Manitoba and Winnipeg team up for $600 million project

The Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg have formed a partnership to undertake a $600 million project that will combine the construction of the second phase of rapid transit in southwest Winnipeg with the redevelopment of the Pembina-Jubilee Underpass.

“The City of Winnipeg is expected to reach a population of one million within the next 20 years and the hallmark of any thriving big city is a modern, efficient public transit system,” said Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger.

“Building rapid transit will mean good jobs to get the work done and it will connect families with opportunities across this great city, well into the future.”

The seven-kilometre second phase of rapid transit in the city will run from Pembina Highway and Jubilee Avenue south to the University of Manitoba.

The redevelopment of the Pembina-Jubilee Underpass includes additional vehicle and bike lanes.

Winnipeg Transit is currently carrying out a functional design study, which will provide a detailed analysis of the alignment and determine the precise location of the transitway within the approved alignment. A team led by Dillon Consulting was hired to do the functional design study. Other members of the team include AECOM, Landmark Planning & Design and McGowan Russell Group.

The functional design study will include:

data collection, including a review of existing plans, past studies, topography, property influences;
preliminary transitway design from Pembina and Jubilee to Bison Drive, including all necessary structures such as at grade crossings, overpasses and underpasses;
preliminary station design, which includes station locations and station access;
an environmental assessment;
public engagement to inform the public about the progress of the project and to solicit input on specific aspects of the design;
refinement of the capital cost estimate;
cost-benefit analysis; and
implementation planning.

Following public consultation sessions on Nov. 18 and 19, the design team is preparing a precise draft alignment and will carry out a second round of consultation from December 2013 to February 2014.

City of Winnipeg staff are also involved in the project as part of a Technical Advisory Committee, that will review design issues as they arise and provide input into the study.

The functional design study work is expected to be completed in 2014.

The construction period for the Pembina-Jubilee Underpass and the rapid transit line will be reduced by at least two years by undertaking work on both projects at the same time.

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2019.

The provincial government and the City of Winnipeg are both investing up to $225 million towards the integrated project.

The investment from the Manitoba government allows the City of Winnipeg to proceed with its application to the Government of Canada for the outstanding 25 per cent of project costs through the P3 Canada Fund.

It will also allow the city to address storm-water and drainage issues in the underpass.

Stage 1 of the Southwest Transitway was opened in April 2012 and is currently in operation from Downtown to Pembina & Jubilee.