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WFP: City to boost street construction standards (Mar4'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '20

04 Mar '20

*City lays down plan for tougher roads * * New construction rules geared to more durability* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-to-boast-street-construction-s… WINNIPEG is adding new road construction rules with an eye to making its streets last longer. The changes should allow concrete construction to last 25 per cent longer and add 15 per cent to the lifespan of asphalt, said Brad Neirinck, City of Winnipeg engineering manager, noting local construction standards have lagged behind those of other Canadian cities. “We’re behind the times. We’re trying to move our specifications up to match what other jurisdictions are doing and improve our life cycle,” he said Tuesday. The new standards would ensure a higher quality of limestone, gravel and concrete are used to build certain roads, which would be stiffer and offer better drainage, helping them hold up better, said Ahmed Shalaby, a civil engineer who works with the city. “The improvement in performance is actually quite significant. Some of these materials can be twice as good as what we were using previously,” Shalaby told reporters. “It will drain faster, it will be stronger, it will have fewer cracks.” During Tuesday’s public works committee meeting, Shalaby warned councillors Winnipeg’s previous road standards were “in a way, obsolete.” The higher standards should also prevent some streets from requiring repairs every five or 10 years, he said. Developers at the meeting raised a series of concerns, including the spectre of increased costs and sending more rejected road materials to the landfill. Other issues about the new material rules could make it difficult for contractors to budget for work, said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. “We don’t know the extent to which it’s going to be subject to rejection… That creates risk, uncertainty and a potential spike in prices,” he said. However, city council’s public works chairman expects the changes will finally address citizen complaints that local roads haven’t been built to last. “We needed to get with the times and join other jurisdictions in building roads that are going to be built better and last longer,” said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). Despite industry concerns, it’s not clear if the change would actually increase construction project costs, Allard said. Even though the city would require that higher-quality materials be used, projects may also use smaller amounts of them, he said. “We need to go into the field and apply it to know exactly how much it’s going to cost,” Allard said. After hearing multiple presentations from concerned members of the construction industry, city staff said two key compromises should help address any potential issues: the higher standard for construction work will be implemented this year on contracts and subjected to ongoing review by a working group with industry members, and developers of some private-sector projects will be exempt from the new rules until 2021. In October, the city’s public service is expected to provide an update on how the new standard works out. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Webinar on cycling in suburban communities
by Orly Linovski 02 Mar '20

02 Mar '20

FYI Webinar: Incubating Cycling in Suburban Canadian Communities Wednesday, March 4th | 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST Learn how to incubate cycling through a community bike hub approach and tap into the cycling potential that exists for short bike trips in suburban environments, where cycling rates remain stubbornly low. TCAT’s approach can be used as a framework to increasing cycling in suburban communities across Canada. Safe infrastructure is a key enabler to more cycling, but it can be difficult to champion in places where a cycling culture doesn’t yet exist. A community bike hub can help to jump-start the process. Discover how unlikely partnerships and a targeted approach can grow cycling, and dig into the potential that exists within your own community. Link to register: incubatingsuburbancycling.eventbrite.ca<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/webinar-incubating-cycling-in-suburban-canadian…> https://www.tcat.ca/webinar-incubating-cycling-in-suburban-canadian-communi… -------------------------------- Orly Linovski, Ph.D. (RPP, MCIP) Assistant Professor, Department of City Planning University of Manitoba 204-474-6424 / orly.linovski(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:orly.linovski@umanitoba.ca> http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~linovsko/

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HAPPY CITIES – The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys
by Beth McKechnie 28 Feb '20

28 Feb '20

*From:* Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba [mailto:lgnews@leg.gov.mb.ca] *Sent:* Tuesday, February 25, 2020 10:48 AM *Subject:* HAPPY CITIES – The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys [image: Office of the Lieutenant Governor] *News Release* February 25, 2020 *HAPPY CITIES The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys* *- - -* *Next Presentation in the Lieutenant-Governor’s Conversations & Celebrations Series of Free Public Events Celebrating Manitoba’s Ceremonial Home* Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon invites Manitobans to join her in engaging in Conversations and Celebrations – a monthly gathering of fascinating and entertaining people from across this great province. Lt.-Gov. Filmon developed this initiative to honour the 135th birthday of Government House during 2018. Based on the overwhelming success of these monthly free public events, the program continues throughout 2020. *The next event will be Tuesday, March 10 at Government House. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.* March’s guest speaker is Hazel Borys, president and CEO of PlaceMakers. With city planning firms operating in Canada and the United States, Borys and her team are passionate about advancing the resilience conversation, and the belief that diverse, character-rich neighbourhoods can actually make us happier. She guides governments around the world through policy and land use law reforms – allowing walkable, mixed-use, compact places to develop by right – and helps developers design and enable liveable, loveable places. In her presentation, Borys will share some of the benefits that cities and provinces can enjoy in supporting these sorts of urban forms, and what Manitobans can do to strengthen our connection to each other and this place we call home. Members of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will provide entertainment at the close of the program. In her role as lieutenant-governor, as well as in her private life, Lt.-Gov. Filmon embraces the role of community connector. Her vision for Conversations and Celebrations is to continue to find meaningful ways to bring Manitobans together to learn, and celebrate unique talents, abilities and perspectives by embracing the rich diversity of this province and its people. “I am thrilled with how Manitobans have embraced this initiative and we have lots of great presentations planned throughout Manitoba’s 150th anniversary year,” said Lt.-Gov. Filmon. “People are leaving Government House at the end of the evening with their hearts and minds full, eyes wide open to the great things happening in our province and beyond, and inspired to make a difference.” Events will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. most often on the second Tuesday of each month. *Those wishing to attend must register in advance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor by calling 204-945-2753. * Registration is now open. There is no cost to attend. - 30 - Media Inquiries Only: Kate Gameiro, 204-945-2752 *Please be advised that this email account is not monitored for inquiries or followup questions. Ce compte de courriel n’est pas surveillé et vous ne recevrez pas de réponse à vos demandes d’information ou questions.*

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Motor vehicle use is unhealthy
by Charles F 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Clever study demonstrates that car ownership reduces physical activity and affects health, especially for older people. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/article-does-owning… When will the car Industry face Censure like the tobacco industry?Sent from my phone.

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AT Webinar: Street Typologies - An organizing framework for more walkable, bikeable streets (Feb 19th, 2pm, EcoCentre)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Feb '20

13 Feb '20

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Street Typologies: An organizing framework for more walkable, bikeable streets *Wed, Feb 19th, 2:00 PM * Many cities transportation goals have shifted in recent years – becoming more multimodal, safety-focused, and equitable. While cities transportation goals have changed, many still rely on the Federal Functional Classification System, which prioritizes vehicle mobility and access, as the main framework for organizing, designing, and managing their streets. Recognizing this dissonance, cities are developing new street typology systems that better align their approach to streets with overall transportation goals. This presentation will share strategies used in Des Moines, IA and Phoenix, AZ to develop new street typologies that align with existing and future land use and create more walkable, bikeable streets. Presenters - Alex Hanson, Sam Schwartz Consulting - Brian Fellows, City of Phoenix - Jeff Wiggins, City of Des Moines

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WFP: Transit expansion outside city explored (Feb8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '20

08 Feb '20

*Study to probe bus service to bedroom communities* * Transit expansion outside city explored * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-to-study-linking-bedroom-commu… Winnipeg will study the idea of creating new links to bus service for those commuting into the city, possibly through large park-and-ride locations. City hall is working on a new transportation master plan and will review regional transportation as one piece of that effort. It will explore the ways many neighbouring communities — including Stonewall, Selkirk, St. Andrews, Springfield, Headingley and Rosser — might benefit from better links to Winnipeg Transit. "The question is, when they arrive at the city boundary, is there a way to shift their mode, get them out of their cars and perhaps on to our transit system?" said Alex Regiec, city master plan project manager. In addition to possible park-and-ride sites at the city’s boundaries, a consultant will be tasked to explore options to create an inter-governmental regional transportation body, add public transit links between the city and region, and provide advice on active transportation. The consultant must also figure out how much that would cost. Regiec said creating more regional access to Winnipeg Transit could help the city in a few key ways. "The benefits of a park-and-ride program… would be to reduce the amount of single-occupant automobiles on the road, which reduces the wear and tear on our infrastructure. It also gives people an opportunity to find a more economical way to travel within the City of Winnipeg, and it’s also a benefit to our transit system (by) encouraging ridership," he said. The broader transportation master plan is expected in June 2021, which will also weigh in on how infrastructure can be added to support cars, buses and bikes over the next 30 years, as well as the best options to move goods. Regiec said a series of consultant contracts to support the master plan will have a combined cost of about $1 million. He said those contracts should be awarded by early March. While the review is slated to explore extensions of public transit past the Perimeter Highway, the project manager for Winnipeg Transit’s master plan said Transit has not received any formal proposal to do that. "We don’t have the authority to operate transit outside city limits unless we were to operate as a contractor to another municipality," said Kevin Sturgeon. Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson said he expects new transportation options between Winnipeg and his community would be well-used: "I think if a bus service was predictable, it was efficient, if it was cost-efficient… I truly believe that it could be successful." Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) welcomed the effort to explore regional transportation planning. "When I’m on Pembina Highway and I see a continuous stream of vehicles coming in (each with) one person, one person, one person — (I think) for sure there is a way that we can change this... (We) need to start moving in that direction," she said. The councillor said she believes partnerships and funding from senior governments would be required to successfully implement a regional transportation plan. "This is not something the city can do on its own," Lukes said. Coun. Scott Gillingham, finance committee chairman, said the review’s cost estimates will be a key factor to determine what regional transportation infrastructure the city could actually afford to implement. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Walking, cycling and public transport remain greener mobility options than e-scooters or ridehailing
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '20

06 Feb '20

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) finds that, taken together with public transport, walking and cycling for short city journeys provide the greatest benefits for both human health and the environment in urban areas. The introduction and rapid uptake of app-based vehicle sharing schemes can also have benefits. However, the report points to studies which show that their impact on the environment is not always positive. E-scooter sharing schemes especially appear to attract users that would have otherwise walked or used public transport. While the use of shared e-scooters generates few direct environmental impacts, their green credentials can be questioned by the substantial negative impacts associated to their materials, their manufacturing and their frequent collection for recharging purposes. Similarly, studies show that ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Lyft do little to reduce emissions or congestion and actually draw people away from public transport. The transport and environment report ‘The first and last mile — the key to sustainable urban transport <https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/the-first-and-last-mile/>’ assesses how green and sustainable ‘first and last mile’ transport options such as bicycles, scooters or other means of short-distance travel can transform mobility systems in cities. The report also assesses how innovative urban freight and inner city delivery services, including the use of delivery drones, can make urban freight transport more sustainable. Full article: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/02/20200204-eea.html

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WFP: One less bump on path to traffic-calming measures (Feb5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Feb '20

05 Feb '20

*One less bump on path to traffic-calming measures * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-committee-hopes-reducing-obsta… IT could soon be a little easier to get a speed bump or other traffic-calming measures installed in your neighbourhood. City council’s public works committee approved a new process on Tuesday, after being informed the current method has a low success rate. The proposed policy still requires full council approval. Under the current system, a Winnipegger must persuade at least 70 per cent of homeowners affected by the desired speed bump to sign a petition in support of the change. The new system would reduce that threshold to 25 per cent. While any proposal would still have to satisfy strict engineering requirements to get the green light, city transportation manager David Patman expects the new process will make requests more successful. “We know traffic calming is one of those issues that’s growing in importance. More and more people want to look at traffic calming in their neighbourhoods,” Patman said. “We still want to see that there’s some buy-in, some local support for a project before it goes forward but (the 25 per cent requirement is) a lot less onerous than requiring 70 per cent.” The new process would allow requests to be made by a citizen, 311 inquiry, city councillor or staff. The public service would then screen the proposed site’s speed limits, traffic volume and other factors to ensure they are conducive to the change. Projects that pass that hurdle would be prioritized based on a site’s collision history, traffic volumes and safety concerns. The top priorities would then proceed to a design and public engagement process to determine which type of traffic-calming tool could work best. Finally, a speed bump or other recommended traffic-calming measure could either be tested as a pilot project or permanently implemented. That new process is expected to consider a greater variety of options to slow down traffic, since only speed bumps were considered in the past. Patman said final traffic-calming solutions could now also include speed tables, curb extensions, traffic circles, road-narrowing and other road treatments. “Our new process opens up a big menu of different options for traffic calming,” he said. Patman said each individual project would still require council approval. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), who chairs the public works committee, said he hopes council will support the changes. Allard noted dozens of Winnipeggers did secure 70 per cent of their neighbours’ signatures to push for a speed bump under the current system only to learn the proposed site didn’t meet city requirements. For example, the city would only add speed bumps on residential streets that don’t also serve as a transit route, a snow route or a residential collector street. A minimum number of vehicles also needed to be seen exceeding the speed limit to qualify the site for a speed bump. As a result, few traffic-calming requests were granted between 2015 and 2018. During that period, 32 of 156 requests for local streets met the 70 per cent petition threshold but none were implemented because the areas weren’t deemed suitable. For back lanes, 14 requests were filed but only two were granted. Allard said he expects simplifying the process could pave the way for more requests. “I think this is going to result in more demand for traffic calming in neighbourhoods,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Safe Speeds Open House (Feb 6th)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '20

30 Jan '20

Safe Speeds Open House Thursday February 6 5pm - 7pm Yellow Dog, 386 Donald St 30km/h is the only safe speed limit when people are biking, walking, and driving on the same roads. Drop by to talk with local experts, and community leaders from Safe Speeds WPG. Ask questions, share ideas, and learn how this can work for Winnipeg. Drop in - have a beverage - have a chat Letters to City Council will be available to sign, if you want to demonstrate support. We will hand deliver them for you! https://www.facebook.com/events/2205577959750156/ ----- Thanks! *Denae Penner *(she/her/hers) Active and Safe Routes to School, Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 204-925-3777 ext. 114 | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB *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/>. Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GreenActionCentre/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/greenactionctr> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/greenactioncentre/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-action-centre/>

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WFP: Residents have say on Wolseley-downtown plan (Jan30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '20

30 Jan '20

Residents have say on Wolseley-downtown plan https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/residents-have-say-on-wolseley-down… A SWARM of Wolseleyites, West Enders, and other Winnipeggers descended on a Wednesday night open house to give feedback on the latest iteration of the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project — an ambitious plan that promises to transform areatransportation. The event packed the lecture hall at Westminster United Church, with a line of attendees snaking out the door and down the street. Chris Baker, an active transportation co-ordinator with the City of Winnipeg public works department, said the plans, maps, graphics and information on display to the public represented the recommended design for the project, following two previous rounds of public engagement. “But that being said, we’re here to collect meaningful feedback from the public and have meaningful conversations,” Baker said. “So once we collate all this, the online survey and tonight’s feedback, there’s still an opportunity to change the design, make some refinements. If we missed something, or missed the mark, we’ll be able to refine the design and make it the best it can be, and the most palatable for the most people.” Canora Street resident Chris Brown showed up with three pages of detailed notes outlining his concerns about how the plan intends to deal with rush-hour motorists who cut through Wolseley by converting sections of Westminster and Wolseley avenues into westbound, one-way streets. “What everyone I’ve heard say is: leave Westminster alone,” Brown said, explaining the plan will inadvertently shunt shortcutters onto his residential street. James Plett, who lives in West Broadway, was also concerned about the impact of proposed one-way streets in his neighbourhood. “My work location is never in the same location, so sometimes I need to go east and head down to Osborne (Street). And if the one-way is put in, that means I would have to go west onto Broadway, which is already a backed-up street. And this will definitelycause more people to start using Broadway.” Luanne Karn said she took part in previous phases of the consultations, in a successful effort to prevent a Transit bus from being run on Home Street. “It was both a good public engagement process, but also very negative in that it just came out of the blue at us,” she said. “I’m also concerned that they haven’t addressed the issue of cut-through traffic very well.” Marianne Cerelli, chairwoman of the Wolseley Residents Association, said she had some misgivings about the way public consultations had been done. Her group is holding a community meeting to discuss the plan, Feb. 10 at the Westminster Housing Co-op. “But all of that said, I think most people support active transportation,” said Cerelli. “They support having a bike corridor, they want people to be safe on their bicycles, they want people to be safer walking, they want to reduce the speed and the cut-throughs through the neighbourhood. “But the high-interventionist nature of the proposal has caught people off-guard, so I think they need to bring people along a little bit better, through a better engagement process.” Baker stressed the plan is still open to adjustment. An online survey on the project remains open until Feb. 9. solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel

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