I think some people ought to have a read through
this blog which tries to pick apart the City’s latest cost-benefit analysis for the Kenaston widening. Some snarky comments to sift through, but it certainly paints the numbers from a different perspective.
Winnipeg is in a unique position compared to other major cities where many of our major thoroughfares are in need of reconstruction, and we have the benefit of hindsight from other cities to decide how best to invest our infrastructure budget. Whatever ultimately ends up getting built will be paid for by the next several generations, and it is something we really need to consider carefully rather than resort to a gut instinct that we should add lanes and make it a limited-access freeway.
I think that the blog also makes a good point on congestion charging. We should really reconsider whether it is acceptable for everybody, including non-drivers, to fully subsidize drivers on roads, while transit users have to pay for their own fare. At the very least, it is a steady income stream for the City that can help fund other projects and doesn’t penalize the people that don’t even use the road.
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