://mcusercontent.com/abd86bfa37a97091490314c26/_compresseds/348f9196-d… Luten Anna is a communication specialist based on North America. Originally hailing from the Netherlands, Anna was the first Bicycle Mayor of Amsterdam and is focussed on urban cycling safety and advocacy to foster sustainable transportation in North America. Anna brings a diverse experience which has seen her collaborate in various industries from fashion and e-commerce to bicycle manufacturers, startups and urban mobility organisations. Anna is an excellent storyteller with a flair for developing implementable strategies, working adeptly from strategy creation through to execution. With her expertise in mobility, she is passionate about improving urban environments for the betterment of communities and cities. [https://mcusercontent.com/abd86bfa37a97091490314c26/_compresseds/0570aead-d… Donaldson Narayan is a transportation planner with seven years of planning and engineering experience in Canada and the Netherlands. He is passionate about rebuilding streets and networks to allow people to move safely and efficiently using all modes of transport. He specializes in the design of intersections including physical design and traffic signal control, with a particular focus on active transportation modes and public transit. Prior to working at Mobycon, he worked as a traffic signal program developer in the Netherlands and in Ontario. He also has experience designing streets through his previous work as a transportation planner for the Toronto Transit Commission. His combination of Canadian and Dutch experience makes him well-suited for adapting European strategies for a North-American context. Registration is open until Feb 26th. Space is limited, so sign up soon to reserve your spot! Register Now!<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Questions? * Webinar Content Questions: Anna Luten a.luten(a)mobycon.com<mailto:a.luten@mobycon.com?subject=CARSP%20Webinar%20Question> * Technical Difficulties (either during registering or during the webinar): homa.naeini(a)carsp.ca<mailto:homa.naeini@carsp.ca?subject=Webinar%20Question> * about CARSP - Brenda.Suggett(a)carsp.ca<mailto:Brenda.Suggett@carsp.ca?subject=Questions%20about%20CARSP%20> [Twitter]<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Twitter<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> [LinkedIn]<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> LinkedIn<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> [YouTube]<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> YouTube<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> [Facebook]<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Facebook<https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Copyright © 2025 CARSP-ACPSER, All rights reserved. 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WFP: Committee votes to set aside cash for Arlington Bridge (Jan17'25)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Committee votes to set aside cash for Arlington Bridge https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/01/16/city-committee-vo… THE City of Winnipeg could soon earmark $30 million to complete the first steps toward replacing the Arlington Bridge. On Thursday, council’s public works committee approved a plan to devote future money to fund the demolition of the bridge, which is closed, and complete design work for its replacement. The motion called to authorize $20 million of capital funding in 2026 and to allow the funds to be accessed this year as a “first charge” from that future budget. The proposal also calls to add $10 million to the 2027 capital budget forecast for the project, pending city council and future budget approvals. “It’s a critical link to allow transit to go north and south. … I’m a big trades corridor supporter, and this will allow trucking and more vehicles. … There’s a huge component of active transportation, both north and south of the Arlington Bridge and people will be using it,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, prior to the vote. The Waverley West councillor expects the city would take on debt to fund the work, if council approves the proposal. Lukes said the borrowing is justified, deeming the bridge replacement a “generational project.” “I’ve heard a lot of feedback on the importance of the Arlington Bridge,” she said. The preliminary 2025 budget did not earmark money for the bridge replacement. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) raised the motion for the funding, arguing the city must get work started to replace the “critical” transportation link. “The motion will be to keep the project moving forward, with continuous design and planning. If we just didn’t fund anything right now, it would lie dead and there would be no work done because there’s just no authority to spend money,” Eadie said. In November, the city released a proposal to replace the bridge at its current location. It would cost $166 million, plus up to $27 million more in interest, and require six years to build. However, the city had just $149 million left to borrow within its council-imposed debt strategy when that estimate was released. Eadie hopes to secure at least some of the funding from the other levels of governments. The Arlington Bridge, which opened in 1912, closed suddenly on Nov. 21, 2023, due to structural concerns. The latest price estimate to replace the bridge plummeted from a 2019 proposal, which was expected to cost $319 million and offer a much wider, three lane structure with two protected one-way bike lanes and two sidewalks. The new cheaper plan would produce a narrower, two-lane bridge with two shared, multi-use active-transportation paths. Council will cast a final vote on the budget on Jan. 29. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City hall feels heat, will bury snow plan (Jan17'25)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Proposal would have delayed clearing efforts City hall feels heat, will bury snow plan https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/01/16/city-to-cancel-co… A PILOT project to increase the amount of snow needed to trigger residential street clearing appears set to be dumped from the city’s budget, after public backlash piled up. City council will be asked to delete the project from the 2025 financial blueprint, which was proposed to raise the threshold to plow residential streets from 10 cm to 15 cm, starting in October. That change would have affected snow clearing throughout next winter. Council’s public works committee voted unanimously in favour of a motion to scrap the pilot project on Thursday. Mayor Scott Gillingham said he will support the motion, noting residents expressed concerns the threshold increase would compromise road safety and accessibility. “We had more feedback concerned (with) the snow-clearing pilot idea than we did about the (proposed 5.95 per cent) property tax increase … We have a very high standard of snow clearing and the public has said very clearly that they want that maintained,” said Gillingham. The mayor said some residents complained it currently takes too long to clear residential streets and the change would extend that wait, while others suggested it would make travel more difficult for people with mobility devices. “Even though I tried to express there’s not a service cut, we’re just doing a pilot project, people, I think, really did see it as a service cut,” said Gillingham. The city’s snow-clearing budget is slated to increase by $5.3 million to $45.7 million this year. Actual spending is tied to the work required to follow snow-clearing policies and varies widely depending on weather. The mayor stressed the city must seek out other ways to keep snow-clearing costs under control as inflation boosts the price of snow removal contracts. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said mobility concerns led her to raise the motion to cancel the project. “The feedback that really resonated with me was … the concern of the public (about) mobility issues on streets where there’s no sidewalks or pathways, because people have to use streets (for all modes of traffic). We will never be able to afford a sidewalk or a pathway on every street in the City of Winnipeg,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The councillor said she supports the idea of “floating” cost-saving measures to gauging public feedback, though she did have concerns about this particular proposal from the start. “We could try this pilot project. But, honestly, I really wanted to cancel it right off the bat,” said Lukes, noting Winnipeggers are passionate about snow clearing. The city hoped the pilot project could avoid one citywide residential snow-clearing operation each year, which typically costs from $2.75 million to $5 million. Potential savings weren’t factored into the 2025 budget, Lukes said. She expects the project will be scrapped when council votes on it. “I don’t think there’ll be a problem with the councillors supporting this motion,” said Lukes. The call to strike the project triggered relief from some residents, including those who represent people with disabilities. “As much as they were calling it a pilot, it felt very much like a budget cut disguised as a pilot … I am glad they are hearing people,” said Melissa Graham, executive director of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities. If the pilot project were to go ahead, Graham feared recent changes to improve sidewalk snow clearing would become less effective. “If you can’t cross the street to (reach) the next sidewalk, you effectively can’t use (the sidewalk) anyway. A lot of people in this community stay home, sometimes all winter, because they can’t get around on sidewalks,” she said. “I see this (call to cancel the project) as very good news. I’m glad that they’re getting the message that sidewalk clearing and road clearing isn’t just a perk, it’s something that’s really important to people,” Graham said. David Kron, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, said he was concerned even a temporary policy change would have forced more people to stay home more often. “It doesn’t take a lot of snow buildup to make a street or a sidewalk inaccessible for folks that use a manual or power chair or, like myself … a cane. It doesn’t take much of a barrier to make somebody have to stay at home during the winter,” said Kron. “If folks can’t get out of their homes, they can’t be part of the community.” A cycling advocate also welcomed the proposed cancellation, since he feared the change would have allowed more snow and ruts to build up. “The ruts at 15 cm are just really hard to navigate and it is a safety hazard,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “(If) you’re in that rut and … try to get out of it, there’s a potential of (falling) down.” Cohoe said the change threatened to hinder the city’s effort to get more people to walk and bike. “We’re a winter city. Having that … ability to get out and to feel like we’re going to have that option of moving around, walking, busing and driving through the city, is really critical to life in Winnipeg. We can’t just shut down for four months (or more) of the year,” he said. City council is expected to cast a final vote on the overall budget on Jan. 29. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Arrest made in pedestrian Death (Jan15'25)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Jan '25

15 Jan '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ARREST MADE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATH A driver has been arrested after an 87-year=old man was hit at a marked pedestrian crossing and later died. The collision happened at the intersection of McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue at about 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 23. Emergency services were already on scene when a pickup truck traveling east on Leila Avenue hit a pedestrian who was crossing McPhillips. The pedestrian was taken to hospital in unstable condition, where he later died from his injuries. The driver, a 44-year-old man, remained on scene and spoke with police. He was arrested Sunday and faces a charge of driving carelessly causing death. He was released on a notice to appear in court.

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