Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 41

  

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 41

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy,

Air Date: 4/29/2010 on CJUM 101.5 FM
Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg 

Become a FaceBook Fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wake-Up-Winnipeg/180565651965105
Rebroadcast: 5/05/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

Hello and welcome to Episode #41 of Wake Up Winnipeg.

On today's show we covered some of the events happening your city, including the most recent "Plants and Animals" and "Said The Whale" show at The West End Cultural Centre!




Both bands put on a GREAT show and we had a blast getting to know Ben and Tyler from Said The Whale. Pictures will be found on our Aimless & Andy fan page located in Face Book!

Thank you Ben AND Tyler for having us out! It's always fun watching music live, and your show was certainly a perfect way to spend a Wednesday night.

Said The Whale played some favorite hits and new tracks from their recent album "Island Disappear" which was released back in October of 2009.

One lucky winner (Danielle) won herself a copy of Island Disappear just for calling in.

Plants and Animals played to their hearts content with tracks from their freshly released album "La La Land" which was released on April 20th of this year.

Something worth noting, a Winnipegger brought a pie just for the occasion! How friendly is that!?

We also talked about our visit to City Hall which we blogged about on Wednesday of this week.

We asked you for your opinions on the motion passed by Mayor Sam Katz and city council to invest additional costs of up to one hundred thousand dollars to research the benefits of LRT vs BRT.

Some of the responses we got on our Twitter (http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg) were as follows:

"LRT is the way to go! But BRT is better than nothing and a step in the right direction."

"Something will have to be done eventually, and it's not getting any cheaper over time while City Council drags their feet.."

"They should just do it. Enough reports already!"

I am personally not opposed to additional research if it means that the overall project will help our city grow.

It is my opinion that any investment our tax money goes towards is spent wisely, as is the case with most of our population and the world!

If an additional report concludes that LRT is cost efficient, and long lasting then by all means, please build it!

But, as Winnipeg is a rapidly growing city (more so with the development of Waverly West, and the soon to be built Bomber Stadium at the University of Manitoba) it is my opinion that something needs to be done soon.

I understand that these things take time, and I'm okay with that. I get it, and it's cool.

BUT it would seem like we are so far behind when it comes to our transportation system!

I have been to many a city across North America and was at one point a Winnipeg Transit user for a period of three years.

Though many improvements have and are continuing to be made in our bus system, there are still some tie ups that occur during daily commutes for citizens across the city to no fault of the bus driver or routes.

Train tracks and rush hours. It happens.

But the property is already there, and the funding was already approved for most of the project.

Local citizen, Ken Klassen surprised city hall with his independent report which outlines LRT use in various major cities in Canada.

Some of the facts included in this study found that LRT use has significantly gone down in construction fees.

City hall will be looking into this report and considering it for sure.

This motion raised a couple of questions from city councilors, fans of Wake Up Winnipeg and local citizens and businesses.

1) Where is this additional funding coming from?

2) When will this project be finalized?

The Mayor has gone on our shows record as saying that a report will be generated within 90 days to determine the benefits.

I am inclined to believe the Mayor in this comment, and believe that our city will do the research make a wise decision soon. This was agreed upon by all members of council as they have been working on this project for a very long time.

The commitment is still there.

It is also understood, and appreciated that all of members of City Council and The Mayors office want this project to be finalized as soon as possible.

There is for sure no doubt in my mind that the end result of this project will truly go down in Winnipeg's history books, and will benefit citizens for years to come.

Hopefully, it's not the world book of records! :) (Said friendly, and jokingly of course!)

Please be sure to join us next week on Wake Up Winnipeg, and if you missed this weeks episode you may tune into UMFM at 6:30 AM on Wednesday Morning, or find us in iTunes.

Until next time, rock on to the music, learn about your city, and grow in all ways!

Take care and Merci to all of those who support us!

-Andru

Track Listings

1) Said The Whale - Camilo (The Magician)
2) Simon & Garfunkle - Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live from NY)

(c) 2010, Andru Valpy - CJUM 101.5 FM.

Wake Up Winnipeg - Mayor to ask administration to explore light rail transit

We are reporting live from City Hall today to explore the option of Light Rail Transit to the University of Manitoba.

We're mid session now, but here is the media release from the Mayors Office regarding the topic. Expect a report soon!

Mayor to ask administration to explore light rail transit

Katz wants to see business case for long term transportation solution

Winnipeg, April 16th, 2010 – Committed to ensuring that Winnipeggers have the best option of rapid transit for the development of our City’s future, Mayor Sam Katz will present a motion to Executive Policy Committee (EPC) to direct the administration to explore the option of light rail transit.

As a first step in the development of a long term strategy for a rapid transit system in Winnipeg, all levels of government have committed to funding stage 1 of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor from downtown to Jubilee Avenue.

“I remain committed to working towards building a rapid transit system in the City of Winnipeg,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “But we need to ensure that what we build makes sense for the long term development of our City and provides Winnipeggers the neccessary incentives to leave there car at home and embrace public transportation alternatives, and provides solutions for financing with all our funding partners.”

The expansion of rapid transit facilites in Winnipeg has the potential to increase transit ridership, reduce reliance on automobiles, and achieve significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. A potential stimulus for future development in terms of density and infill neighbourhoods could also increase along rapid transit corridors with the long term construction of light rail transit.

“Winnipeg is experiencing an unprecedented level of growth, confidence, and commitment. We’ve recently been cited as one of the best cities to do business and Winnipeggers should celebrate the accomplishments we’ve made, especially during a global recession,” said Katz. “With all of the major projects underway here in the heart of the continent, we need to be sure we are thinking big picture and making decisions that look 20 years into the future, not 20 years in the past.”

MOTION 1

MOVED BY: Mayor Sam Katz
Seconded By: Councilor Steeves

WHEREAS reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential for the protection of human health and our environment;

AND WHEREAS Manitoba has enacted legislation that requires the province to keep its Kyoto commitment for 2012 and sets long-term goals for further reductions by 2020 and 2025 across all sectors of the Manitoba Economy;

AND WHEREAS The Climate Change and Emissions Reduction Act enshrines in the 50/50 transit funding partnership to ensure the Province continues to pay one-half of Winnipeg transit's net operating costs, including rapid transit;

AND WHEREAS The Rapid Transit Task Force recommended one-third City/Provincial/Federal cost-sharing of a rapid transit system;

AND WHEREAS as first step in the development of a long term strategy for the development of a rapid transit system in Winnipeg, the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada have committed to funding for Stage 1 of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor, which is being constructed;

AND WHEREAS the expansion of rapid transit facilities in Winnipeg may help to increase transit ridership, reduce reliance on automobiles and achieve the Province's long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction goals;

AND WHEREAS rapid transit offers a potential stimulus for future development potential in terms of density and value, and light rail rapid transit may present an opportunity to increase development potential along rapid transit corridors;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Winnipeg Public Service be directed to review the applicability of light rail rapid transit and report back to the Executive Policy Committee in 90 days with a business case that includes:

(i) an analysis of a comparative costs per kilometer for bus rapid transit and light rail rapid transit;

(ii) an analysis of the comparative advantages of bus rapid transit and light rail rapid transit;

(iii) prioritized options for light rail rapid transit routes;

(iv) recommended options for the type of types of light rail technology that might be appropriate for use in Winnipeg;

(v) comparison and quantification of anticipated benefits of light rail rapid transit vs. bus rapid transit including: incremental taxes generated from development, ridership increases, deduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and

(vi) funding options, including a strategy for pursuing intergovernmental funding.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funding to a maximum of $100,000.00 be approved for costs associated with undertaking such analysis, to be allocated from Transit Capital Account No. 442-181000-420755-4220000309 (Transportation Authority Study).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any contracts awarded in association with the preparation of such business case that are estimated to exceed $100,000.00 must be tendered through a competitive RFP process.


MOTION ITEM 2

Moved by (Councillor Gerbasi)
Seconded by (Councillor Vandal)

WHEREAS rapid transit is a high priority for infrastructure investment;

THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT Item 2 of the Report of the Executive Policy dated April 21, 2010 be amended to include the southwest Rapid Transit Corridor between Jubilee at Pembina and the University of Manitoba under the list of projects endorsed by council as City of Winnipeg infrastructure priorities for intergovernmental funding from the government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba through the Building Canada Fund.