Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 31, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE B1 FUNDERS SPONSORS � Get your Travel Guide at Manitoba Liquor Marts, Cambrian Credit Union branches, Vickar Automotive Group dealerships, and Winnipeg 7- Eleven locations. FOLKLORAMA. CA $ 6 single admission .. Free for children 12 & under F O L K L O R A M A S E E I T A L L A U G. 2 - 15 , 2 015 Winnipeg's Recycling and Garbage Services We need our space! Water and Waste Department The automated collection arms on the truck need space so they will not tip over other carts or damage property. Please be sure to: .. Allow at least one arm's length clearance around each cart .. Place your carts so they are not under any low- hanging objects ( e. g., trees, eavestroughs, overhead wires, basketball net) For more information , phone 311, visit winnipeg. ca/ waterandwaste or download the My Waste app at winnipeg. ca/ mywaste Victoria Beach responds / B2 CITY & BUSINESS CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204- 697- 7292 I CITY. DESK@ FREEPRESS. MB. CA I WINNIPEGFREEPRESS. COM FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 B 1 T HE end of a traffic nightmare is in sight for many commuters in south Winnipeg. The three levels of government announced a funding commitment Thursday to construct the Waverley Street railway underpass. Ottawa and the provincial government will each contribute $ 45.9 million, leaving city hall to cover the remaining $ 63.3 million - for what is expected to be a $ 155.1- million project. " Waverley is an important route for Winnipeggers," said Mayor Brian Bowman, who made the announcement at the railway crossing at Waverley Street alongside Conservative MP Joyce Bateman and Drew Caldwell, the provincial minister for municipal government. Bowman said upwards of 40 CN Rail trains cross Waverley every day, posing a safety hazard and causing a constant disruption to traffic flow. During the 14- minute news conference, two short CN Rail trains crossed Waverley. " The Waverley underpass is ( a) crucial infrastructure improvement that will significantly enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians at the rail crossing, and it will also help ease congestion, ease traffic flow and reduce travel time," Bowman said. He said he's grateful the federal and provincial governments have each pledged $ 45.9 million. The project will involve the construction of a rail line underpass south of Taylor Avenue; the reconstruction of Waverley between Wilkes and Taylor avenues; improvement to three intersections along Waverley; and the twinning of a 1.2- kilometre stretch of Taylor. Active transportation Paths for cyclists and pedestrians will be included. The city had made its request for federal and provincial funding earlier this year and had identified the underpass as its top infrastructure priority. More than 30,000 vehicles travel daily on Waverley but are repeatedly interrupted by trains. Bateman, who represents Winnipeg South Centre, is seeking re- election this fall. She participated in the announcement as the local MP and the representative of the federal government. " I have the great pleasure to announce federal support for a project that I have advocated for since the first day I took office ( as an MP)," Bateman said. Bateman said the announcement shows Winnipeg can benefit when city hall, the provincial government and Ottawa work co- operatively. Caldwell said the project will have a dramatic effect on the lives of residents in the south end of the city. " This infrastructure project will be transformative. for all of south Winnipeg," Caldwell said. The news conference was interrupted several times by an area resident with an air horn who shouted out his objections that the project will increase traffic to River Heights. Police were called to the scene, but the man was allowed to remain. Bowman said there is no timeline for the start of the project. It's not included in this year's budget. Bowman said the administration will prepare a report for council in the fall, detailing the planning and construction schedule and a plan on how council will finance its share of the cost. The city's share of $ 63.3 million will be reduced at some point, as CN Rail will be required to cover part of the cost. A civic spokeswoman said the amount CN Rail will be required to pay hasn't been determined. Despite the announcement, Bowman said the city still needs formal written commitments from Ottawa and the province before work gets underway. The project was initially estimated to cost $ 175 million, but Bowman said the price was lowered to $ 155 million following more detailed design work. aldo. santin@ freepress. mb. ca Waverley Underpass TOTAL COST: $ 155.1 million. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 45.9 million each from Ottawa and the province; $ 63.3 million from the city. START AND FINISH DATES: expected to be revealed later in the fall. NUMBER OF VEHICLES: 30,000 vehicles use the road each day. TRAINS: 40 trains block traffic daily. The project involves: . Construction of a rail line underpass south of Taylor Avenue. . Reconstruction of Waverley Street between Wilkes and Taylor avenues. . Improvement to three intersections along Waverley Street. . Twinning of a 1.2- kilometre stretch of Taylor Avenue. . Paths for cyclists and pedestrians will be included. EVERYONE is talking about a looming federal election - everyone except Conservative MP Joyce Bateman. Bateman, who represents Winnipeg South Centre, announced Ottawa will contribute $ 45.9 million toward the Waverley Underpass project Thursday, but she said it had nothing to do with the pending call of a federal election, which many expect to happen on Sunday. When questioned repeatedly by reporters about the timing of the announcement, Bateman never uttered the word election. " This ( Waverley Underpass) has been important for many, many years - many, many years," Bateman said. " This has been important for a long time. I got it done." When asked if she expects Prime Minister Stephen Harper to call an election Sunday, Bateman replied: " I'm hearing this ( Waverley Underpass) is a project that matters to my community, and that's why I've been working on it very hard." It marked the second major funding announcement Bateman made involving the city in the past three days. On Tuesday, she went to city hall and announced the city would be getting $ 40.9 million as its share of the federal gas tax, for dozens of road projects and transit upgrades and to help the city make its annual payments for the Disraeli bridges and the Chief Peguis Trail extension. Conservative MPs have been making similar announcements across the country - which supports speculation Harper will soon drop the writ, marking the official start of a campaign that will end on election day, Oct. 19. On Wednesday, Conservative MP Lawrence Toet ( Elmwood- East Kildonan) announced $ 1.45 million in funding to 11 local projects through the Canada 150 fund, with city hall getting more than $ 1 million of that money for three projects. The rest is shared by several community organizations. - Santin The project will have paths for cyclists and pedestrians, making it safer. PHOTOS BY JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Commuters wait. and wait. and then wait some more for a train at Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue Thursday. The section sees 30,000 cars in a typical day. Overjoyed about an underpass Three levels of government to pay $ 155M Bateman won't say the E- word By Aldo Santin ' This infrastructure project will be transformative. for all of south Winnipeg' - Manitoba Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell B_ 01_ Jul- 31- 15_ FP_ 01. indd B1 7/ 30/ 15 10: 05: 59 PM ;