Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeggers are invited to help the City reopen the conversation on infrastructure improvements for the Marion Street neighbourhood, starting with what they would like to see for public engagement for this project going forward.
Through a second phase of study (the Marion-Dugald Transportation Improvement Study), the City will be investigating more affordable, smaller scale infrastructure improvement options for the area without a grade separation or widening. As a first step, the City’s Office of Public Engagement is asking citizens what a meaningful engagement process means to them and how they would like to be involved.
“At the end of the first phase of study, we heard engagement did not meet the expectations of the public,” said Morgan Vespa, Manager of Public Engagement. “Before moving ahead with an engagement plan for the Marion-Dugald Transportation Improvement Study, we want input from the community about what the process should look like to ensure we get it right this time around.”
Starting this week, a number of stakeholders will be contacted by the City’s Office of Public Engagement to discuss their experience so far and future expectations. A public online survey is also available to collect feedback from all citizens. The survey will be open until March 22.
For more information or to provide input through the online survey, please visit winnipeg.ca/mariondugaldstudy
Project background
In 2013, City Council approved funding for and directed the public service to conduct a functional design study to investigate the widening and grade separation of Marion Street. The Marion Street Widening and Grade Separation functional design study was conducted between the spring of 2014 and winter of 2015. The study concluded that, of five functional design options presented to the public, option 2 was the recommended option with a class 4 estimate of $566 million.
However, due to both affordability and project risk, the public service did not recommend moving forward with this project. Rather, it was recommended that additional study be undertaken to identify alternatives without a grade separation or widening that are more affordable to the City, have a lesser impact on property, and fit within the existing Council approved debt strategy. Council approved this recommendation, and the public service is currently moving forward with this study called the Marion-Dugald Transportation Improvement Study.