Gas tax may take city street work off chopping block

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This article was published 02/04/2019 (2377 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg city council committee wants the $40 million-plus in bonus federal gas tax revenue announced in the 2019 budget to go towards restoring local street renewal work and active transportation projects.

Councillors on the public works committee voted 3-1 Tuesday in support of using the money on the streets program that had previously been cancelled after the city said the province reneged on its funding.

Jim Berezowsky, director of public works, said how much of the original program could be carried out this year depends on when the federal government approves its budget and when city hall receives the funding.

Included in the March 19 federal budget was a commitment to double the dollars given to municipalities through the federal gas tax program, valued at more than $2 billion. Winnipeg budgeted to receive almost $44 million this year from the gas tax, and now council has to decide how to spend an additional $40 million-plus.

The public works department had a list of 53 residential streets and back lanes it wanted to rebuild in 2019. Berezowsky said it may not be possible to do all the work, but would have a report ready for council on what streets could be completed this year.

The lone dissenting voice Tuesday was Coun. Vivian Santos, who said it would be premature to allocate all of the bonus funds to local street work, explaining now would be the time to reinvest in the city’s neglected recreational and leisure facilities and the parks branch.

The committee’s recommendation will go to council for its April 25 meeting.

Waverley underpass update

The Waverley Street rail underpass should be substantially completed by October, with the $97.9-million project finished by summer 2020.

Officials from the public works department told councillors the project is on budget and on schedule.

The project was originally budgeted for $156 million, but was revised downward in November 2017 to $121.34 million and again in January to the current amount.

Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeil said the $467-million southwest transit corridor project is also on budget and on schedule.

The transit corridor is set for completion in late fall, and to be fully operational by spring 2020.

Bus pass business

Winnipeg Transit has initiated work on the proposed low-income bus pass.

Transit officials told the committee a team has been assembled and would hold its first meeting Tuesday.

Council approved the initiative in the city’s 2019 budget, passed March 20.

The low-income bus pass is supposed to be operational by April 2020, first with a 30 per cent discount on the regular adult fare, rising to 50 per cent in 2022.

Currently, the full fare monthly pass costs $100.10.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca