Construction of new transportation centre over budget

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This article was published 04/11/2016 (3486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The highly-touted new facility Mayor Brian Bowman promised would co-ordinate all traffic lights across Winnipeg is over budget.

The administration says the $3-million Transportation Management Centre, under construction on Elgin Street, needs another $660,000 — necessary for plan changes and to cover cost increases resulting from the dollar exchange.

The budget request will be considered by the public works committee at its Monday afternoon meeting.

Improving the city’s antiquated traffic-signal system was an election promise by Bowman and he delivered in the city’s 2015 budget. Council approved $3 million to be spent over 2015 and 2016 to establish the control centre and upgrade the city’s traffic lights and associated software. The centre is expected to have an annual operating cost of $3.5 million.

In addition to synchronizing lights — ensuring motorists can have a series of green lights on a long stretch of roadway — the system will also allow lights to be manipulated for first responders.

The technology will allow centre staff to monitor all traffic signals, detect breakdowns immediately and facilitate repairs more quickly, some of them with the ease of a button.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca