Optimizing the Southwest Rapid Transitway

Sep 18, 2019

I strongly believe we need to ensure focused, clearly defined measurements to monitor and ensure optimization of the Southwest Rapid Transitway. This will ensure the investment is maximized, and will also provide direction for future transit corridors. I made the following motions at the September 11th, 2019 Assiniboia Community Committee Meeting:

Southwest Rapid Transitway – Annual Value for Money Report

WHEREAS Stage Two of the Southwest Rapid Transitway is one of the largest City of Winnipeg transportation infrastructure projects with a capital investment of $467.3Million and a yet undetermined operating budget;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg retained Deloitte LLP to produce a Value for Money Report (December 16, 2016) for the Southwest Rapid Transitway;

AND WHEREAS the Value for Money report identified key benefits of the South West Rapid Transitway to be: 
Increased Transit Ridership, Reduction in Traffic Congestion and Travel Times, Improved Transit Service and Schedule Reliability, Transit-Oriented Development (“TOD”), Local Economic Impacts, Revitalization of Downtown Area, Environmental Sustainability

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg does not currently have a mechanism set up to monitor, measure and publicly report on how the key benefits are meeting expectations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works be requested to direct the Winnipeg Public Service to:

Develop an annual report to the Standing Committee which includes the following:
A. Detailed measurements on how Stage Two of the Southwest Rapid Transitway is meeting the expectations of key benefits identified in the Value for Money report prepared by Deloitte LLP in December 2016;
B. The measurements to be developed and applied when the Southwest Rapid Transitway fully opens in spring of 2020;
Begin the annual report to the Standing Committee in 2021.

Winnipeg Area Transportation Study

WHEREAS the last Winnipeg Area Transportation Study (origin destination) occurred in 2011;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg has experienced significant growth in the past 8 years;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg is in the process of updating Our Winnipeg, the Transportation Master Plan and is developing a Master Transit Plan;

AND WHEREAS the data from a Winnipeg Area Transportation Study will provide key information for the updating of Our Winnipeg, the Transportation Master Plan and the development of a Master Transit Plan;

AND WHEREAS the data from a Winnipeg Area Transportation Study will also aid in the monitoring and success of the Southwest Rapid Transitway;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works be requested to refer funding for a Winnipeg Area Transportation Study to the 2020 Budget Review process.

Phase Two of the Southwest Rapid Transitway – Active Transportation Connections

AND WHEREAS the goal of the City of Winnipeg, on behalf of taxpayers, is to ensure this transit infrastructure is being optimized to its fullest potential;

AND WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg retained Urban Systems to produce a report identifying existing and missing walking and cycling connections to Southwest Transitway stations;

AND WHEREAS the report identified high, medium and low priority sidewalk, pedestrian/off-street pathway crossing improvements and on-street bicycle network projects enabling people access to the Southwest Rapid Transitway stations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works be requested to refer the following to the 2020 Budget Review process for inclusion in the Southwest Rapid Transitway:

High priority sidewalks, off-street pathway crossing improvements and on-street bicycle networks to allow pedestrians to access the rapid transit stations;
Identify and include sidewalks, off-street pathway crossing improvements, and on-street bicycle networks in the City of Winnipeg’s Active Transportation Action Plan.