- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

AT Webinar Invite: Street Lighting - Best Practices and Innovations, Wed, Nov 15, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Heather Mitchell 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of this month's APBP <http://www.apbp.org/> webinar: *Street Lighting - Best Practices and Innovations in Illumination Technology* *Wednesday, November 15 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm CDT * The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Best, Heather -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext:107 Green Action Centre is your green living hub. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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Nov 10th: City of Winnipeg Community Climate Action Plan Launch
by Beth McKechnie 06 Nov '17

06 Nov '17

You are invited to the launch of Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan: Planning for Climate Change, Acting for People. *The kick-off event is scheduled for Friday, Nov 10th at the University of Winnipeg; doors open at 6:30pm. Please RSVP here *www.climateactionwinnipeg. eventbrite.ca For more information, please see the attached poster and visit these links to related websites and reports: * The City of Winnipeg news release that announced<http://www.winnipeg. ca/cao/media/news/nr_2017/nr_20171026.stm#2> Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan and the invite to attend the kickoff event. * A link to our Sustainability and Climate Action website< http://www.winnipeg.ca/Sustainability/PublicEngagement/ ClimateActionPlan/default.stm> for more information on how to get involved * A link to the technical report describing the City of Winnipeg Community 2011 GHG Inventory and Forecast<http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewDoc.asp? DocId=15709&SectionId=&InitUrl> Lindsay Mierau Environmental Coordinator Urban Planning and Design Division, Planning, Property and Development City of Winnipeg Phone: (204) 986-8598 Email: lmierau(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:lmierau@winnipeg.ca>

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Why we can't have nice things: dockless bikes and the tragedy of the commons
by Charles F 05 Nov '17

05 Nov '17

Sad; Why we can't have nice things: dockless bikes and the tragedy of the commons https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/05/why-we-cant-have-nice-thin… ⁣

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Fwd: Cycle of Giving 2017!
by Dave Elmore 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

Please pass this along. Please note that The WRENCH is still short of kids bikes for the event. Please drop off any bikes to either of the 4 R Depots (Brady or Pacific) as space at th shop is also a bit tight. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cycle of Giving <cog(a)thewrench.ca> Date: Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 1:28 PM Subject: Cycle of Giving 2017! To: [image: Inline images 2] *The Cycle Of Giving 24 hour kids bike building marathon* is bringing volunteer mechanics together to build over 300 bicycles for kids in need. We aim to raise $15,000 to support free bike programming for children and families in 2018. >From *12 pm December 2**nd** to 12 pm December 3**rd*, the Orioles Community Centre will be transformed into a magic workshop where salvaged and donated used bicycles are turned into holiday dreams come true. Help us give to more kids than ever before! *You can be part of the Cycle of Giving!* *Volunteer * <http://thewrench.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/volunteerLINK.pdf> *Donate* <http://thewrench.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate-to-the-Cycl…> *[image: Donate online] <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-wrench-the-winnipeg-repair-edu…>* *Tell a friend or Like **WRENCH* <https://www.facebook.com/theWRENCHwpg/>* on facebook*

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Report: Food deserts connection with AT, transit, mixed use neighbourhoods
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

*Top doctor says Winnipeg could reinvent itself and improve access to healthy choices* * Food options limited in inner city * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/food-options-limited-in-inner-city-… Find report here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/chief-public-h… OTTAWA — Canada’s top doctor says Winnipeg could be a leader for North America, by reinventing itself from a car-dominated metropolis to a city focused on public transit, walkability and affordable food. Her comments come as new research suggests low-income Winnipeggers are using taxis to find cheaper food due to poor bus service and relying on convenience-store shelves to feed their families. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, sees great challenges but also possibilities for Winnipeg, where one-tenth of residents live in “food deserts,” areas where poor people lack access to affordable, healthy food. “I think Canadians can be real innovators in how to be active, even in the most remote, in the most cold or extremes of climates,” she said in a recent interview. “It will challenge people to come up with some really great ideas.” Tam took on the job, Canada’s equivalent to the United States’ surgeon general, in June. Her first annual report <https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/chief-public-h…>, published last week, details how Canadian cities have been built in ways that make Canadians physically and mentally unhealthy. Tam, who’s lived in Saskatoon and Edmonton, says Prairie cities need to get people moving through connected streets, bike paths and good public transit, as well as areas that mix homes, shops and schools. The idea is to build smarter subdivisions and retrofit existing urban sprawl with better transit and walkable paths. “If we could build our environments so people can use what I call the human engine — to walk or take public transport to get to the grocery store, or get to work or school — they’remore likely to be in a healthier state,” she said. “Even within the suburb itself, you can create the right physical environment for people to be more active.”the These interventions might slow the rise of diabetes, diagnosed in almost one-tenth of adult Canadians in 2011, a rate that almost doubles for Indigenous people in Manitoba, including in Winnipeg. Cities can also improve mental health, Tamsays, through recreational features such as green spaces, walking paths and sports facilities. Budding research shows that murals, parks and public space (cafés, parks, libraries) can prevent isolation and promote better mental health. She even suggests building homes with front porches and yards to increase social interactions. Part of the report offers advice for fixing food deserts, which can be affected by grocery-store locations and hours. It says cities can consider zoning restrictions that limit fast-food restaurants and convenience stores, or promote community gardens for fruit and vegetables. Tam said that’s needed most outside of fancy condos and white-picket fences. “Whatever we do, in terms of our community design, must bear in mind that we need to serve the most vulnerable within our populations. If you are in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, we need to pay attention.” Her report comes on the heels of research published by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which found nine per cent of Winnipeggers lived in food deserts in 2014. The research said Winnipeg Transit leaves much to be desired. It found that those living close to downtown struggle to get to suburban grocery stores with more food, as buses “are often sporadic and inconvenient”. Alarmingly, it said some poor people rely on taxis to get cheaper groceries, partially because bus fares don’t offer good discounts for a parent with children. In the peer-reviewed studies, researchers tabulated neighbourhoods’ census-reported incomes, alongside grocery stores. They found multiple downtown areas more than 500 metres from a supermarket and similar problems in the inner parts of Inkster, Seven Oaks and Elmwood. Yet the study found the problem is less severe than originally thought. The researchers noted that previous studies had only included national chains, which incorrectly pegged 14 per cent of Winnipeg residents as living in a food desert. The researchers suggest how to replicate their study and get an accurate sense of where governments can intervene. Rob Moquin, policy manager with Food Matters Manitoba, said the research is part of a growing recognition of trouble accessing food, though experts have talked about these problems for decades. “It’s a combination of built environments and other societal, structural issues,” he said. “Social change takes a long time.” Moquin pointed to previous research on “food swamps” where low-income neighbourhoods can only access unhealthy fast food, and more recent findings on “food mirages” where upmarket grocery stores sell products that nearby residents can’t afford. “People in Winnipeg should have access to a full-service grocer in close proximity to where they live,” Moquin said, something that can only be done if city officials confront the biases that cause food deserts, instead of simply improving grocery-store options. For example, Moquin said that even when food is available, it’s not always culturally appropriate. Immigrants find it difficult to find ingredients they’re familiar with (which can be harder for older, recently arrived family members), while Indigenous people used to country foods pay exorbitant amounts for conventionally farmed bison. Tam describes her report as a call to action, one that must include cities, provinces, grocery stores, charities and businesses. Her 70-page report uses 692 footnotes, walking readers through where decades of research align, and where studies contradict. Her report notes diverging health outcomes for places people live, with cities experiencing lower rates of suicide, car accidents and obesity, but more pollution, stress and isolation than rural areas. The research on suburbs “is complicated and sometimes contradictory,” she notes. dylan.robertson(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Commuting time
by Charles F 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

This research takes a light look at commuting as an issue for working Canadians. Small sample, weak conclusions, but a reminder of how big an issue this is, In contrast to all the talk about Canadians loving the suburbs; http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadas-spooky-worker-commutes-6524596… ⁣

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Friday read: Which streets need protected bike lanes?
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

>From PeopleforBikes: At its annual conference Tuesday in Chicago, the National Association of City Transportation Officials <http://nacto.org/> released a new, free-to-access 16-page document that makes one of the first comprehensive attempts to answer a seemingly simple question: *Which streets need protected bike lanes?* In advance of NACTO’s full digital rollout (coming in a couple weeks), we’ve got a sneak peek at the contents. http://peopleforbikes.org/blog/sneak-peak-nactos-new-guide-advises-when-to-…

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OurWinnipeg Review - November 8 is World Town Planning Day
by Beth McKechnie 02 Nov '17

02 Nov '17

*** Please share widely with your networks. Thanks! OurWinnipeg is important for AT as it contains the overarching policies that guide the city's development. *** [image: City of Winnipeg - SpeakUpWinnipeg.com] <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/90/10/> November 8 is World Town Planning Day! Every year around November 8, planners around the world host and attend events that highlight the importance of planning in our communities. We know that planning for the future is important to Winnipeggers, and we want to hear from you. You may already know that the City of Winnipeg has begun a process <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1447/18/> to review and update *OurWinnipeg <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1448/19/>*, a plan intended to guide everything the City does. It provides a vision and policies that influence the delivery of City services, and decisions about how we get around the city and how the city grows. To celebrate World Town Planning Day, we want to hear your visions for Winnipeg. On Wednesday, November 8, please stop by the Millennium Library lobby (251 Donald Street <https://maps.google.com/?q=251+Donald+Street&entry=gmail&source=g>) anytime between 12:00pm and 8:00pm to let us know what you envision for Winnipeg’s future. Chief Planner Braden Smith will be on hand from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, and Councillor John Orlikow (Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development, Heritage, and Downtown Development), will be there from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. This event will be followed by a series of pop up consultations in all areas of the City throughout the month of November. Please check our events <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1455/20/?81f01ab2=aHR…> page at speakupwinnipeg.com for updates, but confirmed locations include: - November 20, 11:00am-1:30pm: St. James Civic Centre - November 25, 10:00am-1:00pm: North Kildonan Community Centre Craft Sale. There are also other ways to get involved: we recently put together a workbook <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1450/21/> (which is very similar to our online questionnaire <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1398/22/>s <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1398/23/>, but can be printed out and completed as a hard copy), and are asking those who are interested to host a conversation about Winnipeg’s future with friends, coworkers, or networks. Please spread the word to your networks, complete a questionnaire <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1451/24/> about your vision for Winnipeg, learn how to get involved <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1452/25/>,read our blogs <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1453/28/>, and/or send us an email <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/1454/29/> with your thoughts. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you! ***You are receiving this message because you signed up to receive occasional updates, or because we want to connect with you as part of this review process.* Connect with us Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/CityofWinnipeg <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/182/32/> Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/CityofWinnipeg <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/183/33/> Share this mailing with your social network by clicking on the appropriate link: [image: Facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3a%2f%2fcowsvpelms01%2ecityofwinn…> [image: Twitter] <http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3a%2f%2fcowsvpelms01%2ecityofwinnipeg%2…> Related SpeakUpWinnipeg.com <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/90/37/> OurWinnipeg <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/91/38/> Planning, Property & Development <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/92/39/> Winnipeg.ca <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/93/40/> Unsubscribe If you do not want to receive these emails anymore, unsubscribe <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/86/41/>. Please *do not reply to this email*. This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address and replies are not monitored. Mailing address: City of Winnipeg, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 1B9 <https://maps.google.com/?q=510+Main+Street,+Winnipeg,+Manitoba,+Canada,+R3B…> Privacy Statement The City of Winnipeg values your privacy. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties. You are receiving this email as a result of your signing up for the SpeakUpWinnipeg.com newsletter list offered on the City of Winnipeg website <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/94/45/>. You may unsubscribe or change your subscription options <http://cowsvpelms01.cityofwinnipeg.ca/t/591777/334114/86/46/> at any time.

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Simple device to turn every sign post into a bike rack
by Beth McKechnie 29 Oct '17

29 Oct '17

https://www.fastcompany.com/3029299/these-simple-devices-tur n-every-sign-post-into-a-bike-rack These Simple Devices Turn Every Sign Post Into A Bike Rack | Fast Company One of the challenges of urban cycling is finding a place to park your bike. A simple design from U.K.-based Smartstreets <http://www.smartstreets.co.uk/> might help: The Cyclepark, made of two metal loops, hooks around existing lampposts and street signs to provide extra bike parking on every block. “By making use of what’s already there, you’re not adding obstacles on the pavement for pedestrians,” says Andrew Farish, one of the designers of the Cyclepark. “And the less stuff you have on the street, the better the street looks.” People already tend to lock bikes to sign posts and railings when they can’t find a bike rack, but without something more substantial to latch onto, it’s easy for bikes to fall over or even be lifted over the pole and stolen. It’s also often illegal to use a street post if there isn’t an official rack. The Cyclepark is a little like the circular racks that some cities have added to old parking meters <http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/01/09/nyc-dot-prepares-for-12000-parking-me…>, but street posts are even more ubiquitous than meters, making it easier to create a broad network of parking. In New York, for example, there are 250,000 posts for lighting alone, and countless other street signs. “This stuff is already there,” says Farish. “Often something like a signpost literally does one thing. They have to have a sign there that explains what parking is, or what a single yellow line means, so they’ve got this post and literally all it’s doing is holding up a tiny little eight-by-eight-inch sign. By converting that into a bike park, you’ve released new value from that infrastructure.” The brightly colored Cycleparks can also double as markers for bike routes around a city, leading cyclists down a particular path. They’re cheaper to install than a typical rack, since the process takes around 10 minutes and there’s no need to jackhammer holes into the pavement (there’s also likely less need for permitting and consultations, since the change is so minor). Farish says the racks are a way to improve the look of a city by reducing clutter. “It’s a rare opportunity to give a visible upgrade to a street,” he says, explaining that much of the work that cities do often goes unnoticed by the public. “It’s really a way of encouraging cycling and doing it a way that doesn’t compromise the street’s aesthetic.”

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WFP: City behind the curve on snow removal (Oct.22'17)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Oct '17

22 Oct '17

*Winnipeg looking at innovative ways to clear roads and sidewalks* * City behind the curve on snow removal * DECLAN SCHROEDER https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-behind-the-curve-on-snow-remov… LAST fall, a one-sentence directive contained within a mandate letter from Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman to infrastructure and public works committee chairman Coun. Marty Morantz, presented a pile of opportunities larger than a Winnipeg snowbank: “Review and research innovative snow-clearing opportunities with a view to finding savings, efficiencies and improvements.” In Winnipeg, swirling snowfalls are simply a reality of existence. Surviving them— and not allowing them to kibosh going to the Jets game or making theweekly grocery run — is a rite of passage for many Winnipeggers, for whomhardiness is next to godliness. Others choose to simply hunker down. One group that cannot pull the blinds and pour another cup of cocoa is Winnipeg’s public works department. After flakes fly, it’s up to city employees and private subcontractors to hit the streets with heavy machines and clear snow and ice. Compared with other cities, Canadian and otherwise— which have found novel and innovative solutions to moving the white stuff — Winnipeg’s snow clearing is behind the times. The report regarding innovation is tardy, too. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s acting director of public works, was supposed to present a report to the standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works Sept. 11. He didn’t. Snow will likely hit Winnipeg before Berezowsky’s report lands on Morantz’s desk. Morantz said he knew Berezowsky would ask for a 90-day extension, which the councillor granted. Plowing problems came to a head in the city last winter. In December, after Winnipeg got dumped with more than 68 centimetres of snow thanks to two Colorado lows and numerous Alberta clippers, the city proved incapable of clearing it in a timely fashion. Traffic on city streets was snarled for days and sidewalks remained snowed in for longer. “Because we had those two massive snowfalls, it was quite a challenge,” Morantz said. “Basically, most of the complaints that we received after the last two years were around sidewalk clearing.” Berezowsky said when crews plow high-volume streets, they use boulevards to store snow. However, due to “lack of snow storage space,” it often piles onto sidewalks. In Montreal, which has an annual snow-clearing budget of $155 million, crews use an innovative strategy that emulates crop harvesting. Instead of pushing the snow onto the boulevard, a plow with a blower attachment sends the snow directly from the road into a five-ton dump truck driving in tandem. When one truck is full, it peels out and another one rolls up. There are limitations — the blower can make quickwork of loose snow, but can’t move big chunks packed down by the vehicles that venture onto snowy streets. This strategy prevents obstructed sightlines caused by high snowbanks at intersections, eliminates the need for crews to return and remove them later, and ensures snow doesn’t pile up on sidewalks when operators run out of space. That’s not the only innovation Montreal has undertaken. They’ve also been inspired by Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. There, pipes under the sidewalks carry geothermally heated water that melts the snow off of them. The system covers 50,000 square metres, according to the National Energy Authority of Iceland. Montreal is launching a $26-million pilot project with a similar system on 670 metres of high-traffic Rue Sainte-Catherine sidewalk. While that price tag would nearly melt through the entirety of Winnipeg’s $33.8-million snow-clearing budget, quicker sidewalk clearing would save people like St. James resident Cassandra Jones a lot of frustration. Jones, who uses an electric wheelchair, is sometimes stranded inside her home because sidewalks aren’t clear. “It can be a bit of a pain sometimes, because if they don’t plow them very well, it can be really hard to get around,” she said. “Sometimes it’s days and days and days and they just don’t bother. They do downtown really well… but they don’t seem to bother with residential sidewalks as much.” Jones said she’s thankful for her friend John Wiebe. Wiebe, who has one arm, takes his snow blower and clears a path so Jones can get to Sundayworship. “That’s pretty bad when someone has to buy a snow blower just so I can get to church.” In many Canadian cities, clearing the city sidewalk isn’t just neighbourly — it’s the law. In Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Toronto, the onus is on the homeowner to clear walks adjacent to their properties. Homeowners in Edmonton, for example, have 48 hours after a snowfall to clear the snow or risk a $100 fine. Don Turenne, management supervisor of Edmonton’s parks and roads services department, said Edmontonians, generally, have no problem clearing city sidewalks. “It’s been that way for years,” Turenne said. “... I don’t hear a lot either from the media or through complaints. We’ve been doing it for so long that citizens just treat it as one of the expectations.” Turenne’s inklings are backed up by statistics. Troy Courtoreille, Edmonton’s acting director of the complaints and investigations section of the community standards branch, provided specifics. “We see a varying compliance rate that averages 77 per cent during most winters, but it can drop as low as 65 per cent or increase to about 90 per cent,” he wrote in an email, noting variables such as “fluctuating weather, educational campaigns, and enforcement targeting” affect the numbers. “Generally, homeowners follow the bylaw, but there are known problematic neighbourhoods whose compliance rate(s) (are) lower than average.” Winnipeg’s policy, by comparison, is opaque. It doesn’t outlinewhen work should start after a snowfall, and simply says residential sidewalks will be “completed within five working days following the commencement of work” by city crews or private contractors. Berezowsky called requiring homeowners to clear sidewalks an “alternative” and said it doesn’t fit in within the definition of innovation. “Innovation is not putting the responsibility back onto someone else at a cost,” he said. “That’s called service reduction.” Novel ideas don’t end at sidewalks, of course. Many cities use a strategy called “pre-wetting” to help chemicals stick to roads and reduce the amount used. A study on the effectiveness of pre-wetting, done by members of the department of civil engineering at the University of Waterloo, found pre-wet salt outperformed dry salt by between 14 and 38 per cent in 2002-03. In Ottawa, a liquid de-icer is applied to rock salt to help it bind better to the road. Salt usage has been reduced by one-fifth as a result. Starting this winter, Edmonton will undertake a similar policy. Crews will spray roads with a brine solution before snowfalls to prevent it from sticking. The hope — although this remains to be seen — is that pre-wetting can prevent the need to plow in some cases, potentially saving the city from spending the entirety of its $54-million budget. Other jurisdictions have cut down on salt use by using unconventional alternatives, including beet juice (which Winnipeg has been experimenting with for a fewyears), cheese brine and molasses. While Winnipeg’s report on the future of snow clearing is delayed, it’s not moving quite as slow as molasses — Morantz and Berezowsky have been looking at many newpossibilities. Morantz wouldn’t speculate on the final contents of the report, but talked about some approaches that caught his eye. Specifically, he described a plow with a “snowgate” attachment— one that plows the road and clears windrows in one fell swoop — as having piqued his interest. Berezowsky also outlined several potential measures, including tools inside equipment that sense the exact temperatures of roadways, entirely chloride-free ice-melting methods and expanding the city’s limited pre-wetting program. While improvementsmay eventually come, Winnipeggers will keep having to take perverse pride in navigating snow-plugged streets and sidewalks. It may take until 2019 before any of the report’s recommendations are implemented, as it will come too late to factor into the city’s 2018 budget talks. “If there’s additional budgetary requirements, by that time, most of the planning for the 2018 budget will be complete,” Morantz said. “It’s quite possible we’d have to refer to the ’19 budget, which will not be considered until later next year.” Berezowsky warned implementation can be slow. “Industry would never go ahead and fully implement something without a policy change requirement by the city— which would have to be proposed and passed through council.” Declan Schroeder is a senior journalism student in the creative communications program at Red River College in Winnipeg. This article was a product of a featurewriting assignment. dschroeder42(a)academic.rrc.ca

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WFP: EPC backs revamp plan of intersection (Oct.19'17)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Oct '17

19 Oct '17

*EPC backs revamp plan of intersection * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bowman-epc-back-intersection-revamp… A PLAN to upgrade the Portage and Main intersection with the intention of eventually opening it up to pedestrians was endorsed unanimously Wednesday by Mayor Brian Bowman and members of his executive policy committee. The proposal would see the city spend $3.5 million to revamp the areas around the intersection, including: • $1.5 million for further engineering and architectural work needed to allow pedestrians to cross. • $500,000 for new sidewalks, curbs and street trees for the plaza area directly in front of the Richardson Building • $1.5 million to upgrade the underground concourse underneath the tower at 201 Portage Ave. Bowman said he was pleased with the unanimous vote, adding it marks a milestone for Winnipeg city council. “This is four decades to get us where we are today,” Bowman told reporters following the EPC meeting. The vote came after nine downtown business leaders spent more than an hour in the morning urging EPC members to approve the plan. Two early dissenters on EPC — Couns. Scott Gillingham and Brian Mayes — eventually voted for the proposal after Bowman agreed to include minor amendments from both of them. Gillingham wanted a written assurance that the intersection will not be reopened to pedestrians until a report detailing cost estimates and traffic impacts is presented to council. Mayes secured an agreement that the administration will consider the impact of a potential north Main Street transit corridor will have on the project. The proposal requires council to: • Commit to re-opening the intersection to pedestrians through a phased approach. • Appoint a Portage Avenue and Main Street Working Group. • Approve a single-source contract with Harvard Developments for reimbursement of renovation and upgrade costs up to $500,000 for work Harvard Developments is doing in the underground concourse in conjunction with upgrades to Harvard underground property. • Sign an agreement with the adjacent property owners for at-grade pedestrian activity at the intersection, which would include termination of the original lease provisions that prohibit atgrade activity. The proposal needs at least a majority of nine votes at council. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Webinar reminder (Wed): Designing Transit to Support Active Transportation, and Vice Versa
by Beth McKechnie 17 Oct '17

17 Oct '17

*** Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar viewing *** Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of this month's APBP <http://www.apbp.org/> webinar. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave <https://maps.google.com/?q=3rd+floor,+303+Portage+Ave&entry=gmail&source=g>) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth * * * * * *Designing Transit to Support Active Transportation, and Vice VersaWed, Oct 18th | 2-3 p.m. CDT* At the October webinar, Andy and Lia will begin by discussing accommodating buses and bicycles together on the streets of L.A. county. Innovative strategies relating to street design and driver/rider education have recently been employed in Los Angeles County to reduce bus/bicycle conflicts and improve multi-modal operations and safety. This webinar will examine the findings from a recent study of 15 shared bicycle/transit corridors and share recommendations for improving operator training and infrastructure design. Then, Sandra will discuss how pedestrian improvements at bus stops improve conditions for all pedestrians. She'll review what to do with data that is collected and how to prioritize stops for improvement, with examples from projects. Sandra will also discuss ways that active transportation projects can support transit. For example, when engineering walkways and designing ped environment, thinking about how it will transition into the bus stop area and meet ADA requirements. Presenters: - Andy Kosinski, Fehr & Peers - Lia Yim, LA Metro - Sandra Clarey, McMahon Associates -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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The High Cost of Free Parking
by Beth McKechnie 16 Oct '17

16 Oct '17

When you have 6:42 minutes to spare, I highly recommend spending it on this video (fact-filled AND entertaining): https://mobilitylab.org/2017/07/19/voxmobility-lab-video-high-cost-free-par… Couple of teaser facts: (1) There are 8 parking spots per car in the US, and (2) parking takes up 30% of land in cities. As Donald Shoup notes: "Land is expensive for housing but free for parking. And you wonder why we have a problem?" -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Designing Transit to Support Active Transportation, and Vice Versa
by Mel Marginet 12 Oct '17

12 Oct '17

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of this month's APBP <http://www.apbp.org/> webinar. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave <https://maps.google.com/?q=3rd+floor,+303+Portage+Ave&entry=gmail&source=g>) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Mel * * * * * *Designing Transit to Support Active Transportation, and Vice VersaWed, Oct 18th | 2-3 p.m. CDT* At the October webinar, Andy and Lia will begin by discussing accommodating buses and bicycles together on the streets of L.A. county. Innovative strategies relating to street design and driver/rider education have recently been employed in Los Angeles County to reduce bus/bicycle conflicts and improve multi-modal operations and safety. This webinar will examine the findings from a recent study of 15 shared bicycle/transit corridors and share recommendations for improving operator training and infrastructure design. Then, Sandra will discuss how pedestrian improvements at bus stops improve conditions for all pedestrians. She'll review what to do with data that is collected and how to prioritize stops for improvement, with examples from projects. Sandra will also discuss ways that active transportation projects can support transit. For example, when engineering walkways and designing ped environment, thinking about how it will transition into the bus stop area and meet ADA requirements. *Mel Marginet* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x112 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP: A better way to fight bike theft (Oct.8'17)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Oct '17

09 Oct '17

*A better way to fight bike theft * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-better-way-to-fight-bike-theft-44… OFFICER Rob Brunt recalls the first time he walked into Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) property office in 2015. Hundreds of seized bikes lined the floor and hung from rotating racks above his head, like clothing at a dry cleaner. “Holy cow,” Brunt thought. “My whole career I’ve been seizing these bikes, and I find out… the department returns about two to four per cent of them.” Brunt has worked for the VPD for more than 25 years. He spent most of that time as a deputy, patrolling the streets of Vancouver. After learning how many stolen bikes were auctioned off, unable to be returned to their owners, Brunt focused his policing efforts on preventing bike theft. He designed and distributed posters to bike shops — instructing cyclists on how to properly lock a bike and encouraging them to use U-locks instead of cable locks. Then he looked into what other Canadian cities were doing to combat the problem. “I look north, south, east, west — nobody’s doing nothing,” Brunt says. Winnipeg statistics suggest we also have a big bike theft problem. In Winnipeg in 2016, more than 2,500 bikes were reported stolen to police. That number is down four per cent from 2015. But theft reports soared 39 per cent from 2014 to 2016. Winnipeg police say they don’t keep track of the number of bikes returned to owners. But the city advertised more than 250 bikes for sale during its April 2017 bike auction. In Vancouver, the number of bikes reported stolen fell 35 per cent from May 2016 to May 2017. Almost 800 fewer bikes were reported stolen in that time, even though the city is recording more bike usage on bike paths than in previous years. The return of stolen bikes to their owners also jumped from an average of four per cent to 10 per cent. Brunt says the secret to the decline in bike theft has been the VPD’s partnership with Project 529. Project 529 is a bike-theft prevention program that police departments, schools and cities can partner with. It uses an app, 529 Garage, as a bike registry. Users log their bike information — colour, make, model, serial number and bike nickname — then, when a user’s bike is stolen, they can send out an alert to other users in the city, telling them to keep their eyes peeled for the missing bike. Police who partner with the project can run serial numbers through the software to find the owner of a seized or found bike, just like they can for a stolen car. Using the app has helped the VPD get bikes back to their owners faster and more consistently. However, the creator of the app, J Allard, says it’s really just a tool and it’s the people who promote the app who make Project 529 a success. Allard says leadership is essential to getting the project off the ground, but that’s what many cities are lacking. “Problem No. 1 is nobody knows who’s in charge,” Allard says. In Winnipeg, bike theft is handled by the evidence control unit, which deals with any stolen or found property in the city. In Vancouver, Brunt heads up the initiative. His title is Project 529 liaison officer, and preventing bike theft is his full-time job. In other jurisdictions, such as Oregon, they’ve created a bike theft task force, dedicated to fighting the rising issue. Allard says getting enough human resources to help run the program is a big challenge. Cyclists need to be convinced that registering their bike is worthwhile, and that takes lots of promotional efforts. “If maintaining your bike properly is like brushing your teeth… I learned that even with a slick and simple-to-use app, registering your bike is like flossing your teeth,” Allard says. Allard says a community has to strive and work to fix the problem for the project to succeed. Signs of this community already exist in Winnipeg. Residents are sharing photos of missing and found bikes through social media. But again, there is no clear leader in the fight against bike theft. Allard and Brunt say getting police involved is the first step to making the program a success. The VPD focuses a lot of energy on community outreach. Brunt has been able to register more than 10,000 bikes in Vancouver over seven months through a handful of cycling and registration events. Each rider receives a 529 Garage sticker for free if they register at an event. Going into the community and making registration accessible and easy is a key element of the VPD’s approach. Winnipeg police offer bike registration and a sticker for $6.50. To register a bike, you need to fill out a form and return it to the recreation services division’s building on Main Street. After getting police involved, Brunt says, the next step is getting the cycling community on board. The best way he’s found to reach that community is through bike shops. Some shops in Winnipeg have their own registration systems, but since they’re limited to the bikes bought or repaired at the stores, they don’t do much to help prevent citywide thefts. “What would work even better than just a localized system… would be just a universal system throughout the city,” says Justin Debattista, who has worked at Woodcock Cycle Works for 2 ½ years. Woodcock Cycle Works records serial numbers and uses stickers to help police verify ownership through the store. “It’s a simple system, and it tends to work as long as the sticker isn’t removed,” Debattista says. Because Project 529 is not active in Winnipeg, Debattista says a good lock is still the best investment to make for your bike. Kit Muir is a senior journalism student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College in Winnipeg. This article was a product of a feature writing assignment. kitmuir(a)me.com

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Job Opportunities | Green Action Centre
by Heather Mitchell 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

*Current Opportunities to work with Green Action Centre* *1) Active and Safe Routes to School Program* Green Action Centre is seeking an Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) Project Coordinator to join our team. Deadline to apply is 4pm Monday, October 16th, 2017. *Download the ASRTS Project Coordinator posting here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ASRTS-Posting-Sept20…>. * *2) Community Pathfinder (2 Positions)* Two Community Pathfinders to assist Manitoba First Nations looking to tackle solid waste management and recycling. Deadline to apply is 5pm Sunday, October 22nd, 2017. *Download the Community Pathfinder posting here. <http://greenactioncentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Pathfinders-Contract…>* -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext:107 Green Action Centre is your green living hub. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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FW: Manitoba News Release: Province Announces Road to Zero: Manitoba Road Safety Plan 2017-2020
by Charles Feaver 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

The Manitoba Government has announced its road safety program which has been in the works for a long time. >From Bike Winnipeg’s perspective, the adoption of “vision zero” principles is very important for cyclists because; 1. Feeling unsafe on is the main reason many people won’t ride their bikes 2. The reduction in traffic fatalities in recent years is related to better protection of the occupants of motor vehicles, not better road safety, and physical harm to pedestrians and cyclists has continued to increase. 3. MPI has set its road safety education priorities predominantly on the basis of reducing its claims costs, the majority of which are costs of replacing or fixing damaged motor vehicles, so cycle and pedestrian safety has remained a relatively low priority to date. September 29, 2017 PROVINCE ANNOUNCES ROAD TO ZERO: MANITOBA ROAD SAFETY PLAN 2017-2020 A new plan by the Provincial Road Safety Committee provides a vision for Manitoba to have the safest roads in Canada and lays the groundwork to one day achieving zero traffic fatalities on the roadways, Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen and Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. The Road to Zero: Manitoba Road Safety Plan 2017-2020 – the first plan of its kind in Manitoba – adopts a Safe System approach for Manitoba which envisions a more forgiving road system that takes human imperfection and vulnerability into account and considers all parts of the road system holistically in developing solutions to eliminate injury and death, the ministers added. The Safe System approach focuses on: • safe roads – designing infrastructure that is forgiving of mistakes and protects vulnerable road users; • safe speeds – ensuring that speed limits are safe and appropriate, and speeds are managed so that other parts of the system work as intended; • safe road users – educating the public on the preventability of collisions and instilling a traffic safety culture; and • safe vehicles – ensuring that vehicles are designed, manufactured and repaired as safely as possible. “In Manitoba, we aspire to have a road system where emerging vehicle technology; road design, construction and maintenance; traffic safety legislation and enforcement; public awareness and safe travel speeds all contribute to reductions in traffic fatalities and serious injuries,” said Schuler. “This plan represents the collaborative work of many road safety stakeholders and by working together and consulting with the full range of road safety advocates, we are unified in our approach and collectively focused on the same priorities and goals.” To align itself with current national and international best practice in road safety, Road to Zero also supports a Toward Zero future vision where roadways are free of traffic fatalities or severe injuries, Schuler added. It is an ethics-based approach for road safety which, at its core, holds the principle that it is unacceptable for anyone to be killed or seriously injured when moving within the transportation system, he noted. “Our province is committed to identifying and implementing road safety strategies and solutions that work for Manitobans,” said Cullen. “The vision of the road safety plan is for Manitoba to have the safest roads in Canada and we are committed to one day achieving zero traffic fatalities on our roadways. This is a big step forward to achieving better outcomes for Manitobans and their safety on streets and highways.” Road to Zero follows the Canadian Road Safety Strategy 2025 and seeks to accelerate previous downward trends in the rate-based number of fatalities and serious injuries on provincial and municipal roadways. Road to Zero provides key priorities for the next three years for legislators, administrators, public works, law enforcement and the transportation sector to advance the road safety agenda in Manitoba. Highlighted priorities include more co-ordinated research and planning between agencies within the Safe System, early adoption of automated vehicle technology, improved safety for vulnerable road users through smart road design, evolving Manitoba’s traffic safety culture, reducing driver distraction and impairment, increasing awareness of medically at-risk drivers of all ages, and examining new speed management strategies to lower risk, among others. The Provincial Road Safety Committee was struck in 2015 and includes leadership from Manitoba Infrastructure, Manitoba Public Insurance, Manitoba Justice, Manitoba Health, and the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police. Road to Zero: Manitoba Road Safety Plan 2017-2020 is available to the public via download from the Manitoba Public Insurance website at https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/Road-To-Zero.pdf. - 30 -

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Upcoming Webinar
by Mark Cohoe 28 Sep '17

28 Sep '17

Hi, I thought I'd pass along what looks to be an interesting webinar that will delve into traffic signals with a focus on making them serve people on foot and bike better. I know we're looking at ways to improve things at a lot of intersections right now (Logan @ Arlington, Chevrier at Pembina, Assiniboine @ Main, ...), so I think that its a timely topic for Winnipeg. I've had the pleasure of taking a course or two with Peter Koonce and found him to be an excellent and informative speaker, so I'm looking forward to this one. Cheers, Mark Cohoe Bike Winnipeg Making Signals Work for Bicyclists and Pedestrians* October 18, 2017*, 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern Time To register, visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1182843999248989955. To create transportation networks that are supportive of bicycling and walking, transportation professionals should make use of existing infrastructure. This includes traffic signals and engineering treatments at intersections that can take advantage of a wide range of strategies to improve crossings. This webinar will focus on how agencies can use their traffic signals to make intersections safer and more comfortable for nonmotorized road users. Peter Koonce, PE, of Portland, Oregon, will share tips and strategies for improving intersections through signal timing, cycle lengths, speed management, protected phasing, and more. If you can't watch the webinar live, it will be recorded and made available shortly after October 18th. The presentation will be followed by a facilitated discussion period featuring questions submitted by webinar attendees. Panelists - Peter Koonce, PE, of Portland, OR

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Thompson, Winkler, Prairie View Municipality, La Broquerie receive AT grants
by Beth McKechnie 28 Sep '17

28 Sep '17

Canada and Manitoba invest in rural transit projects across the province http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Canada-and-Manitoba-invest-i… WINNIPEG, Sept. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Manitoba recognize that strategic investments in public transit and active transportation infrastructure play a key role in developing dynamic communities, encouraging healthy lifestyles and ensuring everyone can get around their communities easily and efficiently. Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Jeff Wharton, Minister of Municipal Relations, announced the details of five transportation projects in rural communities. The work is being funded through the province's Small Communities Transportation Fund, which is supported federally using a portion of Manitoba's annual federal Gas Tax Fund allocation. - The City of Thompson is building a new multi-use path from the east side of the Mystery Lake intersection along Princeton Drive to Highland Tower. - Winkler will use the funding to design a multi-use active transportation pathway along the south side of the corridor through the Regional Municipality of Stanley to the City of Morden. - Prairie View is purchasing a 6-passenger van to increase handi-transit services for people with disabilities. - La Broquerie is adding three trails/sidewalks to its active transportation network. Once completed, these projects will help create more inclusive and sustainable transportation options for all residents, improving the quality of life in these communities for years to come. Quotes "Through the federal Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada allows communities in Manitoba, and all across Canada, to make informed decisions about their infrastructure investments. The projects announced today will provide rural Manitobans with safer and more extensive active transportation opportunities and improve access to services for people with disabilities." *The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, on behalf of Minister Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities* "Strategic investments in Manitoba's transportation infrastructure support economic development, revitalization and growth in our smaller communities. Funding for the five projects announced today will improve transit accessibility and quality of life for residents in our rural municipalities." *Honourable Jeff Wharton, Minister of Municipal Relations * Quick facts - The cities of Winkler, Thompson and Morden will each receive up to $50,000 for their projects. The Municipality of Prairie View will receive $30,500 and the Municipality of La Broquerie will receive $19,500 . - The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. - $25.3 billion of this funding will support public transit projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. - The Small Communities Transportation Fund is an application-based funding program that supports small, rural Manitoba communities' investments in eligible transit, handi-transit or active transportation projects. Associated links Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375 Federal infrastructure investments in Manitoba: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/mb-eng.html The federal Gas Tax Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html The federal Gas Tax Fund in Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/imr/mr/fedgastax/index.html The Small Communities Transportation Fund in Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/mr/bldgcomm/sctf.html Twitter: @INFC_eng <https://twitter.com/INFC_eng> Web: Infrastructure Canada <http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/>

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WFP: Council approves St. Boniface walkway (Sept.28'17)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Sep '17

28 Sep '17

*COUNCIL APPROVES ST. BONIFACE WALKWAY* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/council-approves-st-boniface-riverb… WINNIPEG city council approved a $10-million riverbank walkway in St. Boniface Wednesday. “I’m thrilled,” St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard said. Construction of Promenade Tache is set to begin this winter and be completed by this time next year, he said. “This project will be a major facelift to the St. Boniface riverbank, which has a sidewalk in desperate need of repair and is one of the major destinations for tourists and Winnipeggers alike,” Allard said. The project involves the creation of a 2½-kilometre-long pedestrian walkway on the St. Boniface side of the Red River, fromthe Provencher Bridge to the Norwood Bridge. Allard said it is a core infrastructure project that will stabilize the Riverbank on Tache Avenue from Provencher to behind the St. Boniface Hospital. It will protect Winnipeg’s primary dike, prevent further loss of Tache Avenue and provide lighting and street enhancements, he said. The Winnipeg Foundation is contributing $1 million and the federal government is providing $500,000. Controversy has surrounded the Promenade Tache project after it was disclosed by the administration that the price tag had almost doubled to $10 million from $5.188 million. The administration said the higher cost is the result of work. Four councillors— Jeff Browaty, Shawn Dobson, Russ Wyatt and Devi Sharma— voted against the project.

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The virtues of walkable cities
by Charles Feaver 26 Sep '17

26 Sep '17

Andre Picard, health columnist for the Globe and Mail points to the benefits of walkable cities in today's Globe and Mail; https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/walkable-cities-are-better-for-our- health-and-economy/article36384880/ Walking is the closest thing we have to a wonder drug. It's good for your heart, your mind and your bones. Walking, like many forms of exercise, makes you feel better - emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It keeps you <https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/daily-walki ng-is-the-best-anti-aging-prescription/article31310961/?ref=http://www.thegl obeandmail.com&> young. But the benefits of living life at five kilometres an hour extend well beyond the individual. Walking is good for the environment, crime prevention, community-building and the economy. Conversely, the most unhealthy, unsafe, anti-social and costly thing people do routinely is drive. Yet, we continue to build cities, suburbs and public spaces for life at 40, 60 and 100 km/h - for cars, not people. In other words, the unhealthiness of people and the planet - from the epidemics of inactivity and loneliness through to the horrors wrought by climate change - is largely by design. And the solution, by and large, is to redesign cities, to make them people-first places. That is the powerful message that emerged from an international conference held last week in Calgary hosted by <http://www.walk21.com/> Walk21 (short for Walking in the 21st century). The conference featured as many technical discussions (such as the best metrics to <https://www.walkscore.com/> measure walkability) as philosophical/political ones (how black men are less likely to walk because they fear police harassment), but there were also many practical examples of the benefits of promoting walkability. .. Read more in the article linked above.

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WFP: Predicted boom for Portage and Main up for debate (Sept.16'17)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Sep '17

22 Sep '17

*Predicted boom for Portage and Main up for debate * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/will-reopened-portage-and-main-be-e… THE debate over the reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians took an interesting turn this week when a U.S. software firm proclaimed that Winnipeg can expect to generate $18 in private-sector investment for every dollar spent on opening the intersection to pedestrians. But commercial property appraiser Rocky Neufeld said he doesn’t understand how the firm reached its conclusions, adding he believes opening the intersection will lead to lower property values for the buildings on the intersection’s corners. “I love to sit outside and have a drink whenever I can but I won’t do it anywhere in areas where it’s toowindy and hot,” Neufeld said. “Portage and Main iswindy as hell. It’s a sun-focused area. It’s either windy and cold or stagnant and hot.” Boston-based firm State of Place said it used its own unique forecasting model to conclude the city can expect to see a dramatic increases in property values and rental rates in the immediate area adjacent to Portage and Main. Mariela Alfonzo, founder and CEO of State of Place, said removing the barriers alone will have little effect on the intersection, adding her firm’s work demonstrates that enhancement of the area through urban design changes can have a dramatic impact on public perception and enjoyment — and that will translate into increased property and rental values. “I don’t think you should only just take the barriers away and call it a day,” Alfonzo said. “You really need to think more holistically about the kind of design changes needed there.” She said her firm’s analytical model changed the look and use of the intersection with the addition of trees, outdoor dining, attractive pavement designs, on-street parking and other improvements. “There are many other things that have to happen at that intersection, from a design perspective, to achieve the goal that you’d want in doing this,” Alfonzo said. State of Place said if Winnipeg were to invest $7 million to reopen the intersection and make the necessary design changes, property owners could expect to see the following benefits on a oneblock stretch of Main Street, from Portage Avenue to Mc Dermot Street: • an increase to office rents by $5.52 a square foot; • an increase to retail rents by $6.73 per square foot; • generation of additional retail revenues of $50.22 per square foot; • an increase to overall property values of $126 million over a 10-year period; • a return of investment of $18.07 for every $1 spent. Neufeld can’t imagine any of the benefits predicted by the State of Main model. He said diverting pedestrians from the underground to the street will cause permanent damage to the underground businesses, leading to vacancies and lowering the property values. Alfonzo said the opposite would be true: underground retailers and property owners would be motivated to make their space more attractive and end up getting more customers as more people are attracted to the intersection. Neufeld said when he looks at the intersection, he doesn’t see there is enough physical space to make the design changes Alfonzo said are necessary. Without that space, he said, the building owners will be hard-pressed to make the desired changes to make the area more attractive. “There is a little bit of space in front of 201 Portage, a little bit of space in front of the Richardson building, that’s just about it. If you have people there, what are they going to do? Is Hy’s going to put an outdoor café there? I don’t see it.” Alfonzo said her firm is not a design or consulting firm but is a software firm that developed predictive, analytic software that’s used by municipalities, developers and transportation agencies to “guide, design and (make) planning choices and to justify them from a business case perspective.” She said her firm chose Portage and Main to coincide with the International Downtown Association conference taking place in the city. “We’re capturing how movement from lower-quality space to higherquality space, how that could move the needle from an economic development perspective,” Alfonzo said. “It’s based on a robust statistical model where we had an almost infinite combination of different urban design qualities across many different neighbourhoods.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Wednesday: AT Webinar & GoManitoba Launch!
by Beth McKechnie 19 Sep '17

19 Sep '17

*Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar viewing in the EcoCentre boardroom...* *We also invite you to join us under the canopy at The Forks tomorrow (Wed) morning at 11am for the official launch <http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/gomanitoba-public-launch/> of GoManitoba <http://www.gomanitoba.ca/>!* * * * * * *Green Design: Minimizing Environmental Impact in Public Rights of WayWed, Sept 20 | 2-3 p.m. CDT* At the September webinar, a representative from NACTO will take a few minutes to review their new resource: The Urban Street Stormwater Guide. John and Lisa will define green streets as they apply to transportation, green design, stormwater management, and the policy framework. They will discuss the benefits and potential conflicts with green design elements, and present specific strategies through case studies for incorporating elements of green infrastructure and green design. They will also explore current funding sources for Green Streets. Then, Cindy and Patrick will discuss the Capital City Bikeway in Minneapolis from concept to construction including low impact development and green design features. They will address why it was important, how it was prioritized and lessons learned. By the end of their presentation, they will discuss how to incorporate LID and green design features into projects in your community. *Presenters:* - John Hykes & Lisa Beyer, Alta Planning + Design - Cindy Zerger, Toole Design Group - Patrick Sejkora, SEH, Inc. - Corinne Kisner & Aaron Willere, NACTO -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 <(204)%20925-3777> | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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AT Webinar Invite: Minimizing Environmental Impact in Public Rights of Way, Wed, Sept 20, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 14 Sep '17

14 Sep '17

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of this month's APBP <http://www.apbp.org/> webinar. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth * * * * * *Green Design: Minimizing Environmental Impact in Public Rights of WayWed, Sept 20 | 2-3 p.m. CDT* At the September webinar, a representative from NACTO will take a few minutes to review their new resource: The Urban Street Stormwater Guide. John and Lisa will define green streets as they apply to transportation, green design, stormwater management, and the policy framework. They will discuss the benefits and potential conflicts with green design elements, and present specific strategies through case studies for incorporating elements of green infrastructure and green design. They will also explore current funding sources for Green Streets. Then, Cindy and Patrick will discuss the Capital City Bikeway in Minneapolis from concept to construction including low impact development and green design features. They will address why it was important, how it was prioritized and lessons learned. By the end of their presentation, they will discuss how to incorporate LID and green design features into projects in your community. *Presenters:* - John Hykes & Lisa Beyer, Alta Planning + Design - Cindy Zerger, Toole Design Group - Patrick Sejkora, SEH, Inc. - Corinne Kisner & Aaron Willere, NACTO

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WFP: Second study for intersection; Portage & Main key to growing downtown (Sept.14'17)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Sep '17

14 Sep '17

*Another consultant hired to examine Portage and Main’s ‘pedestrian friendly’ opportunities* *Second study for intersection* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/second-portage-and- main-study-to-examine-pedestrian-friendly-and-urban-design-opportunities- 444244573.html WINNIPEG city hall has commissioned a second consultant’s study examining the reopening of Portage and Main, even as it is putting the final touches on an administrative report for council’s October meeting that will outline the cost to remove the concrete barriers. Doug Mc Neil, the city’s chief administrative officer, said the second study — awarded in July to a Vancouver firm at a cost of $70,000— will examine how the city can integrate public spaces above and below ground with adjoining private properties. Mc Neil would not say when officials will propose a final cost for reopening the intersection and design plans, nor if the city will be ready tomove ahead with a reopening in 2018. “I’m going to not answer any more detailed questions because it will all be in the (October) report,” Mc Neil told reporters Wednesday. He said the second study was done in response to concerns raised by property owners at the famous intersection of Main Street and Portage Avenue. They want to know what city hall will do to complement the investments they plan on spending once the intersection is open. Mc Neil said the property owners said “the city needs to have a vision,” adding the first study only looked at the effect to traffic flow and pedestrians once the intersection is open to foot traffic. The second consulting team will look at “how can we make Portage and Main more pedestrian-friendly, what kind of new urban design opportunities are there for Portage and Main, again, above and below,” Mc Neil said. The intersection was closed to pedestrians in February 1979 as part of the deal for the private development of the underground retail and commercial space, with the city agreeing to construct the underground pedestrian concourse and prohibit pedestrian crossing. The terms of the deal with the developers required the city to keep the intersection closed for 40 years. Mayor Brian Bowman made it a campaign commitment in the 2014 civic election to reopen the intersection. Bowman’s plan was to have the intersection opened ahead of the 2017 Canada Summer Games, which were held this summer. Despite the terms of the original lease not expiring until February 2019, all property owners on the corners have agreed to reopen the intersection. Coun. Jeff Browaty, who strongly opposes the move, said he was critical of the city to commission a second study before disclosing the findings of the first. The North Kildonan representative said Winnipeg residents deserve to know the costs and impacts on traffic flow before considering further expenditures to enhance the area. Mc Neil said he will present an administrative report to council at its Oct. 25 meeting, based on the findings of the first study, which determined the impact on traffic flows once the intersection is opened. He said the administrative report will also include preliminary cost estimates to remove the barriers and changes to the intersection to accommodate pedestrian crossings. Mc Neil said it’s not certain if the second study will be finished by the October meeting, nor if any of the proposals for design changes will be presented to council. “I don’t know exactly how we’re going to incorporate that,” the CAO said. “We’re currently talking about that and working on the (administrative) report.” Mc Neil said the reports going to council in October are only “the first steps” towards reopening the intersection. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca * * * * * *Portage, Main key to growing downtown: Bowman * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/portage-main-key-to- growing-downtown-bowman-444351103.html PORTAGE and Main was closed to pedestrians nearly 40 years ago, but Mayor Brian Bowman remains convinced reopening the intersection is necessary for Winnipeg’s growth. “Opening up Portage and Main has never been only about tearing up barriers and throwing pedestrians into the mix and hoping for the best,” Bowman told reporters Wednesday. “It’s about studying how we can integrate with what is already happening in our downtown and create a vision based on partnering with the businesses and the community to develop a plan to make a transformation-only intersection everyone- friendly, not just car-friendly.” The city’s iconic intersection was closed to pedestrians on Feb. 24, 1979. Bowman said he doesn’t imagine it transforming into a version of New York City’s Times Square, which was what former mayor Glen Murray hoped could be achieved when he initiated an international design competition in 2003. Murray’s competition drew submissions from around the world. But Murray was gone from the city when the winning design was chosen in 2005 and when a $10.5-million proposal was eventually presented to council in 2007, which incorporated the design changes and suggested the intersection be open on evenings and weekends, then-mayor Sam Katz wanted no part of it. To see some of the submissions, go online to: wfp.to/portageandmain. The winning design, #073, was submitted by Toronto architect Janet Rosenberg & Associates, in collaboration with local firm Cibinel Architects. While opinion surveys show a slight majority of Winnipeggers is opposed to reopening the intersection, Bowman said he believes the initiative is necessary. “We’re not building a Times Square at Portage and Main, but we are working to study and understand ways to better connect our city, work with property owners in the area and create a vision that works for Winnipeg,” Bowman said. “I continue to believe our Portage and Main intersection can bemore and can do more for our downtown and our city. It can help us better connect our city. It can help build a better sense of belonging, and it can becomea more engaging destination.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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