From: Kim the Traffic Reporter
On Wed. Oct. 6th Jenny Gerbasi, the area Councillor (Fort Rouge- East Fort Garry) had a meeting with the residents of a seniors building at 33 Edmonton. This was done at the request of the residents who had concerns about the changes occuring on Assiniboine and the effect it is having on their street and transit services.
Councillor Gerbasi gave a brief presentation on her background in politics, then took questions from the approximately 15 residents in attendance. Many of the questions ran in the same vein, the traffic issues, transit, concerns about snow clearing and how it will affect the sidewalks.
Some issues regarding traffic is the traffic congestion on their streets because of the lane changes, one resident said there is "more traffic now" and that "people were driving around over and over" because they couldn't find how to get where they were going or because they didn't realize there was no through traffic.
This lady asked Gerbasi for signage to be placed at Osborne, Kennedy at Broadway along with Carlton telling drivers there was no through traffic.
Gerbasi responded that signs would come in the next little while and that they were still doing construction. Gerbasi did say that the other end of Assiniboine was being paved and was temporarily a one-way. When that is area is done it will return to being a two-way again.
Gerbasi went on to say that "give a chance for people to adjust" and "take a breath" and that people should wait for construction to be completed. Gerbasi thinks Assiniboine residents will see a reduction in traffic.
{Marty's note: OK I have to interject which I have never done before in one of these reports.
Four times I asked Gerbasi in her last studio appearance, did you see a traffic impact study? She ducked the question each time. Now, maybe she is right! Maybe residents on Assiniboine ARE getting less traffic!
But it is indisputable that residents of Edmonton, like these senior citizens, are seeing a frightening increase in traffic of all sizes. This point seems lost on Gerbasi. That is why it keeps getting mentioned on the show. It's like Assiniboine Ave. is being catered to like it's Park Boulevard and Edmonton St. is getting the Magnus Avenue treatment.}
* Gerbasi stated that she had spoken with many residents who told her they "liked it" because of less traffic. Gerbasi then went on to tell these seniors that "one business likes the project" and that it was "one of the businesses suing".
* This brought up another question from a resident who said because of the government lots on Kennedy and at the Legislature traffic has increased along Edmonton which is the only exit to Broadway or Main.
This resident asked if enforcement could be put in place because of people blowing stop signs, traffic going the wrong way and angry people "flooring it", further saying people "can't cross the street".
Gerbasi replied that they'd "watch the situation" and that this behaviour was a "reaction to the adjustments" and that "over time people will adjust".
** A question was raised about consultation with one lady saying "nobody was given a heads-up" about consultation, though this resident noted that the cyclists had been notified.
Gerbasi responded that it was a "difficult question" saying that people were notified citing ads placed in the Winnipeg Free Press, though one resident noted that not everybody reads the Free Press.
** Gerbasi did admit that not everybody was sent a letter and that notices were put on doors.
** Then she said "the communications person was let go in March" (Ed Shiller) and that the communication was not done well, Gerbasi also said it was "not worded well".
*** Gerbasi continued that there were meetings and discussions with individual buildings on Hargrave -- citing the input from these people for the basis of the changes in that area.
(Marty's note: Gerbasi was refering to the change of Hargrave to a 2 way street, supposedly for Handi-Transit access. The city has refused for 2 weeks to reply to our request to asl questions of the city staffer responsible for the decision.
Meanwhile, the city is now put in the position of saying they consulted with some buildings, that requested a change, but didn't consult with neighbouring businesses who would be affected by it. The laws of natural justice would seem to differ.
And to make it worse, the City defends this biased process in petitioning the court that the Assiniboine lawsuit has no basis because the City wasn't required to speak to anybody beforehand. But now Gerbasi seems to imply the city staff actually spoke to a select few when they wanted to -- although a sceptic might say, when it served their purpose. )
** Gerbasi said there was "no point in pointing fingers" when talking about the lack of consultation.
* One lady raised the issue of bus service, asking Councillor Gerbasi to look into having the route of the Spirit buses changed so that they would come down Carlton to Edmonton back to Broadway to Garry Assiniboine back up Fort. This saying one resident would not cost Transit anything to make that change and would allow access for the seniors to The Forks, Exchange District and Downtown.
Gerbasi replied that she was prepared to speak to Transit, but people weren't using the Spirit buses as much as they should. She would look at it, speak with the Downtown Biz who might help "make it better." Gerbasi repeated she would look at it then equated Transit with Active Transportation as it was good for the environment if people reduced car use.
* Questions were raised about snow clearing with some residents asking if snow will be piled on the sidewalk from the bikelane. Their were several questions about snow clearing, where the snow would go, would the sidewalks be plugged, how it would be done.
*** Buses are having a hard time getting through now. One resident saying the new jutting curbs are causing the buses to ride up the curbs and that because of poor engineering and planning, there is more traffic up Edmonton.
Gerbasi said about jutting curbs was newer to Winnipeg but had been done for years, that when construction was done it would be safer for pedestrians to cross the street because the street had traffic calming.
Gerbasi she had spoken with Transit and that a manager from Transit Operations tested the bus, finding no problem for the buses to get through without damage.
*** When pressed about buses running over sidewalks because of the turn Gerbasi said it "slows traffic" and that "it's been done in other cities".
Gerbasi also said that "they can train drivers", meaning the ones who had to make the turn without running over the sidewalk.
Gerbasi did admit she was aware of a coach bus having been stuck, but it's a change and the fact is it has been voted through engineers, passed through the Mayor, the money has been spent having been supported by all 3 levels of government.
** Gerbasi further went on to say it's been done in other cities and that "it's in place let's give it a chance", though she did admit that if it's a failure they could take it out.
At the end of the meeting some of the residents like what Jenny Gerbasi had to say about working with the people and hopefully getting the Spirit bus to change it's route. Another point they liked was the bike paths, just not the way it was done. While others were quite upset, didn't think they got any answers and in fact one elderly gentleman who was quite irate stormed out of the meeting. Was it a successful day for Jenny? Oct. 27th is drawing nigh.
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Kim's Thoughts
Exactly what did we hear from Jenny Gerbasi? Did she give any definitive answers? And doesn't it seem as if I've seen some of those words before? Like maybe a certain member of the print media? You know "pointing fingers" and all.
Correct my memory but haven't we been told that Council didn't vote on each project individually but that it went through community committee meetings, then public works meetings? But not the full Council, meaning roads that have to be changed, permanent structures (such as traffic islands) placed in a lane of traffic, moving rush hour zones. Shouldn't that HAVE to be passed through the full Council and not just committees?
That doesn't even mention that nobody knows for sure exactly what plans are going to be used for any one area. Plans have changed so much for some of them it's hard to keep up. I know what I saw at the Sherbrook Open House isn't what is currently planned. The same for Assiniboine. Then there's Nassau and you know I'm still confused over that one little street.
All I can say is some responses sounded very "electionish", I have to wonder what the situation would be like if it wasn't an election year. I'm guessing though that for those who thought they could get some P.R. mileage out of Active Transportation, it might have turned around and bit them on the butt.
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Thursday on TGCTS:
- TeamBuy.ca got a Dragon's Den deal last week on CBC-TV, and we have CEO Ghassan Halazon ready to discuss the details with myself and Barrett Fraser at 4.10 PM;
- We have had more witnesses contact TGCTS, alleging they heard Mynarski candidate Ross Eadie admit the NDP was financially supporting his campaign, despite new finance laws banning the practice;
- Another council candidate- Daniel MacIntyre hopeful John Cardosa at 4.50 PM;
On Friday, a special replay of our interview with Mayor Sam Katz
