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Three Year History – Updating Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual

Aug 17, 2020

In April 2017, I brought forward a motion to update the Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to have a stronger focus on active transportation – three key actions items were to: (full motion below).

  1. Update the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to include guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, and as recommended in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies.
  2. Investigate working with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority to provide increased enforcement support of Temporary Traffic Control plans during the construction seasons.
  3. If increased enforcement support is unachievable during construction season through the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority, that the matter be referred to the Winnipeg Public Service to increase enforcement staffing for consideration in the 2018 Capital Budget process.

At the April 2020 Public Works Committee meeting, the Director of Public Works stated there is one Street Constable who handles enforcement for the entire City for the 2020 construction season, and that 3 by law officers offer some support. The constable and by law officers do not work evenings and weekends.

I find the lack of attention and prioritization to the vulnerable road users by the Mayor and Chair of Public Works unacceptable. I strongly believe if we can find $130 million in funding for road improvements, we can elevate the focus on active transportation safety. Contractors must adhere to road construction specifications, yet the enforcement of road safety for active transportation users is a lower priority.

 

Three Year History:

 April 2020

Three years after the initial request, the 2020 version of the Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual was approved this spring – at Public Works Committee with a greater focus on active transportation BUT – there is a dire / some would say almost nonexistent use of enforcement.

Current 2020 enforcement:

  • 1 (one) Street Constable handles enforcement for entire City for 2020 construction season
  • 3 by law officers offer some support to the Street Constable

June 2019

Members of the Public Works Committee received significant public pressure to ensure substantive active transportation updates were made and directed the Public Service update the Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual  – again – and to focus on active transportation. (no different than what was initially requested in 2017)

 February 2019

Almost two years after the initial request was made in 2017 to update the Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to include guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, as recommended in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies – the Manual is presented to the Public Works Committee and did NOT CONTAIN any substantive active transportation updates!!

April 2018

Then – 365 days later – the Public Works Committee AGAIN EXTENDED the report for another 90 days!

The Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works granted a further extension of time of 90 days for the Winnipeg Public Service to report back on the following:

  1. Updating the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to include guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, and as recommended in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies.
  2. Investigating working with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority to provide increased enforcement support of Temporary Traffic Control plans during the construction seasons.
  3. If increased enforcement support is unachievable during construction season through the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority, that the matter be referred to the Winnipeg Public Service to increase enforcement staffing for consideration in the 2018 Capital Budget process.

April 2017

The Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works concurred in the recommendation of the Riel Community Committee, as amended, and directed the Winnipeg Public Service to report back within 365 days on the following:

  1. Updating the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to include guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, and as recommended in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies.
  2. Investigating working with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority to provide increased enforcement support of Temporary Traffic Control plans during the construction seasons.
  3. If increased enforcement support is unachievable during construction season through the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority, that the matter be referred to the Winnipeg Public Service to increase enforcement staffing for consideration in the 2018 Capital Budget process.

2017 Motion:

WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg is making record investments in road infrastructure;

AND WHEREAS the short construction season in Winnipeg is resulting in a record number of road construction projects;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg has a responsibility to ensure all construction projects adhere to Traffic Control Plans as set out in the Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to ensure road safety for all road users (vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists) and for road construction workers, utility employees and emergency service workers who work within a public right of way;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual does contain guidelines for vehicles and pedestrians but does not contain guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, such as guidelines outlining processes and standards as related to warnings of route closures (i.e. “Bike Route Closed,” “Trail Closed”), adequate detour information to bypass the construction zone, signage information, and more for cyclists;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg mandates contractors to adhere to the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual guidelines, to develop and to implement a Traffic Control Plan with each construction project, but has extremely limited resources to enforce independent plans, thereby potentially jeopardizing road safety for all road users and workers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works direct the Winnipeg Public Service to report back within 90 days on:

  1. Updating the City of Winnipeg’s Temporary Traffic Control Plan Manual to include guidelines to accommodate cyclists during roadway construction activities, and as recommended in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies.
  2. Investigating working with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority to provide increased enforcement support of Temporary Traffic Control plans during the construction seasons.
  3. If increased enforcement support is unachievable during construction season through the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Parking Authority, that the matter be referred to the Winnipeg Public Service to increase enforcement staffing for consideration in the 2018 Capital Budget process.