The second open house for the Polo Park Infrastructure Improvements project will take place in the Center Court of the Polo Park Shopping Centre on Thursday May 8th. A detailed design has been completed and a construction staging plan developed. We are concerned that the plans moving forward fail to address thy city’s vision to ensure that walking and cycling are safe, convenient, practical, and attractive transportation choices for people of all ages and abilities.

Polo Park Infrastructure Improvements – A Missed Opportunity

Despite Bike Winnipeg’s November 2013 submission to the project consultants asking for the proposed bike lanes along St. Mathews to be upgraded to separated bicycle lanes (we suggested providing raised cycle tracks), the project plan still only calls for painted bike lanes along St. Mathews. This is a regrettable decision

Demand Better Cycling Facilities as part of the Polo Park Infrastructure Improvements

Please make an effort to get out to tonight’s Polo Park Infrastructure Improvements open house to demand that the widening of St. Mathews include physically separated bicycle lanes. If you can’t make it out to tonight’s meeting, you can also send feedback by calling 311 or by sending an email to ppii@winnipeg.ca.

Construction is scheduled to begin in late May 2014 with watermain renewal and sewer works. Road construction will follow. Utility work may begin before construction in the project area.

Read our blog post on the need to include protected bicycle lanes along St. Mathews as part of the Polo Park Infrastructure Improvements here.