PORTAGE AND MAIN

*City requests bids for consulting and design for pedestrian traffic*

*Intersection could reopen in 2019*

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/portage-and-main-484636073.html

CITY hall is planning on reopening the Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians by the fall of 2019.

The date was disclosed in a request for proposal the city released Tuesday, inviting bids for consulting services for the design and phase-one construction associated with the intersection reopening.

While council had approved the project at its October 2017 meeting, no dates were given in an administrative report.

The RFP states city hall expects the first barriers to be taken down to allow pedestrians to cross Portage Avenue East, between the Richardson Plaza and the Bank of Montreal.

“It is the City’s intent, subject to the findings of the Preliminary Design report resulting from the Services herein, and Council’s adoption of

those findings, and/or that report, to proceed with construction to open the Portage Avenue East crossing as Phase 1,” states section D5.2 of the RFP. A later section of the RFP states, “the City is targeting completion of construction of Phase I by the fall of 2019.”

At its October meeting, council set aside up to $1.5 million in 2018 for “architectural and engineering services” for the intersection’s reopening.

Council approved spending up to $3.5 million on the intersection in 2018. In addition to the $1.5 million for engineering and architectural work, council also approved: $500,000 for new sidewalks, curbs and street trees for the plaza area directly in front of the Richardson Building and $1.5 million to upgrade the underground concourse underneath the tower at 201 Portage Ave.

The RFP states this project does not involve any work in the underground concourse.

There were two caveats attached to the council approval: the intersection will not be reopened to pedestrians until a report detailing cost estimates and traffic impacts is presented to council; and agreement that the administration will consider the impact a potential north Main Street transit corridor will have on the project.

According to the RFP documents, consultants are invited to create “an urban design vision for Portage and Main that provides design direction and unification of the four corners by using an urban design and place making approach to connect people, places and transportation,” and to plan and design “the introduction of at-grade pedestrian crossings at all four legs of Portage and Main, with a final report and drawings for all four crossings, including a recommended construction staging plan, schedule, and Class 3 estimates for each crossing phase.”

The RFP states the winning consultant will be responsible for:

● A design framework that will bring about a new image for Portage and Main that recognizes its historical significance as an iconic destination;

● Proposing an improved pedestrian environment without pedestrian barriers that may include trees, pedestrian lighting, way-finding improvements and other streetscaping elements;

● Consulting with applicable Portage and Main building owners or their representatives for alignment of the overall vision and co-ordination with potential works on adjacent private property;

● Participating in a downtown stakeholders meeting to discuss the overall vision;

● Integrating the design of public rights-of-way with the planned redevelopment of the Richardson Plaza;

● Consulting with the Winnipeg Arts Council to explore the possibility of incorporating public art into any or all of the four corners.

The RFP also contains a link to a You Tube video, entitled Portage and Main, which outlines a brief history of the iconic intersection and contains drawings of what the intersection might look like.

The video is available at: youtube.com/watch?v=exkxh5yp4VU.

The city expects the Bank of Montreal War Monument to remain in the same location. The designs may include “conceptual modifications to existing buildings and properties to enhance private-public interface.” The consultant will also be required to produce 3D renderings of the vision for the four corners.

In an unusual request for a city RFP, the bids are limited to 15 pages in length (excluding a cover page, table of contents and the required forms) and only the first 15 pages will be evaluated. The RFP states material submitted as an appendix will not be evaluated.

The RFP closes at noon on June 26.

The document states the city expects to award the contract by July 16.

The winning consultant will be required to submit a draft plan by Oct. 31 — a week after the Oct. 24 civic election.

The last council meeting before the civic election is Sept. 20.

The final report and designs are due by Dec. 21.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca