A massive six-year transportation study recommends that $767,000,000 be poured into construction of new roads, super highways, bridges and an underground railway in the Metro Winnipeg area.
The third and final volume of the Winnipeg Area Transportation Study -- prepared by Metro streets and traffic officials at a cost of $300,000 -- suggests a huge construction effort between now and 1991.
Thursday, Metro councillors took their first look at the 233-page report. Tuesday, they'll discuss it, in secret.
And copies of the report will be given to area municipalities and the provincial government.
Five new freeways providing additional arteries to the downtown area and 10 new bridges crossing the Red and Assiniboine rivers, are proposed.
The study suggests:
This route will alleviate traffic congestion on such roads as Portage, Ellice, Sargent and Notre Dame avenues, and will speed traffic between downtown and St. James-Assiniboia.
This freeway coincides with Grant Ave. extensions so that a more direct access to downtown is provided to those areas of St. Boniface and St. Vital served by the extension of Grant Ave. to Highway 59.
The entire project represents 118.9 more miles to the 1962 major street system, comprising a total of 369.2 miles of major streets and highways inside the Perimeter Highway.
Cost is estimated at $609,000,000.
This system comprises a line extending from Polo Park on Portage Ave. West, to the intersection of Hespler Ave. and Henderson Highway. There will be 11 stations along this line.
Feeder-bus systems would be augmented into this plan. The southern freeway is used by express buses connecting the downtown area with the University of Manitoba via Pembina Highway and with the southern part of the Charleswood and Tuxedo areas via the extension of Taylor Ave. beyond the freeway terminal.
The southeastern freeway provides for express bus connections from downtown to the St. Vital area, where St. Mary's and St. Anne's roads are utilized for passenger distribution.
The eastern freeway bus route connects Regent Ave. in Transcona wth McDermot and Bannatyne Avenues in the downtown area. The northern freeway is used as a route for freeway buses which enter the downtown area on Broadway via the Maryland-Sherbrook one-way street pair.
Estimated cost, including the purchase of 15 rapid underground transit trains, is $158,000,000. Some 660 buses would be needed to speed-up services.
Once utilized, the super highways will enable commercial traffic from the international airport to downtown within six minutes -- and that's during the peak period.
Trucks travelling between the CNR Symington Yards in St. Boniface will make it to Tuxedo in 11 minutes during peak traffic periods.
Four stages of development have been planned for the projects, the first being from 1968-1971 where total capital expenditures for major street, freeway construction and transit expenditures has been set at $87,140,000.
The second stage (1972-1976) will amount to $149,860,000, yearly spendings averaging $29,970,000. Stage three (1977-1981) will need $165,830,000, although the yearly average spending will be lower, at $33,170,000.
Estimated capital expenditures for the final stage has been set at $364,570,000 and the average yearly expenditures at $36,460,000.
Figures revealed area those based on current construction and labor costs. Throughout the period designated for the projects, buses will be bought to increase Transit Tom's fleet.
It will not be until 1991 when construction will begin on the rapid transit line, stations and storage and maintenance facilities.
Seeking land for the project means re-location of many residential and business premises. Aid is expected to be sought from the two senior levels of government, as well as the municipalities. It will be done on a similar basis under existing urban renewal legislation.
Is this all a pipe dream?
Not so, say Metro administration officials and councillors.
Streets and transit committee chairman, Councillor Lorne A. Leech, said the entire study is realistic.
"And it's got to be something we have all got to face," he commented.
Much of the financing, he explained, can come from a "user" tax -- increased taxation from the motorist.
Other revenues can come from increased provincial grants. "Much more than $3,000,000 maximum the government now gives us for our capital projects for highways, roads, street improvements, and the like."
"The provincial government gets $17,000,000 a year out of the user tax. This could be used to finance our future project," added Mr. Leech.
The plan "certainly isn't a pipe dream. It's a good study, and it's a balanced one," he said.
Streets and Transit Director D. I. MacDonald said: "We don't go around conjuring up pipe dreams. If Winnipeg is to grow, then there's no question that these facilities are required. It's certainly not unrealistic.," he said.