Accessibility issues go beyond Portage, Main

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This article was published 21/08/2018 (2760 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An organization that advocates for the elimination of barriers to people with disabilities in Manitoba says the reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians holds the promise for greater accessibility, but it doesn’t want the corner to become another problem intersection.

Patrick Falconer, a spokesman and consultant for Barrier-Free Manitoba, said the group has not formally taken a position on the pedestrian crossings through Portage and Main, adding it’s not the only intersection in Winnipeg that is difficult for individuals with disabilities.

“Several members of the disability community have expressed concern to us about safety issues in crossing busy intersections to which they feel vulnerable, as well as the need for longer lights to cross intersections and/or safe and accessible rest spots halfway through if more than one light is needed to cross,” Falconer said.

“We are not saying that such concerns (at Portage and Main) cannot be addressed. All that we are saying is that they are important and we have yet seen plans for how they would be addressed.”

Barrier-Free Manitoba was established in 2008 to advocate for provincial legislation to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities. With the Accessibility for Manitobans Act in place, the group is working to ensure its implementation.

A detailed design study that would have dealt with traffic and pedestrian concerns through the intersection was recently put on hold by city officials after council voted to put the Portage and Main reopening question on the Oct. 24 civic election ballot.

A second consulting contract to improve the underground, city-owned concourse was awarded last week and a final report is due by Oct. 12.

Falconer said he recognizes that the Yes campaign is promoting the re­opening as an accessibility issue, but added that people need to realize the underground concourse will remain open and the accessibility issues there need to be addressed, as well.

“The current accessibility limitations of the concourse below Portage and Main is unacceptable,” he said.

“Assuming that the concourse remains open to the public, there seems to be a compelling need to address its accessibility limitations too, quite independent of the proposed pedestrian crosswalk. Many Winnipeggers will continue to use the concourse as a preferred way to cross the intersection.”

Falconer said there is concern now that people with a range of disabilities — mobility issues, vision problems or other physical impairments — cannot safely cross many intersections in Winnipeg because the signal lights do not provide enough time for them to do so.

He said city hall has identified other problem intersections but hasn’t released information on how the accessibility issues have been dealt with, or produced a timetable to deal with concerns that haven’t been addressed yet.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca