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WFP: After 45 years, opening Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians begins in earnest (Dec11'24)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Dec '24

11 Dec '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Rest in pieces: barriers fall After 45 years, opening Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians begins in earnest https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/12/10/beginning-of-the-… IT has been 45 years since the concrete barriers preventing pedestrians from crossing the street at Portage and Main were installed, forcing people into the concourse under the storied intersection. Construction crews began working Tuesday to reopen the crosswalks at “Canada’s windiest corner,” the beginning of the end of the ferocious, decades-long debate that has burned at the centre of the city for nearly a half-century. “It’s all coming down!” a worker exclaimed over the din as backhoes and skid-steers clawed at the much-maligned barricades along Portage Avenue as afternoon traffic slowly made its way past the blocked eastbound lane between Main and Fort streets. The closure was part of a deal the city struck with a developer to build the concourse connecting all four corners under the street. The decision to reopen the intersection — voted down by a margin of nearly two-to-one in a non-binding 2018 civic election referendum — came suddenly last spring when a report revealed it would cost approximately $73 million to repair the leaking membrane protecting the retail concourse under the street. Citing that cost and the need to make changes because of a planned Winnipeg Transit route overhaul, city council budgeted $13 million last spring to effect changes at street level enabling foot traffic again. In November that cost ballooned to $21.3 million after the city received only one construction bid on the project, which is expected to be completed by July 1 to align with the transit system changes. A worker who used a grinder to remove a “Portage and Main” marker fastened to a barricade at one corner sent orange sparks into the snowy air, marking the beginning of a new era for the downtown. Laz Merasur will be happy to use the crossing instead of the underground concourse, which he said is inaccessible at times. The circus limits its hours from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily. “It’ll just be a lot better for seeing people downtown, and just make it a lot more accessible for everybody,” said Merasur, who frequents the downtown core. “They make us go underground but you can’t even get through it sometimes.” Design architect and Free Press columnist Brent Bellamy already has his outfit picked out for the intersection’s Canada Day opening ceremony. The longtime advocate of taking down the barriers will triumphantly navigate the crossing sporting a navy-blue T-shirt emblazoned with a photo of the infamous 2018 plebiscite map showing the urban support and suburban opposition. “It’s a funny thing, because we’ve kind of been pushed into it with the cost of the roof membrane really being the driver of the decision and not some sort of greater aspirational goals of creating a better city,” Bellamy said Tuesday. “But you know what? I’ll take a win wherever it comes. I think in a few years, we’re gonna wonder why we worried about it for so long, and why it was such a big deal and it’ll just be a part of our city again.” Bellamy said while Winnipeg doesn’t have mountains or oceans to enjoy, the gritty city has special places — including Portage and Main — and should work to develop and protect the landmarks it has. “I know it is an intersection, but it could be much more, and maybe one day it actually will be in a place that tourists come to, and a place that really interprets our history,” he said. That sounded good to Merasur. “We have all these really big intersections everywhere, like New York, but ours is one you have to go underground… which never made sense to me,” he said. Long-term lane closures at Portage and Main appeared last week, including the closure of the southbound curb lane on Main between Portage and Pioneer avenues and the closure of the eastbound curb lane on Portage Avenue between Fort and Main. A permanent no-right-turn restriction from northbound Main onto east Portage has been implemented. Pre-construction traffic signals and underground work at the intersection concluded last week and sewer repairs and demolition of the existing barricades began earlier this week, the city said. Winnipeggers are being encouraged to consider alternate routes, as traffic will be restricted at the intersection over the next six months. Kara Boychuk, who works in the office tower at 201 Portage, wasn’t initially supportive of the idea due to the cost, but has since come around. “I figured the city spends our tax dollars on worse things,” she said. nicole.buffie(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Analysis: Wellington Crescent: a call for timely action (Dec11'24)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Dec '24

11 Dec '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Wellington Crescent: a call for timely action RACHAEL ALGUIRE https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2024/12/11/wellington-cr… IMAGINE walking down Wellington Crescent, the sun setting over the river, as neighbours meet and catch up. Someone cycles by after picking up their child from school, safely seated on a cargo bike. Families stroll along the sidewalk, sharing a space where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can co-exist together. This could be the year-round reality of one of Winnipeg’s most iconic streets. Wellington Crescent, linking a historic, high-density neighbourhood to a world-class park, is currently failing its community. Inconsistent speed limits and a racetrack-like design have turned what should be a safe, shared space into a death trap. The city’s executive policy committee has voted down the motion to lower the speed limit to 30 km/h year-round but approved plans for temporary bike lanes, which will go before full city council on Dec. 12. There is still a chance to revisit the speed limit reduction, and it’s essential the city doesn’t let this opportunity slip away. Making this stretch of road safer for all residents aligns with over 20 years of city reports advocating for this change. It’s time for the city to follow its own recommendations. Reducing the speed limit isn’t just a good thing to do — it’s a moral obligation. We know that speed limits and traffic-calmed streets save lives. This motion comes nearly six months after the death of Rob Jenner, a cyclist killed by a speeding driver on Wellington Crescent. His passing adds to the growing list of names: Tammy Bateman in Fort Rouge Park; Doris Porter on Harry Lazarenko Bridge; and Nardia Bedward standing at a bus stop on Portage Avenue. These are just a few of the 14 pedestrians and two cyclists killed by traffic violence on Winnipeg streets this year alone. These weren’t “accidents.” They were completely preventable and the result of deadly road designs and decades of neglect. How many more lives will Mayor Scott Gilligham gamble with before taking action? He’s seen study, after study, after study calling for slower speeds. He’s witnessed the ghost bikes and grieving families, yet he continues to do nothing. Every preventable death on our streets is a direct result of his inaction. How many more ghost bikes must appear before he finally acts? The May-to-October 30 km/h limit on part of Wellington Crescent has already shown that slower traffic makes the space a place people want to be, not just move through. Extending this limit year-round from Academy Road to River Avenue would make this a safer, more welcoming space for everyone. So, what are we waiting for? The excuse that enforcing a 30 km/h speed limit is too difficult is weak. Well-designed traffic calming and permanent cycling infrastructure will narrow the road, making it impossible to speed. These measures are proven to work in cities worldwide, and it’s time Winnipeg followed suit. Frankly, I don’t want another ghost bike put up on my street. At the Nov. 29 public works meeting, deputy mayor Janice Lukes said it best as she advocated for the change: “People, it’s going to take you three more minutes in your nice heated car.” City leaders love to talk about a sustainable, forward-thinking Winnipeg. Policies like Our-Winnipeg 2045 and the draft Transportation Master Plan: 2050 lay out a vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building active transportation networks and creating vibrant neighbourhoods. But these goals are too distant. This motion on Wellington should have been passed on June 7, 2024, the day after Rob Jenner’s death. Yet here we are, six months later, still begging for the bare minimum. The 2022 Enhanced Summer Bike Route survey showed strong public support for lower speeds on Wellington Crescent. People want safer streets — it’s that simple. Yet, the time it takes for most drivers to go through the Tim Hortons drive-thru is often considered more important than the lives of people who move around the city outside of a car. Young people in this city are watching. Cars are a luxury we cannot afford and do not want. We’re tired of living in a city where cars are king and driving is the default. We want a Winnipeg that values people over vehicles — a city where streets are safe, livable and vibrant. The city needs to think bigger and believe in a future where personal vehicles are no longer the dominant form of transportation and the needs of real people are prioritized. Every neighbourhood deserves 30 km/h speed limits year-round. Slower speeds in residential areas transform streets into vibrant, shared spaces. Streets become places for connection, not just thoroughfares for cars. This shift encourages local businesses to thrive, as people are more likely to linger and engage in the community. In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, this kind of third space is needed more than ever. This isn’t just about Wellington Crescent. It’s about what kind of city Winnipeg wants to be. Will we start making choices that reflect the needs of all our residents — not just those who can afford cars? Or will we keep enabling individuals who feel entitled to speed down our streets at the expense of everyone else? To city council: the time for half-measures, more studies and excuses is over. The future of our city depends on the choices we make today. Let’s make it a place where people come first. Pass this motion, including the speed limit reduction, and show us you value human lives. You owe it to the people you serve to act decisively and prevent any further tragedies. Rachael Alguire is a Wellington Crescent resident.

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WFP: Higher density key to fixing budget woes (Dec9'24)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Dec '24

09 Dec '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Only way to become more economically viable is to allow city to grow inwards and upwards Higher density key to fixing budget woes https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/12/09/higher-density-ke… ALARM bells have been ringing at Winnipeg City Hall ahead of Wednesday’s 2025 budget update. It might be the annual doom and gloom dance, done to lower expectations before every budget announcement, but with the city’s rainy-day fund being emptied and a significant deficit projected, it does feel like this time the warnings are real. Like many before him, Mayor Scott Gillingham has responded by being vocal about the need for the province to come to the table with new funding sources for the city. Two polls — one conducted for the mayor’s office, and one for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — were recently released in support of this campaign. The surveys identified that Winnipeggers believe the top priority for civic spending should be repairing infrastructure, with 81 per cent indicating road quality as the top civic issue impacting quality of life. A majority also believe the city needs additional municipal funding, with strong support shown for increased provincial transfers. The only immediate solution appears to be more tax dollars, either civic or provincial, but asking taxpayers to take more money from their pockets is a Band-Aid that avoids addressing the core issue that got us here. Winnipeg, like most Canadian cities, has been on an economic slippery slope for a long time. That slope is called suburban sprawl. It makes many people defensive to hear it, but our crippling infrastructure deficit and annual budget crunch at city hall can be directly linked to the city’s financially unsustainable, low-density growth patterns over the last 50 years. The concept is simple. Lower density means fewer people are paying for more things. Ten people living on a street have their taxes divided by 10 to maintain the road. If only five people live on that same street, each taxpayer is responsible for twice as much. On a macro scale, this is how Winnipeg got to where it is. Our city has been growing three times faster in area than in population, meaning overall density has been dropping as it grows. In 2019, the city compared the built-up area of Winnipeg over 50 years and found that the footprint of the city had increased by 96 per cent, almost doubling, while the population increased by only 37 per cent. If Winnipeg had simply maintained the density it had in the 1970s, the city’s footprint, and its corresponding infrastructure would be 30 per cent smaller than it is today. This would have gone a long way to balancing our civic budgets. From the founding of Winnipeg until the late 1960s, the city grew simply by extending the existing street grid. Ride your bike from Wellington Crescent to Taylor Avenue on any street in River Heights and you will see a different decade of houses every two blocks. As the city grew, the streets just got longer. After this time, we started building isolated subdivisions with long stretches of infrastructure connecting them back to the older neighbourhoods. This development pattern wildly increased the city’s overall footprint and reduced its density. Every Winnipeg taxpayer is today responsible for maintaining 10 per cent more roads than they were in 2010. Fewer people paying for more things. Greater distances between neighbourhoods meant that existing civic amenities like schools, libraries and community centres, could no longer be shared with new growth, requiring new ones to be built. This issue was compounded by opposition to higher density, new development in existing neighbourhoods that meant, as household sizes naturally decreased, neighbourhood populations fell. Most of Winnipeg’s mature neighbourhoods have 20 to 30 per cent fewer people living in them today than 50 years ago. This resulted in existing civic amenities being underused, while at the same time we were building new ones in outer suburbs. Again, fewer people paying for more things. The types of neighbourhoods we started building also impacted the city’s economic viability. With apartment buildings, townhouses and single-family homes mixed on every street, the higher density of mature neighbourhoods makes them far more productive at generating tax revenue than newer single-family subdivisions. Per square foot of land, the assessed tax value of neighbourhoods like Wolseley, West Broadway, and Osborne Village, is twice that of Island Lakes or Whyte Ridge. The impacts of sprawl are not limited to where we live but also includes where we shop. Older neighbourhoods were centred along commercial streets and former streetcar lines, fronted with shops that people could walk to from their home. That pattern has been replaced with big box stores and oceans of asphalt parking that push the footprint of the city outward. This retail development pattern is a similarly unproductive tax base. The handful of small buildings and shops on a single block of Corydon Avenue has a collective assessed tax value that is equal to a Costco in south Winnipeg that consumes five times more land area. Longer travel distances in the expanding city has created a greater reliance on private vehicles. Car ownership per capita has increased by 20 per cent in only 20 years, and the number of vehicles on Winnipeg’s roads increases by about 7,500 every year. This results in more parking lots and bigger roads that push the city even further out in a never-ending cycle of economically unsustainable sprawl. The solution to the perennial budget woes at city hall requires that we take a step back and re-evaluate our city-building choices. The city is growing quickly, and the only way to become economically viable in the long term is for each of us to welcome more neighbours into our communities, allowing our city to grow inwards and upwards, instead of outwards. More people paying for fewer things. Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.

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CBC: Wellington Crescent speed-reduction motion loses momentum after committee vote (Dec5'24)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Dec '24

05 Dec '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wellington-crescent-speed-reduction…

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WFP: Mayor’s cabinet puts brakes on reduced speed on Wellington Crescent (Dec6'24)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Dec '24

05 Dec '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Mayor’s cabinet puts brakes on reduced speed on Wellington Crescent https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/12/05/mayors-cabinet-pu… The mayor’s cabinet has rejected the call to slash the speed limit on Wellington Crescent. The executive policy committee cast a three-two vote against reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h on Wellington, from River Avenue to the western end of Academy Road. A final council vote is still required. While more than 50 delegates spoke to support the change, EPC members were told it drew ample backlash in at least one ward. “When they called my office, I got mostly people in opposition,” said Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry). Orlikow said some residents fear reducing the speed limit could divert more drivers onto Kingsway, increasing traffic around some schools. He said elected officials shouldn’t impose the change without having city traffic experts study it first. “Arbitrarily deciding (to reduce the speed) without a report, that’s breaking the trust I have with the neighbourhood. I told them I wouldn’t do that… We have to think not just of Wellington Crescent (and) not just of cyclists,” said Orlikow. An expedited speed limit reduction could have unintended consequences and fuel opposition to reduced speed limits in general, he said. “It’s going to be very hard to educate people if we decide… we don’t care what you want and think,” said Orlikow. Derek Rolstone, the only unelected delegate who spoke against the change at the EPC meeting, said reducing Wellington’s speed would divert traffic to several nearby residential streets. Rolstone urged councillors to study the change in much more depth. “This is a ridiculous, knee-jerk reaction to a terrible crime,” he said. Several delegates linked their support for the speed reduction to the death of cyclist Rob Jenner, who was killed June 6 when he was hit by a vehicle on Wellington Crescent that was driving 159 km/h. Beckham Severeight, 19, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Rolstone said a lower speed limit couldn’t have prevented that tragedy or others like it. After a lengthy discussion, EPC split the motion into parts and narrowly rejected the speed limit reduction, with Mayor Scott Gillingham joining councillors Vivian Santos and Evan Duncan to oppose the change and councillors Sherri Rollins and Janice Lukes voting to support it. Coun. Jeff Browaty was away on city business and absent from the vote. The mayor said he was not prepared to support the speed reduction without further study over concerns that could have a domino effect on other routes. “If we drop the speed to 30 (km/h), we don’t know the impact of that on (other) residential streets in the neighbourhood. Would it push traffic off of Wellington into residential streets? What impact would it have on our transit system? …It’s time to analyse that and (have) our road safety team take a look at the impact,” said Gillingham, in an interview Thursday. The mayor said he’s heard mixed reaction to the idea and personally believes a separated bike lane would be the most effective option to make the route safer. Santos said she supports reduced speed limits on residential streets but believes council should wait for the outcome of current pilot projects that are testing the change before taking further action. “To do one-offs, it irks me a little because it kind of starts to (favour) one area,” she said. On Thursday, Lukes stressed the vote included steps to make Wellington Crescent safer. EPC unanimously voted to direct staff to report on an interim solution to improve cyclist safety on the route that can be implemented in 2025. A report on that work is expected back in about four months. Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said the decision did offer some hope. “I think there was strong sentiment (among) the delegates to move towards 30 km/h, so obviously there’s disappointment there. At the same time, (the) other motions that were in there have important ramifications… I think (city council members) are sincere in their desire to see something (change) in 2025,” said Cohoe.

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WFP: Committee backs 30 km/h speed limit on Wellington Crescent (Nov29'24)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Nov '24

29 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Committee backs 30 km/h speed limit on Wellington Crescent https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/29/committee-backs-3… The proposal to slash the speed limit on Wellington Crescent is moving forward, along with a plan to study additional options to make the street safer. More than 20 delegates went to city hall to advocate for the speed reduction Friday. Later, council’s public works committee voted to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h on Wellington, from River Avenue to Academy Road, until a protected bike lane is added along the route. The change cannot be implemented until council votes on it. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, noted Friday’s vote reflected an “incredible outpouring” of safety concerns, which will require more than one change to address. “We need to look at a super short-term solution, then a short-term (one), then a long-term solution… This is a major, major transportation corridor and we really want to be sharing the space more equitably,” said Lukes. The Waverley West councillor told transportation staff she hopes the speed limit can be reduced by February. The committee ordered a staff report, which is due back in about four months, on potential changes that can help calm the street next year, and directed staff to hold consultations on longer term safety solutions. Prior to the vote, Lukes told reporters she feared changing a speed limit alone wouldn’t address all safety concerns on the route. “It’s one thing to put a speed limit up, it’s another thing that it become effective. We don’t have enough police in the city to monitor every speed on every road. When a road is designed, like Wellington, to kind of flow and go, there’s a natural tendency for speed to increase (But) … I know for a fact that it is proven, time and time again, that lowering speeds reduces (crash) fatalities,” she said. Lukes said she didn’t think the city needed traffic experts to further study the topic before elected officials took action, despite some councillors’ concerns about acting without that input. “Cities all around the world have been studying (this.) We know that reducing speed saves lives. But we also know that when you change the built environment, it’s more effective,” she said. Without changes to the design of the street, a lower speed limit could wind up creating a false sense of security, Lukes added. Coun. Sherri Rollins, who pushed for the speed reduction, said frequent reports of crashes, near-misses and vehicles repeatedly knocking down the fence at St. Mary’s Academy warrant a quick response. “I don’t need or want a study on 30 (km/h) between River and Academy… The evidence base here that I’m leaning on is 30 (km/h) saves lives,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). The councillor said she’s aware “the odd person” won’t like the speed reduction but believes a large majority of residents want it. “As someone who’s interested in more bike lanes, the quickest way possible to obtain that is not by multi-millions of (dollars of) infrastructure but to slow everything down to 30 (km/h),” she said. Safety on the street has been in the spotlight in recent months, especially after a cyclist died in a crash this spring. Rob Jenner, 61, was killed in a collision with a speeding vehicle while cycling to work on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street on June 6. A 19-year-old driver pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after travelling at least 159 km/h despite the 50 km/h speed limit. Cycling advocates said the crash makes it clear the road’s design is far too conducive to speeding. While it may not have prevented the crash that killed Jenner, they argue a lower speed limit could alleviate other safety concerns. “How do we make streets safe? We reduce speeds. This has been studied all over the world… When a vehicle hits somebody at 30 km (per hour) or less, typically, the people survive,” said Andrew Single. Some delegates told the committee the risk of a crash prevents them from taking up cycling. “I’m too scared to ride a bike in Winnipeg because of how dangerous it is,” said Nathalie Kleinschmit. Kleinschmit said slowing down traffic would greatly reduce the risk. “No one is a perfect driver, neither car nor bike, but slowing that down provides the necessary room for error and adjustment, with safer interactions for those who share the road,” she said. The proposal would set the lower speed limit year-round. That would add to the seasonal bike route that applies a 30 km/h speed limit to Wellington between Academy Road and Guelph Street in the summer. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Deteriorating Omand Park bridge needs replacement: city report (Nov26'24)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Deteriorating Omand Park bridge needs replacement: city report https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/25/deteriorating-oma… A PLAN to replace the Omand Park pedestrian bridge could soon be on the way, as city staff warn the deteriorating structure could fail at any time. A report seeks city council approval to plan and design a replacement bridge for construction “no later than 2029.” The path over Omand’s Creek, connecting the park to Wolseley, is in poor condition and at risk of closure, the report notes. “It may be permanently closed at any time without warning when it is no longer considered safe for public use,” writes Brad Neirinck, the city’s manager of engineering. A new bridge would be about 2.8 metres higher than the existing one to avoid seasonal flooding and is expected to cost between $3 million and $5 million, which could potentially be funded through a city reserve. Preventing further flooding is deemed key to the project. “In addition to age-related deterioration, the bridge is also frequently closed due to flood,” it states. The city says the bridge has been covered in water for more than 600 days over the last 10 years and doesn’t meet current accessibility standards. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said she supports the study, since the bridge is part of a key active transportation route. “This is a key link and it’s a beautiful area, a beautiful park. It’s very well used,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The councillor said raising the height of the bridge is necessary to address flooding but could also significantly change the park’s appearance. “This will be interesting because in order to raise the bridge so it doesn’t flood, it will fundamentally have a major effect on the park. It will change the look of the park,” said Lukes. The public works committee will debate the idea on Friday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City report delivers less-expensive plan to replace Arlington Bridge (Nov26'24)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City report delivers less-expensive plan to replace Arlington Bridge https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/25/city-report-deliv… A NEW proposal to replace the Arlington Bridge at its current location could cost $166 million, plus up to $27 million more in interest, and require six years to build. A long-awaited report on the bridge’s future comes about a year after it closed suddenly on Nov. 21, 2023, due to structural concerns. The decaying bridge first opened to traffic in 1912. While the city explored repairing it, that is no longer a viable option, Brad Neirinck, the city’s manager of engineering, writes in the report. “It is not feasible to repair the existing truss spans of the bridge due to severe deterioration and lack of strength to support construction loading and operations… load testing showed the foundations could not support a new bridge superstructure,” Neirinck notes. The price to replace the bridge has plummeted from a 2019 proposal, a version expected to cost $319 million. That earlier plan would have created a much wider, three-lane structure with two protected one-way bike lanes and two sidewalks. The new plan offers a narrower, two-lane bridge with two shared, multi-use active-transportation paths. The newer proposal would also require fewer property acquisitions. “It became a much shorter project, a narrower bridge and a much more modest project…. We would restore the traffic back to what it was pre-2023,” Neirinck told reporters Monday. The new bridge would be able to support Winnipeg Transit buses, unlike the now-closed structure, while also improving access for cyclists and pedestrians. It would be designed to offer a minimum 75-year service life. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said the construction is needed to restore a critical transportation route. “I think it’s really obvious that the need is there if you look at the volume of traffic and you see the uptake in other parts of the city (after the bridge closed),” said Lukes (Waverley West). In the report, Neirinck notes all modes of traffic have faced significant delays since the Arlington Bridge closure, with some pedestrians forced to add more than a kilometre to their routes. Morning peak traffic flows now last an hour longer at the McPhillips Street underpass, with afternoon peak traffic extended two hours. McPhillips Street and Logan Avenue now operate at 25 per cent above its capacity during afternoon rush hour, while traffic on the Slaw Rebchuk Bridge has increased by about 5,000 vehicles per day. “It’s a critical link, so I’m very supportive of proceeding with (the bridge). We just have to see how we can fit it into the budget,” said Lukes. Even with a smaller price tag for a downsized bridge, the cash-strapped city could struggle to cover the cost. The city has only $149 million left to borrow within its council-imposed debt strategy, the report notes. Mayor Scott Gillingham said that fiscal reality shows why the city needs a new funding formula from the province, with some form of growth revenue. “If we funded the Arlington Bridge by ourselves as the city, we completely eat up the rest of our debt capacity… (and) this project also competes with an array of other important infrastructure projects,” said Gillingham. The report recommends city council approve the replacement design and refer it to next year’s budget process. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) plans to lobby senior governments to support the new bridge. “It’s very critical. It’s already going to be six years to (get this work) done… so we have to start now,” said Eadie. The project’s price includes $16.9 million to demolish the existing bridge, which city engineers say must be done within the next five years to mitigate risks to the rail lines below it. Neirinck said large parts of the bridge are also unsafe to move. “We need to demolish the bridge in place by using explosives and dropping it span by span onto the railway tracks,” he said. About $27 million in interest costs would be expected if the project is funded solely through debt. The new structure would result in Dufferin Avenue closing at Arlington Street, with the bridge ending about halfway between Dufferin and Stella avenues. If the intersection of Dufferin Avenue and Arlington Street remained open, the city would need to acquire more properties and spend about $8 million more on the project, the report notes. The bridge design would require modifications for Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail operations beneath the bridge, which the company would need to approve. That includes abandoning one track and the realignment/relocation of a few others. The report says consultations over those changes are still underway and have been “generally positive.” — with files from Malak Abas joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Widow of cyclist killed in hit-and-run pushes for speed-limit reduction as proposal moves ahead (Nov19'24)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '24

19 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Widow of cyclist killed in hit-and-run pushes for speed-limit reduction as proposal moves ahead ‘I don’t want it to be too late for other families’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/18/wellington-cresce… THE widow of a cyclist killed on his way to work urged the city to reduce the speed limit on part of Wellington Crescent — where collisions and near misses continue — before tragedy strikes another family. Rob Jenner, 61, was killed in a collision with a speeding vehicle while cycling to work on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street on June 6. On Monday, Jenner’s wife urged the city centre community committee to take action. “Although it’s too late for my husband, Rob Jenner, to benefit from separated bike lanes and lower speed limits on Wellington Crescent, I don’t want it to be too late for other families,” said Wendy Van Loon. Van Loon said the area remains unsafe, though she believes a 30 km/h speed limit would reduce the risk, leading many drivers to slow down or avoid the route entirely. “I’m hoping that the city will do something before another tragedy does occur … for all pedestrians, cyclists, neighbourhood people, transit users and even car drivers themselves,” Van Loon told reporters. Beckham Severight, 19, pleaded guilty last month to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident in the crash that killed Jenner. His sentencing date has not been set. On Monday, the city centre committee voted in favour of reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h on Wellington Crescent, from River Avenue to Academy Road, until a protected bike lane is added along the route. Any change to the speed limit would require full city council approval. Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said a “flood of calls” to her office noted road safety risks in the area warrant immediate attention. “The motion (was) grounded in a whole host of dangerous situations. Accidents that get reported in my office on the routine, near misses that scare people,” said Rollins. The councillor said bus stops have been damaged in crashes, while a fence at St. Mary’s Academy has been repeatedly hit by vehicles. “The fence has got a car plowing through it and as soon as it’s fixed, it’s broken again,” said Rollins, noting two collisions were reported on Wellington the day Jenner died. While acknowledging some people will “hate” the speed reduction, Rollins said she believes it would slow down many drivers at least to 40 km/h. “I absolutely receive pushback from community when I make moves on 30 km (per hour speed limits). It’s not as popular as some might think, but I think the evidence points to (it being) the right thing to do to save lives and to keep the community safe,” she said. While the vehicle that hit Jenner was travelling at least 159 km/h in a spot where the posted speed limit is 50 km/h, Rollins stressed the overall safety of the road would improve with a reduced speed limit. During the committee meeting, area resident Steve West said he narrowly avoided being hit by a bus on Wellington in June. “The weaving of traffic is a common and dangerous problem,” said West. Van Loon and West both said they would prefer to see the 30 km/h speed limit applied permanently, even after any new bike lanes are in place. Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said details about a future bike lane have yet to be determined and there is no set timeline to build one. Cohoe said he would like to see vehicle lanes reduced to make room for a raised bike lane that creates a clear separation between modes of traffic on Wellington, which could prevent vehicles from weaving in and out of lanes used by cyclists. “It (would) also provide better cues that you are in a slower speed zone as well,” he said. Rollins originally pushed for the speed reduction to be implemented on a broader stretch of Wellington, from River Avenue to Kenaston Boulevard, but agreed to amend her motion after Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) expressed concerns about imposing the more extensive change without first receiving advice from city traffic experts. “I’m shocked that we, as councillors, would decide to be traffic engineers. I think that’s quite a new step for me. I’m also a little shocked that there’s no referral to a (city staff) report,” said Orlikow. In the summer, a seasonal bike route applies a 30 km/h speed limit to Wellington between Academy Road and Guelph Street, while the proposal would set a lower speed year-round until the new bike infrastructure is in place. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: 14 pedestrians, 2 cyclists have died in vehicle collisions in Winnipeg this year: MPI
by Beth McKechnie 16 Nov '24

16 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-fatalities-2024-winnipeg…

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WFP: Lower speed limit on Wellington sought (Nov13'24)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Nov '24

13 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Councillor’s traffic-law motion follows death of cyclist hit by speeding car last June Lower speed limit on Wellington sought https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/12/councillor-seeks-… A WINNIPEG city councillor is trying to get the speed limit lowered to 30 km/h on a busy bike route where a cyclist was fatally mowed down by a speeding car five months ago. A motion by Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) to reduce the speed limit on Wellington Crescent from River Avenue to Kenaston Boulevard until a protected bike lane is in place will be presented to the city centre community committee when it meets Monday. “Tragic deaths and troubling near-misses involving both pedestrians and cyclists… demonstrate an unacceptable level of risk posed to vulnerable road users travelling along this stretch of road,” her motion reads. Rob Jenner, 61, was killed while cycling to work on the morning of June 6 on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street. Jenner was hit by a car that was travelling at least 159 km/h in a spot where the posted speed limit is 50 km/h. Beckham Severight, 19, pleaded guilty last month to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident. His sentencing date has not been set. “That’s a main route for people cycling,” Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said Tuesday. The non-profit group has long advocated for safer routes for cyclists and others. “The tragedy of Rob Jenner’s death moved that to the forefront,” Cohoe said. Wellington Crescent between Academy Road and River and Stradbrook avenues is “a major gap in the city’s planned primary bicycle network,” Rollins’ resolution states. It has no bike lane, which forces cyclists to ride in mixed traffic along a roadway with traffic volumes and speeds where separation of people on bikes from motor vehicles is recommended. Wellington Crescent is used by a high volume of pedestrian and bicycle traffic that is anticipated to double by 2030, as per the City of Winnipeg climate plan. There’s been a significant increase in bike traffic during the summer on the stretch between Academy Road and Guelph Street when it operates as a seasonal bike route, with a 30 km/h speed limit. That shows a “strong desire for a permanent, year-round, low-stress cycling route on Wellington Crescent,” the resolution says. The city is finalizing updates to its transportation master plan and pedestrian and cycling strategies, which are expected to go before council this winter. “I wouldn’t expect anything until the new year,” Rollins said about her proposal to lower the year-round speed limit from Kenaston Boulevard to River Avenue. “I certainly think one of the aims is safeguarding before the majority of cyclists head back to Wellington, and that would be spring time.” She said she expects there will be pushback from residents. “When it’s such an important thoroughfare, the length that this motion attempts to address will, no doubt, be challenged,” Rollins said. Reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h is known to reduce collisions, she said. “It was a very problematic spring and summer for Wellington,” said the councillor. She’s seen, over the years, the fence at St. Mary’s Academy, at Wellington and Academy) damaged many times from vehicles crashing into it “which really connotes the speed at which people are going,” said Rollins, who hears from ward residents when cyclists get hit. The collision involving Jenner was one of two that day that ward residents had notified her about, she said. Rollins said she informed Jenner’s partner, Wendy Van Loon, about the reduced speed motion. Van Loon told a July 25 gathering of cyclists outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, where Jenner had worked, that she wants others to be able to experience his joy of cycling, and to be safe while doing so. “There’s nothing we can do to bring him back, but let’s make sure his death wasn’t in vain,” she said at the time. Wellington Crescent is identified as a high priority pathway in the draft bike route priority map, highlighting the need for safety interventions, her resolution points out. Weeks after Jenner was killed, a teen cycling with her father was injured July 29 after she was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Wellington Crescent and Academy Road. On July 30, an estimated 180 cyclists blocked cars at the intersection of Academy and Wellington to demand safer road design. Advocates placed a “ghost bike,” which was donated by Van Loon and painted white, near the scene of the fatal collision as a tribute to Jenner and to remind drivers to slow down and be careful near cyclists. Bike Winnipeg plans to have a presence at Monday’s community committee meeting to support the resolution for a reduced speed limit until a low stress, all-ages-and-abilities cycling route can be provided along the route, Cohoe said. “We’re grateful that the councillors are taking this issue seriously and are moving forward with steps both short term and long term,” Cohoe said. carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca>

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Official Manitoba Hydro Survey: Creating our energy future
by Beth McKechnie 10 Nov '24

10 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. [MB Hydro.png] Survey Link: https://manitobahydro.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vlQjz8GscaAwsK Please Like &/or share if you filled it out! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCNESr8P0Sz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0rbBJa1D6pWLys3vJxyC… X/Twitter: https://x.com/fff_manitoba/status/1855711796494991391

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WFP: Cost of reopening Portage and Main expected to jump by $8M (Nov2'24)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Nov '24

02 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Cost of reopening Portage and Main expected to jump by $8M Price tag for intersection now pegged at $21.3M https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/01/cost-of-reopening… REOPENING Portage and Main to pedestrians is set to cost the city $8 million more than expected, a new report says. In March, city council voted to open the pedestrian crossing at the intersection in 2025, budgeting $13 million for the work. However, the city has since received just one bid on the project, which will raise the overall price to $21.3 million. “The additional budget is attributed to an aggressive schedule requiring significant labour and risk to complete it on time, the requirements of sub-contractor works requiring significant oversight, complex interaction between public right-of-way and private properties, and that construction will primarily occur over the winter months, which brings several logistical challenges,” Brad Neirinck, manager of engineering for public works, wrote in the report. Neirinck notes the intersection “must be opened” to pedestrians by the time Winnipeg Transit begins to overhaul its network, which is expected to begin on June 29. The report calls for the public works committee to award the contract to M.D. Steele Construction Ltd. It also notes a consultant warned it would be difficult to pin down the project’s price. “Due to the unique nature of the project, it was challenging to calculate an estimate for it as there were no comparable projects to refer to,” wrote Neirinck. Mayor Scott Gillingham said he supports a staff proposal to cover the significant cost hikes through transfers from the road renewal and downtown streets budgets, so the work can be done on time. “It will be an aggressive timeline with construction in the dead of winter — which doesn’t always happen — at the corner of Portage and Main. There are obviously increased costs associated with the type of very unique project that it is,” said Gillingham. The mayor said he isn’t concerned taking money out of the roads budget will lead other projects to be cancelled. “My understanding is the projects wouldn’t be lost but simply deferred,” he said. Reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians has proven divisive for years. While 65 per cent of Winnipeggers voted against the idea in a 2018 plebiscite, Gillingham said the option is better than spending $73 million to repair a membrane to renovate the site’s underground concourse. “What we’ve got here is short-term pain for longer-term gain,” he said. The mayor has called for the underground concourse to close. The city is set to commission a study on how that could occur, which council will then consider. Pedestrian traffic has not been allowed at the intersection since 1979. The mayor stressed it is essential that access is restored in time for Winnipeg Transit’s route overhaul. “With the change of the transit network, all major lines are going to go through Portage and Main. If we delayed this project … we would do the changeover to the new network and then immediately slow the network down with construction at Portage and Main,” said Gillingham. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said she also supports covering the rising cost of the project. “When you’re (building) something … in the winter and, when you’re doing it in a shortened timeline, there’s a risk element in it,” said Lukes (Waverley West). “It’s also a high-profile project. I know companies that didn’t want to bid on it because it was a high-profile project (and) because it was (in) the winter.” Not all councillors think the project is worth its rising price. Coun. Jeff Browaty, who serves as finance chairman, said he remains opposed to the change because he thinks adding foot traffic will create significant traffic delays. Browaty (North Kildonan) said he is also concerned about the increased cost. “It’s pretty (concerning) how much over the budget it is. And it would be interesting (to see) if there’s any good estimates as to what it would cost to do regular-season construction (instead),” he said. Coun. Russ Wyatt said he opposes covering the cost hike, arguing the cash strapped city has much more pressing priorities to fund. “The city should reverse the decision (to reopen). We have better things to do in this city than talk about Portage and Main. We’ve got a whole mental-health and addictions crisis … we have our infrastructure crumbling, we’ve got Arlington Bridge closed,” said Wyatt (Transcona). The cost hike requires only the approval of the standing policy committee on public works, not a full council vote. After a Nov. 6 meeting to determine the latest round of standing policy committee members, Lukes expects to continue to chair the committee, alongside councillors Devi Sharma, Ross Eadie and Markus Chambers as its other members. Coun. Evan Duncan said he hasn’t decided if he supports covering the cost hike. “This sends some pretty big red flags up in the air that, potentially, the folks that are ballparking these costs for us are not doing a great job at it,” said Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood). He also criticized the project’s timing. “The timing on it is obviously garbage. Going through winter months is going to be extremely expensive,” said Duncan. A request to interview city staff about the cost hike was not granted Friday. In an email, communications director Felicia Wiltshire noted the same rationale for the hike that was noted in the staff report, including the desire to support the Transit overhaul in June. “Retendering the work for summer construction only would result in earliest completion in late Fall 2025,” wrote Wiltshire. The public works committee is expected to vote on the matter Thursday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City finally fixes hazardous crater at St. James pathway (Nov1'24)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Nov '24

01 Nov '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City finally fixes hazardous crater at St. James pathway https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/10/31/city-finally-ridd… A massive hole that plagued a city pathway for more than a year is now under repair. The gaping depression that appeared to stretch at least seven metres long, three metres wide and up to one metre deep in August had long triggered complaints. It reached roughly six metres long in June 2023, just before bright orange fencing was installed to surround it as a safety measure. Coun. Shawn Dobson said work is well underway on a permanent fix for the large gap, which is concentrated mostly on the path that connects an Amarynth Crescent playground to the busy Sturgeon Creek active transportation route. “It’s very important that it gets fixed, that there’s no hazard to the people. ... It’s great for everyone who walks, cycles, etc.,” said Dobson. The St. James councillor said a multistep repair began last week. Construction crews started work to reshape and grade the creek bank to improve stream flow during periods of high water, install a concrete erosion control blanket to improve bank stability and re-establish the asphalt pathway. The final step may need to wait until spring, if Winnipeg has prolonged cold daytime temperatures soon, Dobson said. “I believe now it will be fixed once and for all,” he said. The city’s naturalist services branch plans to restore vegetation surrounding the path next year. The long-standing gap was deemed an eyesore by residents, who complained it took on water easily, attracting mosquitoes. Some residents also feared it posed a risk to kids, who could fall into it, since it is located close to a playground. Dobson said it took time to determine how best to fix the hole, since the city had filled it with limestone, followed by wood chips, both of which washed away. “We would always like (things) fixed instantly but what we want to do is … fix it once versus fix it multiple times,” said Dobson. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: New pedestrian crossing on Dunkirk (Oct28'24)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Oct '24

28 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON DUNKIRK DRIVERS travelling south on Dunkirk Drive approaching Fermor Avenue will now occasionally experience red lights after the recent installation of a pedestrian crossing signal. Previously, only southbound traffic turning left from Dunkirk onto Fermor could get a red light. Northbound traffic has always experienced a red-light cycle. “It’s important for people to know this is here now because drivers have experienced a constant green light at this intersection for 58 years,” Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said in a news release Saturday. “We need drivers to be aware of this change.” Both north and southbound traffic will be stopped when a pedestrian pushes a button at the southeast or southwest corners of the intersection. The signal was installed to prepare for a new transit stop on eastbound Fermor that will begin service in December.

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WFP: City on Portage and Main: stay away (Oct26'24)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Oct '24

27 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City on Portage and Main: stay away Drivers can expect shifting lane closures as intersection is prepared for pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/10/25/imminent-portage-… WINNIPEG’S public works chair has a warning for drivers and bus riders before major construction begins at Portage Avenue and Main Street to eventually reopen the intersection to pedestrians. “I’m telling everyone to find a different route, because lanes will be closed, lanes will be opened and more lanes will be closed,” said Coun. Janice Lukes. “It’s going to be a major headache for people who take that route.” Lukes, who drives through the downtown intersection to get to and from city hall, expects the seven- month project will add a “significant” amount of time to commutes when construction starts Nov. 15. “A lot of work will be happening at once,” the Waverley West councillor said. Mayor Scott Gillingham urged people to leave earlier than usual if they head downtown while the project is under way. Lukes hopes downtown employers will consider flexible schedules or work-from-home arrangements for eligible staff, if they don’t already, due to anticipated traffic jams at peak times. “The big thing is for people to plan right now,” she said, noting snowfall will probably slow traffic even more. Drivers began facing lane closures and delays when pre-construction work got underway earlier this week. “It’s not really that bad right now, but it’s really going to get intense starting in November,” Lukes warned. “It’s going to be intense construction, because it’s accelerated.” The city is aiming to finish construction by June 27, two days before the launch of Winnipeg Transit’s new primary network. The intersection is scheduled to reopen to foot traffic by July 1 for the first time since 1979. Details of specific lane closures and traffic impacts are expected to be released before Nov. 15. “We are working to minimize congestions and delays as best we can,” city spokesman David Driedger wrote in an email. “It’s also anticipated that some work may occur on weekends and during off-peak times on weekdays to help minimize potential disruptions.” He said drivers should use the Waze app to find the fastest route to their destination. Portage and Main closed to pedestrians 45 years ago, after the city struck a 40-year deal with a property developer who built an office tower and an underground mall. Debate over whether to reopen the intersection has gone on for years. Opponents feared a change would be too expensive and delay traffic. Supporters believed it could help rejuvenate and better connect downtown. In March, city council approved the reopening in an 11-3 vote and earmarked an initial $13 million, even though 65 per cent of voters opposed restoring pedestrian access in a non-binding plebiscite in 2018. The council vote was spurred by a staff report that said it would cost $73 million and cause up to five years of traffic disruption to repair a leaking membrane, or waterproofing layer, that protects an underground pedestrian concourse at the intersection. Additional costly repairs would be expected in 30 to 40 years. Council decided to study the cost and impacts of closing the underground concourse, which was initially proposed at an estimated cost of $20 million to $50 million. Before the March vote, a Free Press/ Probe Research poll of 600 residents found 61 per cent strongly or somewhat supported restoring pedestrian access, while 39 per cent were strongly or somewhat opposed. Gillingham said upcoming traffic delays will be a “short-term inconvenience,” compared with years-long disruption that would come with membrane replacement. Portage and Main would have to be ripped up to fix the layer. For the pre-construction phase, Gillingham said he is leaving home five to seven minutes earlier than usual when he heads to city hall in the morning. “That has been ample time right now,” he said, noting he may have to leave earlier or take a different route when construction “intensifies” next month. “I want to thank motorists in advance for their patience.” Crews are currently installing conduit at Portage and Main’s corners to prepare for new traffic signals, said Lukes. Sections of curb and median lanes will be closed intermittently. During the actual project, large concrete barricades will be demolished to make way for new sidewalks and curbs. Medians will be repaired and adjusted. Hoarding and heating will be used to pour concrete in cold weather. The city doesn’t run road construction projects 24-7 because it doesn’t have the money or volume of work to merit around-the-clock operations, said Lukes. An earlier study cited increased safety risks for workers and the public after dark, noise disruption for residents and higher costs. Lukes said “other players,” including contractors and public utilities, would also have to work or be on call if the city ran construction projects overnight. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Fixing The Forks’ bike, pedestrian span could cost $10M: report (Oct25'24)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Oct '24

26 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bridge repair cost cuts like a knife Fixing The Forks’ bike, pedestrian span could cost $10M: report https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/10/24/forks-bridge-clos… IT could cost more than $10 million to repair the historic rail bridge at The Forks, a favourite with pedestrians and cyclists, which has been closed for 16 months. Preliminary repairs to remediate the counterweight that sits above the bridge is expected to begin next week, said Zach Peters, communications manager of The Forks. The price tag and timeline were outlined in engineering reports, which took longer than expected to conduct because of mild temperatures last winter. Peters said upon reviewing the assessment, The Forks leadership is looking at short- and long-term solutions for the bridge, which closed without notice in June 2023. “The bridge is a vital access point to and through The Forks,” Peters said in an email. “It’s certainly a priority for us to get it reopened.” Peters declined to discuss the findings in the engineering reports. A timeline for the bridge’s repair and reopening was not provided, with The Forks only saying it is in the process of determining a permanent solution. Construction work on the 110-year-old bridge could be seen Thursday afternoon. Active transportation advocate Mark Cohoe said with a $10-million price tag, The Forks should consider asking the city and province to chip in to fast-track the repair work. “When it’s out of commission, it puts a fairly big hole in our (transportation) network,” said Cohoe, who serves as executive director of Bike Winnipeg. The former railway structure, which allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Assiniboine River from South Point Park to The Forks, has been closed since a routine assessment revealed potential safety issues. The Forks has not released significant updates to the bridge’s future since December, to the frustration of some who use the crossing. Jas Patel once travelled the bridge regularly on his commute to work but now has to detour on sidewalks and streets. He now rides down St. Mary’s Road and through downtown side streets, a commute that is longer and less safe, the cyclist said. “The city already has few access points for bikes … it’s a pain to deal with,” Patel said while at The Forks Thursday. The city has not been approached about sharing in the cost of repairs and it isn’t currently being considered in the capital budget, spokesperson Kalen Qually said in an email. A provincial spokesperson declined to comment, saying the federal government holds jurisdiction over any funding for the bridge. Peters did not say whether The Forks would seek external funds to help pay for the bridge repairs. Patel said it could be worth tearing down the old bridge and building anew, but cyclists are anxious to have the access point reopened in any way. “We need something back,” he said. Meanwhile, another city bridge more than a century old remains closed to traffic. The Arlington Bridge, which links downtown to the North End, shuttered in November 2023 after an inspection revealed the structure was beyond the point of repair. Council is studying options to replace the 112-year-old bridge, including a $171-million bridge option that would involve closing Dufferin Avenue at Arlington Street. A second proposal would see a $180-million version travel over Dufferin, leaving it open for vehicle traffic. In 2019, a preliminary design estimated a new bridge could cost $319 million. nicole.buffie(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Ontario plans to make cities seek bike lane approval (Oct16'24)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Oct '24

16 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Ontario plans to make cities seek bike lane approval Cites gridlock for new veto over changes that remove lanes of vehicle traffic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2024/10/15/ontario-to-make-cities-… TORONTO — Ontario cities would have to seek the province’s permission to install new bike lanes that remove lanes of vehicle traffic under upcoming legislation, the transportation minister announced Tuesday. Too many drivers are stuck in gridlock as a result of bike lanes installed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the process is “frankly, out of control,” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said at a press conference. “When strategically placed, bike lanes are a vital part of every city, offering residents a safe and reliable way to move around,” he said. “What cities should not be doing, however, is taking away lanes of traffic on our most congested roads.” The first government bill to be introduced when the legislature resumes sitting next week will focus on tackling gridlock, the province said. It is expected to contain a requirement that municipalities receive provincial approval for certain bike lanes and demonstrate the proposed bike lanes won’t negatively affect vehicle traffic. Premier Doug Ford, who lives in the west end of Toronto, has complained about bike lanes that were installed on Bloor Street West, saying the street is jammed and first responders are having a hard time getting through the congestion. “There’s a petition just in Etobicoke for 50,000 people signing to get rid of these bike lanes,” he said last month. “You might see four or five bikes as you see traffic lined up all the way down the road for kilometres and kilometres. … It’s an absolute disaster.” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she does not support limiting city powers. “It’s always better when we work together to get things right,” she wrote in a statement. “To tackle congestion and keep people safe on city roads we need all types of transportation. The province should focus on their job of finally getting the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch LRT open, which will have a huge impact on congestion in our city.” Sarkaria, who made his announcement Tuesday with the Bloor bike lanes as a backdrop, said the province is not ordering the removal of those lanes at the moment, but is asking for more data and pausing the installation of any new, similar bike lanes. A City of Toronto report on an earlier stretch of bike lanes on Bloor, which were added in 2016 as a pilot project, found that collisions and near misses with cyclists decreased, the number of cyclists increased by 56 per cent, customer spending at area businesses increased and vehicle volumes decreased, while drivers’ travel time increased. The city’s report said that travel time increased by up to 8 ½ minutes, depending on the section of Bloor, but after traffic signal adjustments were made, that went down to four minutes during afternoon rush hour. Sarkaria said data that cities have used to justify bike lane decisions don’t take into account low usage on rainy days, during periods of extreme heat, or in the winter months. One local bar owner’s security camera showed just nine cyclists in a 24-hour period in February, Sarkaria said. “I think all of that has to be taken into consideration,” he said. “But the data is in commute times. I hear it from every single person … those members on Bloor Street that use this road every single day, on University, on Yonge, travel times have gone up and we have to have a balanced approach.” The Green Party asked in a press release, “Is this government for real?” “The ‘evidence’ this government has based this decision off of is one man’s security camera outside his bar in Etobicoke,” deputy leader Aislinn Clancy wrote in the statement. “Is that how they make decisions for this province now?” The province is asking municipalities for data on any bike lane project launched in the last five years. Sarkaria also said the province is moving ahead with a plan to increase the speed limit to 110 kilometres per hour on all 400-series highways, where it is safe to do so. The government said it is developing a design standard that could allow vehicles to travel safely at speeds higher than 120 km/h on new highways. — The Canadian Press

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WFP: Property-tax spending drives city in wrong direction (Oct8'24)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '24

08 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Property-tax spending drives city in wrong direction OPINION https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2024/10/07/property-tax-spending-dr… SOMETHING’S got to give. This year has been — in my humble, anecdote-based opinion — one of the most challenging for driving in and around Winnipeg. Rush hour is more intense, starts earlier and lasts longer. Construction seems to be everywhere, choking off entire parts of the city during our overly short construction season. All the trend lines point to a near-term future where, despite our status as a medium- sized city, we will have traffic congestion worthy of much larger places. Once we accept that this is our future, we’ll have to accept the need to start doing things differently to avoid or at least mitigate the impending traffic apocalypse that’s headed our way. A good place to start would be to radically change the way we dedicate portions of annual property taxes to make a final, determined effort to de-emphasize roads and expand transit. Currently, Winnipeg property owners are facing a 3.5 per cent general rate increase this year. Of that total increase, two per cent will be dedicated to road repairs and only 0.33 per cent to public transit operations. None of the annual increase in property taxes is dedicated to expanding Winnipeg’s stunted rapid-transit system. The current approach to allotting property taxes is — literally and figuratively — a road to disaster. Ignoring transit to invest heavily in roads — whether it’s to repair, expand or lengthen — does nothing to encourage people to get out of their vehicles and use other modes of transport to get where they are going. This is particularly true when it comes to commuting to work. This creates a vicious cycle for the city: increasing investments are made in roads while transit is starved of needed money; transit continues to attract few new riders because of limited service; people continue driving, one person to a car in traffic that continues getting worse; as traffic volumes increase so, too, does the wear and tear on roads, which then require more frequent repair and reconstruction. Have you ever asked yourself why one of the major streets you use each day to drive back and forth to work is being repaired again, just a year or two after the last time it was torn up? It’s because traffic volumes have continued to escalate, causing more damage to road surfaces. It’s not hard to see how, eventually, we are going to have the worst of all worlds: crappy streets, crappy transit and worsening traffic jams. Think that’s an exaggeration? Consider that Winnipeg is already hitting way above its weight in traffic congestion. I recently wrote a newsletter on this topic, highlighting traffic data that showed we have the third-worst traffic of all Canadian cities. In short, the data showed that our average commuting times are going up and the distances we can travel in a 30-minute window are going down. And if you’re not depressed enough by that current snapshot, consider that increasing traffic volumes also translates into increasing carbon emissions that — in case you hadn’t noticed — are helping to warm the planet and trigger increasingly extreme weather events. There is a way to avoid this future, but many of us are not going to like it. We have to start now to make it increasingly unattractive to commute by car while, at the same time, making transit much more attractive. Next year’s reimagining of Winnipeg Transit — with new routes and schedules — may help in that regard. But we also need to dedicate more lanes of existing roadways to buses (both downtown and on major routes to and from the downtown) while expanding rapid-transit busways. In the short term, this will put a lot of pressure on traffic by compressing it into fewer lanes on feeder routes and making it harder for drivers to get into, out of and around downtown. And all this requires a new approach to property taxes. It can be done. Halifax, for example, dedicates roughly two-thirds of annual property tax increases to a “climate fund” that pays for improvements in things such as electric vehicle charging stations, the purchase of more electric buses and installation of solar panels on city buildings. Small gestures such as those can add up to significant changes, but it’s never going to be enough. Even if Winnipeg were to flip the way it divides up property tax increases, or push employers to subsidize transit passes, it would never generate enough money to build the transit system necessary to supplant vehicular traffic. The provincial and federal governments have largely focused their support on building or expanding rapid transit. However, just about every major city in this country is suffering from massive transit system operating deficits. Transit needs to be the No. 1 infrastructure funding priority for governments of all levels to ensure that we have sensible and climate-friendly alternatives to hopping in the car and driving to and from work. Even so, the city could send a strong message to citizens by starting with the way it divides up property tax increases. It won’t be enough to solve the problem, but it will represent one small step away from the traffic and climate apocalypse. dan.lett(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:dan.lett@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP Editorial: Blocking bike lanes — and writing tickets (Oct8'24)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '24

08 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Blocking bike lanes — and writing tickets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2024/10/08/blocking-bi… ANYONE who cycles regularly in Winnipeg has probably seen them: cars or trucks blocking bike lanes. It is illegal to park or stop a motor vehicle in a bike lane. Doing so is subject to a $70 fine. Trouble is, it is — at best — loosely enforced and overly reliant on public complaints. It is not a priority for the city. It should be. If the city is serious about promoting active transportation as a viable way of travelling to work, school and other destinations, it has to make bike lanes a priority. It also has to make safety in bike lanes a priority. That includes ensuring they’re not used as parking lots or loading zones by cars and trucks. The city handed out 70 tickets between January and August to motorists who were blocking bike lanes, which works out to about two tickets per week on average. It doesn’t seem like much considering how common it is to see vehicles blocking bike lanes throughout the city. Even the fine amount, $70, does not seem that high. A larger fine might help hammer the point home that it’s not OK to park a vehicle in a bike lane. Not only does it obstruct the path of cyclists, it is unsafe because it often forces cyclists off bike lanes and onto roadways. City officials say they rely primarily on public reporting to respond to blocked bike lanes. The problem with that is enforcement officers often arrive too late after a call is placed and the offending motorist may no longer be there. The city should be doing more patrolling as a proactive way of discouraging this practice. A public information campaign would also be useful. Many motorists see bike lanes as optional pathways for bikes. They think the paths, even the protected ones, are fair game for parking their vehicles. That culture has to change. An information campaign launched by the city, perhaps in collaboration with bike groups, might help more motorists realize that blocking bike lanes is not only an inconvenience for cyclists, doing so is dangerous. In Toronto, bicycle patrol officers are often tasked specifically with monitoring bike lanes across the city. They also recently raised their fine amount from $60 to $200. Toronto has made the safety of bike lanes a priority. Winnipeg should consider doing the same. Winnipeg has made good progress on expanding protected bike lanes across the city, including downtown. However, much more needs to be done to make the city’s bike network more interconnected. There are still far too many gaps in the network when travelling between certain destinations. Public opinion polls and surveys have shown consistently that people are more willing to cycle as a mode of transportation if they have access to safe, unobstructed protected bike lanes. While there are far more bike lanes in Winnipeg today than there were a decade ago (especially protected ones), the city still has a long way to go to expand that network. But more bike lanes alone are not enough. They must be kept safe, clean and unobstructed. They should be given at least as high a priority as roads — if not special attention for a period of time — if the city truly wants to encourage people to get out of their vehicles and onto bikes. It’s a culture shift that needs to happen. If Winnipeg is serious about fighting climate change, promoting active transportation should be a priority. Ensuring bike lanes are safe and accessible is an important part of that goal.

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Equitable Cities is next week!
by Mel Marginet 04 Oct '24

04 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Greetings, Green Action Centre and Peg City Car Co-op are excited to welcome Charles T. Brown to Winnipeg for Equitable Cities<https://3common.com/equitablecities> on October 9th! Don’t have your tickets yet? If you are a student or representing a community organization or nonprofit, use ECStudent or ECCommunity at checkout to save! Charles T. Brown is the founder and principal of Equitable Cities, a minority- and veteran-owned urban planning, public policy and research firm focused at the intersection of transportation, health and equity. He is also an adjunct professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. He is the host of Arrested Mobility<https://arrestedmobility.com/>, a podcast that asks: What can we do to change the outcomes when people of colour step out their door to exist in the world? In this keynote presentation, Charles addresses how our transportation system in Winnipeg, like communities across the country, underserves and disproportionately harms those who are most vulnerable. By understanding inequities in our transportation system, Charles identifies potential strategies for action. Following the keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in two breakout sessions that bring the themes of Charles’ keynote into our local context. Breakout topics are: POINT DOUGLAS: A Neighbourhood of Opportunity Facilitated by: Sel Burrows Point Douglas is one of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods. Like similar communities across North America, Point Douglas has suffered decades of disinvestment. For those who call Point Douglas home, they see endless untapped potential. Not only is this neighbourhood beautiful, with its canopy of trees and historic architecture, but also it is home to resilient people and organizations who want to see it thrive once again. The City of Winnipeg has committed resources to creating a neighbourhood plan for Point Douglas. This breakout session will give participants the opportunity to learn more about Point Douglas, and how neighbourhoods can thrive when everyone has access to what they need for health, happiness and opportunity. FREEDOM TO MOVE: How do we build an accessible city for all? Facilitated by: Sarah Manteuffel Winnipeg’s urban footprint ballooned after the second world war, spreading people and places further apart. At the same time, the city invested less in transit and active transportation, and more in roads for personal vehicles. We now live in a car-oriented city and the disability community often finds themselves on the margins, forcing the choice to use personal vehicles, or being reliant on infrastructure and transit that can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. This session will focus on what we all lose when our city is inaccessible, while also asking: how can Winnipeg become more inclusive for everyone? ARRESTED MOBILITY: Moving While Indigenous Facilitated by: Adrian Alphonso Winnipeg is home to the largest Indigenous population in Canada. Indigenous people are overrepresented as victims of traffic violence, policing and poverty. In this session, we examine Winnipeg’s transportation system to discover and discuss its long history of inequity, as well as opportunities for change. In this session we’ll ask: what can we gain when all people feel safe moving about our cities and towns? We look forward to welcoming Charles T. Brown to Winnipeg for Equitable Cities<https://3common.com/equitablecities>, and we hope to see you at the Norwood Hotel on October 9th! Thank you to our sponsors Builder [45354-PC-PegCity-Logo-RGB-Release.png] Influencer [HTFC-CMYK.png] [Selkirk_logo_RGB.png] Advocate [image.png] [image.png] Supporter [Lankmark Logo - White on Green - JPG.jpg] [image001.png] Mel Marginet | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 300-286 Smith Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 1K4 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Note: I work two days a week at Green Action Centre and it may take a few days to respond to you. We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. [https://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif] 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/> [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xnHIzg-oNAxItLMxFnB1HS5HGb…]<http://gomb.ca>

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WFP: Cyclists call for enforcement as bike lane violations go largely unticketed (Oct3'24)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '24

03 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Battle of the bike lanes Cyclists call for enforcement as bike lane violations go largely unticketed https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/10/03/battle-of-the-bik… WHETHER it’s moving vans, food delivery services or everyday drivers, vehicles stopping in bike lanes aren’t an uncommon sight in Winnipeg. While it is illegal — and subject to a $70 fine — city data shows it isn’t always being ticketed. There were 70 tickets handed out between January and August. Most of those tickets (43) were given out in January and February while the other months saw fewer than 10 tickets handed out. There was a single ticket for parking in a bike lane given out in May. Similarly, in 2023, there were fewer than 10 tickets sent out monthly from April to October. Andrew Kohan, a father of two who describes himself as a “utility cyclist” who uses his bike to transport him and his family as much as possible, said those numbers don’t match the reality on Winnipeg roads. “I see people parked in unprotected bike lanes all the time, often with their hazards on, treating it like it’s just a place you can stop and in the protected bike lanes as well — if it’s a wide enough lane, people will fit their car in it, and will get upset with you if you mention to them that that’s not a place to park,” he said. “It’s incredibly frustrating to hear that the city isn’t prioritizing enforcement of parking bylaws in bike lanes, because it’s so dangerous when a car is blocking that space.” He’d like to see proactive bike infrastructure that would make it harder for drivers to circumvent the rules. “For me, it’s a family safety issue, it’s a life-and-death issue, potentially, and I don’t want to be in that position where I’m forced out of that small amount of safe infrastructure we have,” he said. This year, most tickets have been handed out on Bannatyne Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue and Arthur Street. While parking in a bike lane has been a bylaw offence since 2016, the city’s bike infrastructure was integrated into the Winnipeg Parking Authority’s enforcement mapping system to include them in regular officer patrols in late 2023, after a “peak in non-compliance” and a spike in complaints, said Lisa Vermette, the authority’s manager of regulation and compliance. The parking authority also moved away from issuing tickets through the mail and instead focused on handing out tickets — and tow orders, which she said were included with every ticket handed out in 2024 — on site. “Compliance rates are sometimes a very tricky thing to measure,” she said. “The ticket data tells one side of that story.” Vermette said she hopes compliance is increasing — data over the past few years shows more tickets were handed out in winter months (25 tickets were given out in January 2024, compared to seven in March), which may mean drivers are unknowingly stopping in bike lanes without curbs and avoiding them in other months. What has decreased, she said, are complaints to 311 about cars in bike lanes. In 2023, the city received around 60 complaints, and there have been less than 20 calls made this year so far. While there are 13 to 15 vehicles patrolling in Winnipeg at any given time, she said, the parking authority still relies heavily on public reporting. “If a cyclist says, for example, ‘Every morning I travel this path, there are vehicles parked almost every morning,’ we can also set up more routine patrols and a more concentrated effort in those areas, rather than try to cover the whole bike infrastructure throughout the city to try to really minimize the rate of non-compliance in one or several specific areas,” she said. The complaint system isn’t enough to hold drivers to account, argued Patty Wiens with advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, as the city’s standard 90-minute turnaround time for complaints isn’t always quick enough. “The way it works is we call 311, and maybe by the time that the parking authority gets there, they’re still there … they are not actively seeking this,” she said. She pointed to Toronto, where bicycle patrol officers are, at times, tasked specifically with monitoring bike lanes across the city and recently raised the fine for parking in a bike path from $60 to $200. “Here — one, we can’t even get bike lanes, and two, we can’t get the officers to come out,” she said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Analysis: Building a city to keep the next generation here (Oct1'24)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Oct '24

01 Oct '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Building a city to keep the next generation here https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2024/09/30/building-a-ci… WHEN the Jets play a road game in another Canadian city, the familiar “True North” chant can always be heard loud and clear as ex-pat Winnipeggers celebrate their former hometown. The chant is an expression of pride from those who have moved away, but its prevalence might also be an indication that Winnipeg is losing a different competition against other Canadian cities — the battle to attract and retain its young people. Every year Winnipeg loses thousands of people to other cities, many of them young, educated adults looking to establish their roots elsewhere. The inability of Winnipeg to retain its young people has always been a problem, but in the face of changing demographics, it’s an issue that has today become even more pressing. Our country is aging quickly. Fifty years ago, the median age in Canada was 25 years old, today it’s 41. This demographic shift is making young people more important to cities than ever before, needed to backfill an aging workforce and drive social vitality and economic innovation in our communities. Young people have grown up in an interconnected, technology-driven world. Their digital fluency and focus on social and environmental priorities make them a key demographic in the knowledge-based economy that creates modern, prosperous cities. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Canada West Foundation recently released an important study called, Finding Their Place: Manitoba Youth Mobility. It takes an in-depth look at why young people leave Winnipeg and Manitoba. As expected, many of the conclusions focused on jobs and economic opportunity in bigger centres, but the study revealed a fascinating and often overlooked factor that deserves much more public attention. A large percentage of young people consider vibrancy and urban quality a key factor in their desire to move to other Canadian cities. The study showed that almost 80 per cent of young people in Winnipeg would consider moving to another Canadian city if it offered a higher quality of life. This was the same percentage as those who would consider economic factors. When the study looked deeper into what defined quality of life for young people, the answers were not larger backyards, more big box stores or less vehicle traffic, it was the ability to live a socially connected urban lifestyle. The most important factor that was identified by 53 per cent of all respondents was a desire to live in a walkable neighbourhood. Across North America, today’s young adults have consistently demonstrated a generational shift toward urban living with a greater preference for diverse, higher density communities, generally closer to the city centre, with shops, restaurants, services, entertainment, employment, and education within walkable access from their home. Many young people in Winnipeg are no different. The next most desirable factors that young people are looking for in the city they choose to call home, followed this urbanist trend. Easy access to urban parks ranked second and high-quality public transportation was third. Almost 20 per cent identified much-maligned bike lanes as a top quality-of-life factor when considering a move to another city. These findings are backed up by real world evidence in Winnipeg. Compared to the city average, almost twice as many young adults live in walkable, urban neighbourhoods such as Osborne Village, Corydon-Earl Grey and Broadway-Assiniboine. Residents in these areas use public transit almost twice as much as the city average and walk or bike to work three to four times more often than average — seven times more than those living in suburban neighbourhoods like North Kildonan or Linden Woods. The top destinations for Winnipeg’s young people are Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, together attracting more than all other cities combined. Despite housing costs being far higher in those cities, young people are attracted to the socially connected, urban lifestyle they offer, something that is largely unavailable to them in Winnipeg. If we want to slow the exodus of our young people to other Canadian cities, we must begin by asking ourselves, who are we building our city for? The answer to this question should define the lens through which we view our city-building decisions. We have largely been using the priorities of older generations to guide policy, which has created an overwhelmingly suburban and vehicle-dependent city, offering fewer urban lifestyle options that are attractive to many younger people. The study clearly describes what many young people are looking for, unfortunately, building that type of city often meets with resistance and opposition from older generations. When we prioritize our residential streets for vehicle traffic, oppose bike lanes, fight reduced speed limits and traffic calming measures that help create more connected, urban and walkable neighbourhoods, we are rejecting the type of city that many young people want. When homeowners protest higher density and mixed-use infill development in mature neighbourhoods, they are fighting against the ability for young people to access to the communities they want to live in and are pushing them to other cities where they can find those lifestyle opportunities. When we contemplate spending three-quarters of a billion dollars to expand Kenaston Boulevard for cars, we might consider that Winnipeg will soon be the only city of Canada’s ten largest without light rail rapid transit. Understanding that we compete against these cities for our young people, we might instead prioritize mobility investments that are more attractive to the next generations. If we want our children and grandchildren to choose Winnipeg as the place they call home, we must begin by building a city that responds to their priorities and dreams, not only to those of their parents and grandparents. Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.

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WFP: Replacing Arlington Bridge could come cheaper (Sep26'24)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. New proposals tens of millions less than original $319-M estimate Replacing Arlington Bridge could come cheaper https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/09/25/replacing-arlingt… THE city has studied two proposals to replace the Arlington Bridge that could cost tens of millions of dollars less than previously expected, a city councillor says. A few months ago, city officials told councillors they were considering two key options to replace the decaying bridge, after the vital transportation link to the North End suddenly closed 10 months ago. “They’re talking about replacing it, on the same trajectory as it sits today, with slight differences,” said Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie. The councillor said a $171-million bridge option would involve closing Dufferin Avenue at Arlington Street, while a $180-million version would travel over Dufferin, leaving it open for vehicle traffic. Winnipeggers will need to wait at least another month to read final options to address the structure that was shut down in November 2023. Eadie said he was told the options are much cheaper than previous estimates to replace the bridge because a past option accommodated three lanes of traffic, while these versions would only have two. Past designs also included more property expropriations, adjustments to rail lines below the bridge and separated spaces for bike and pedestrian paths, which also contributed to the higher cost, he said. Eadie said the new options would have one shared active transportation path. In 2019, a preliminary design estimated a new bridge could cost $319 million. Eadie stressed the bridge’s replacement is critical. He plans to buy ads that urge Winnipeggers to push all city council members to support funding for the project. “The first step is to fund the removal of the old bridge because it’s very dangerous right now,” said Eadie. In 2016, city engineers deemed the Arlington Bridge, which opened to traffic in 1912, to be near the end of its life. Eadie said the bridge is in urgent need of replacement, describing it as a critical link used by several communities and a common route used to reach Health Sciences Centre, prior to its closure. “It’s more than just my ward… the Arlington Bridge should be the No. 1 project for this city, in terms of major infrastructure. Yeah, the St. James Bridge needs work but it’s still open,” he said. Coun. Janice Lukes cautioned against banking on either of the options becoming final proposals, calling both “preliminary” and noting both prices and options could change before a final report is released. “We don’t have the final facts yet because the report’s not done. It may change. It’s just not finished yet,” said Lukes (Waverley West), the chairwoman of council’s public works committee. “It’s an option that was presented to us, yes. … Really, we’re looking at a wide range of designs and options and that brings a wide range of prices. They have not, to my knowledge, decided on anything yet. What Coun. Eadie is (talking about) is a concept but they’ve got multiple concepts,” she added. Lukes expects a final council-ordered report on rehabilitation options for the bridge, which was expected in October, will now be released publicly in November. She warned the actual replacement of the bridge, should council find a way to fund it, would take years. “Even if we come out with (the decision) we’re going to replace it, we’ve still got to take the old bridge apart. So, it’s still going to be at least another two or three years … bare minimum,” she said. Lukes said she’s “optimistic” the bridge will be replaced but that would likely require funding from other levels of government. The city announced the sudden closure of the bridge on Nov. 21, 2023, after a condition assessment found steel corrosion had accelerated, raising the risk involved with keeping it open. Mayor Scott Gillingham said he wants the final options to cope with the bridge as soon as possible. “The consultants and our staff do need to take the time to get the report finalized … but I am eagerly anticipating that report,” said Gillingham. This summer, the city budgeted $1 million to replace multiple bearings on the bridge to prevent it from falling on the rail yard below it, work that did not help reopen or demolish it. A spokeswoman said that work was “completed as planned.” As they wait to learn the bridge’s fate, some residents say its absence is creating frustrating traffic delays. “It’s very important (to fix) … (On) McPhillips, Salter and Main, the traffic is just crazy now,” said Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association. Warren said he’s frustrated that no decision on the bridge’s future has been made, years after the city acknowledged it was nearing the end of its useful life. “They’ve known for years that bridge is going to need replacement and they kept putting it off and putting it off,” he said. — with files from Gabrielle Piché joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Work at Portage and Main starts Nov. 15 (Sep21'24)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Sep '24

21 Sep '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Famous intersection closed to pedestrians in 1979 Work at Portage and Main starts Nov. 15 https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/09/20/work-to-reopen-po… CONSTRUCTION to reopen Portage Avenue and Main Street to pedestrian access appears set to begin in two months — 45 years after it was cut off. The City of Winnipeg is seeking a contractor to begin construction by Nov. 15 and reopen the intersection to foot traffic by July 1, 2025, as per tendering documents released Friday. Mayor Scott Gillingham said he’s received mostly positive feedback on the idea since council voted to reopen it in March, despite 65 per cent of Winnipeggers voting “no” to opening the intersection to pedestrians in a 2018 plebiscite. “Not everyone is in agreement but there has been a lot of people who have said to me, ‘This is the right decision. It’s time to treat this intersection like every other intersection,” said Gillingham. Debate over letting people cross the intersection on foot has raged for years. Opponents feared the change would be costly and delay traffic, while supporters argued it could help rejuvenate and better connect downtown. Pedestrian access was cut off at the crossing in 1979. In a press release, the city notes construction is needed to support the safe movement of traffic when pedestrians return. The construction will include: demolishing barrier walls; installing new traffic signals and street lights; adding a curb extension on the southeast corner to allow for shorter pedestrian crossing distance across Portage Avenue and more pedestrian space at the corner; repairing and adjusting the medians; and installing new curbs and sidewalks to accommodate pedestrian crossings on all four corners. “Certainly, our staff are focused on improving the intersection, changing the intersections to make it safe for everybody… There will be a real focus on maximizing movement and traffic flow,” said Gillingham. However, a councillor who has long opposed the reopening remains concerned it will delay traffic. “I do think it will slow traffic down, particularly those p.m. rush-hour movements,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). “Winnipeg does not have freeways… so, in terms of getting through the city, we use major arterial roadways and… making sure that those work efficiently is important.” Originally, the mayor proposed closing the intersection’s underground concourse as part of the plan but council voted to study the idea further before acting on it, said Browaty. He said next year’s budget might include funding to study the cost and impact of that change. “I still think the underground concourse plays a very important part of… the way people move around and work and live downtown in the winter,” he said. The councillor said the city should explore whether property owners at the intersection would cover the difference between the price of closing the concourse and the cost of repairing it and keeping it open. In March, Gillingham said it would cost $73 million to repair the leaking membrane to protect the concourse, while closing the city’s portion of the site could cost roughly $20 to $50 million. Multiple business leaders noted the closure cost was vaguely defined and stressed that many people rely on the underground connections to travel between businesses, especially in winter. Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said his organization looks forward to the street-level pedestrian access but the city must study any underground changes before acting on them. “We need to understand exactly how that functions, in terms of the connectivity into the walkway system, into servicing the various towers… The underground is a vital connection point for so many,” said Remillard. Gillingham said there’s no target timeline for the potential closure of the underground. “The underground won’t be closed this year nor next year,” he said. In March, council earmarked $13 million to pay for the initial reopening of the intersection to foot traffic. Additional design work for the intersection is expected to be part of a rapid transit design study, which is expected to begin in 2025. The pedestrian access is timed to resume shortly after a new primary transit network begins operating on June 29, 2025. While most of the construction period to prepare for that falls in the winter, Coun. Sherri Rollins said the timeline appears realistic. “The demo and removing of the barriers, the traffic signals, this is work that we do all year round,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). She noted she’s excited to see the pedestrian barriers come down. “They are an eyesore. It’s long overdue,” she said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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