Gillingham to register re-election bid Friday

Mayor Scott Gillingham will officially register his re-election bid Friday.

Gillingham confirmed he will sign up to enter the race to lead city council for a second term on the first day registrations are permitted.

“It’s an honour to be in this role. As a council, we’ve worked really well together, we’ve started a lot of really important projects … I’d like the opportunity to work with the next term of council to see those projects through,” said Gillingham, noting progress on the $3.1-billion upgrade to the sewage treatment plant on Main Street as an example.

Christopher Clacio said he will also register as a mayoral candidate on Friday, and his campaign will focus on open citizen dialogue and a long-term vision for a more united city.

Mayoral candidates will be able to register until Sept. 22.

The election is scheduled for Oct. 28.

Transit route changes proposed

A new round of changes will aim to boost Winnipeg Transit service and simplify some routes, after last June’s network overhaul triggered complaints from riders.

On June 21, Transit proposes to extend the on-request zone 106 south, from Edison Avenue to Kimberly Avenue, by adding evening and weekend service.

Several fixed Transit routes would also change in time for the fall schedule, which is tentatively slated to take effect Sept. 6.

If city council approves, that would usher in the following modifications:

-FX4: Gateway – Portage – Move the terminal at Polo Park from St. James Street to Portage Avenue, allowing the FX4 to turn left out of Polo Park.

-48: Transcona Boulevard – McMeans – Extend the route from Kildonan Place to the Crossroads Station at Walmart.

-649: Chevrier – Extend the route to continue on Scurfield Boulevard through more of Whyte Ridge.

-650: McGillivray – Instead of turning onto Scurfield Boulevard, this route would continue along Fleetwood Road.

-678: Waverley West – Chancellor & 679: Waverley – Move the terminal for both routes from Dafoe Road to University Crescent. Route 678 would travel along University Crescent, while Route 679 would travel on Chancellor Drive instead of Abinojii Mikanah.

Transit says more buses and frequency will be added in the fall, with details expected in the summer.

Speed limits set to drop on seasonal bike routes

Drivers will need to slow down on the city’s seasonal bike routes, beginning Friday.

The following reduced speed limits will kick in on stretches of four routes that otherwise have speed limits of 50 km/h:

-Lyndale Drive, from Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street (30 km/h)

-Wellington Crescent, from Academy Road to Guelph Street (30 km/h)

-Churchill Drive, between Hay Street and Jubilee Avenue (30 km/h)

-Kilkenny Drive between Burgess Avenue and Kings Drive/ Kings Drive between Kilkenny Drive and Patricia Avenue (40 km/h)

Speed reductions at each site will be in effect at all hours once signs are installed and continue until mid-October.

The routes create calmer travel paths for cyclists between May and October.

Turn requirements at select intersections will take effect during weekends in May, June, September and October, and at all hours in July and August.

City could explore new rules for motorized bikes

Another call to study the impact of motorized vehicles on trails is being raised at city hall.

A motion asks the public works committee to study potential rules for the use of motorized bicycles and other similar vehicles on pedestrian and cycling paths. If approved, the report would provide a scan of best practices in other cities.

City council had debated the idea of setting a speed limit for bikes on active transportation paths but ultimately ruled out that option because it deemed it too difficult to enforce.

City to consider funding for next phase of Winakwa path

A path behind Winakwa Community Centre looks set to grow.

The first phase of asphalt and granular paths linking an outdoor rink, outdoor classroom space, baseball diamond, community garden and tennis courts, along with connections to the community centre, Windsor Park Collegiate and College Beliveau, were in place last year.

A new proposal calls for city council to accept a $200,000 provincial grant to fund the second phase of work, which would include a shade structure and paved surfacing.