Crossing for cyclists crucial

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letters-march-14-296306081.html

Coun. Jeff Browaty's assertion that safety will be compromised by the construction of a through-pass on the Northeast Pioneers Greenway right-of-way turns reason on its head (Perimeter plan 'poorly conceived': Browaty, March 12).

As a restricted-access roadway, the Perimeter Highway acts as a major barrier between regionally important recreational facilities such as the Gateway Recreation Centre, Bunn's Creek Trail, the Skylight Complex, Chief Peguis Trail pathways, Kilcona Park, the East St. Paul Recreation Complex and the Red River Floodway trail to Birds Hill Park.

Without this much-needed crossing, people wanting to ride their bikes to these and other destinations on either side of the Perimeter would be forced to cross the Perimeter on Highway 59 through the planned interchange. They would be required to run a gauntlet of long, high-speed merge lanes serving up to 900 vehicles per hour.

This is the approach Coun. Browaty favours, but it represents a very real safety concern that is completely unacceptable. Bike Winnipeg and our allies have been working so hard to see a safe, convenient crossing of the Perimeter Highway included in the interchange project.

Mark Cohoe

Executive director, Bike Winnipeg

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While Coun. Jeff Browaty's desire to protect his constituents is admirable, his assertions the province is moving forward without consultation on a plan that will funnel 30,000 cars onto the streets of north Winnipeg is simply incorrect.

Consultations were held as part of the design/tender process and resulted in a plan to build a full cloverleaf interchange with an active-transportation corridor at ground level that will connect Winnipeg with Birds Hill Park.

The raised Perimeter Highway not only provides a ground-level corridor for active transportation, but will create a gated corridor that can be used by emergency vehicles only. The corridor will not be opened to the public, and Coun. Browaty's concern the design will result in 30,000 vehicles moving through northeast Winnipeg is unfounded.

It is also incorrect to infer the province is opening this corridor without municipal participation. Last fall, we heard loud and clear from the trucking industry, the active-transportation community and East St. Paul residents.

Our engineers have also told us the chosen option requires a similar investment compared with building the Perimeter Highway as a level highway with a long and high bridge for active transportation.

The obvious choice was to take the option that guaranteed emergency services for area residents, allowed for economic growth and was favoured by our active transportation users.

If Coun. Browaty would like to better understand this project, we would be happy to give him a briefing.

Ron Kostyshyn

Minister, Transportation and Infrastructure