Regina Construction III

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

I didn't realize the City denied the 3-year extension for the parking lot on Hamilton (south of the Delta). I just assumed it had been approved when the zoning sign came down. Friday is the parking lot's last day.

I would've lost a bet on the outcome of that application.

Was it actually before Council or did they pull the app when the RPC said they would not support it? I did not see any minutes referencing it?

[StealthGirl]

One of the challenges with Regina Council with regard to public consultation is that they either hold the consultation so late in the process that people feel the decision is made before the consult or they hesitate to really get the word out about the public meeting and no one knows about it. The meeting about the CNIB Brandt had 60 people at it. Given the anger about the Conexus, the city had to know there would be interest in the CNIB build. The upcoming meeting about transportation/parking for the new stadium is Sept 20 but the city hasn't made much effort to publicize it. In this day and age, it needs to be on their social media channels and radio, but it's not. There's also a definite bias in council toward developers.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

One of the challenges with Regina Council with regard to public consultation is that they either hold the consultation so late in the process that people feel the decision is made before the consult or they hesitate to really get the word out about the public meeting and no one knows about it. The meeting about the CNIB Brandt had 60 people at it. Given the anger about the Conexus, the city had to know there would be interest in the CNIB build. The upcoming meeting about transportation/parking for the new stadium is Sept 20 but the city hasn't made much effort to publicize it. In this day and age, it needs to be on their social media channels and radio, but it's not. There's also a definite bias in council toward developers.

I agree with your points regarding communication, consultation & associated public notice. The City is light years behind most other Canadian cities in this regard. The Agendas & meeting minutes are difficult to access, cumbersome, etc... and that's assuming you know to look for something. The City Page in the Leader-Post is a) an outdated method (but still required by provincial legislation), and b) nearly incomprehensible - drawings are typically unintelligible and rarely provide context (what part of the city is this drawing of?!?). Zoning signs are equally useless. But municipal communications are another rant for another day

In the case of Conexus, the City had essentially zero say in the matter. Yes, they could have withheld the land - but the UofR has plenty of adjacent property that could have been used. The City's approval is not required. So, they could have consulted well in advance - but it actually would have been pretty meaningless, since the City hold no sway in the matter (even if all 3 City reps on the WCA Board voted against the development, the UofR & Prov reps have sufficient votes to carry the development). The only thing the City could have achieved is forcing the building to another location on the College Ave Campus - which, I agree, some would consider a win.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Was it actually before Council or did they pull the app when the RPC said they would not support it? I did not see any minutes referencing it?

I didn't catch that the RPC didn't support it - so yeah, they probably pulled the application.

The City just switched that alley to one-way - so the lot would've been even harder to access if it had been approved. (assuming vehicles pay attention to the signage... I know delivery trucks to the Delta & Alvin Hamilton don't seem concerned about the new signage... no way a semi is going to access the Delta's locking docks via Hamilton, when they can drive straight in off of Rose (going the wrong way, though). Similarly, the docks for the Alvin Hamilton are easier to access if entering from Rose).
Wonder who had the bright idea to flip this alley to a one-way - bet they didn't consult the Delta or Feds

[Drofmab]

Federal infrastructure money approved for Sask:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1125579

Regina

Clean Water and Wastewater Fund
Third Force Main Upgrade to McCarthy Boulevard Pump Station ($7,500,000 (fed) / $3,750,000 (prov) / $3,750,000 (city))
Wastewater and storm water collection system rehabilitation ($2,500,000 / $1,250,000 / $1,250,000)
Wastewater collection and storm system upgrades ($3,700,000 / $1,850,000 / $1,850,000)

Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
Arcola Express Bus Route ($862,500 (fed) / $862,500 (city))
One Paratransit Bus Addition Spare Ratio Increase ($65,000 / $65,000)
Transit Customer Service and Safety ($774,000 / $774,000)
Transit Technology and Software Improvements ($600,503 / $600,503)
Fleet Addition: 3 buses ($862,500 / $862,500)
Transit Fleet Replacement: 17 buses and 9 paratransit buses ($5,473,003 / $5,473,003)

[jigglysquishy]

Wasn't the money ear marked for a new transit storage facility?

In any case,transit is the single biggest need in Regina and I'm happy it's getting some serious funding.

The uPASS is going to transform the city and hopefully start to instill a culture of transit.

I'm curious what the Arcola East express route looks like. The east end is the most congested part of town and hopefully a great bus route can alleviate some of that.

[Mike328]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I'm curious what the Arcola East express route looks like. The east end is the most congested part of town and hopefully a great bus route can alleviate some of that.

Agreed. Anyone know what the plan is for it? Hopefully more than just signage and bus shelters.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Mike328

Agreed. Anyone know what the plan is for it? Hopefully more than just signage and bus shelters.

Well if it means making the third lane of Arcola a bus-only lane during rush hour, that could make the congestion worse. I would be OK with making it a bus and HOV lane. Arcola also needs right hand turn lanes.

What is really needed is widening the Ring Road overpass and Pilot Butte Creek Bridge to 3 lanes. The City recently rehabbed both but missed opportunities to do it right.

They also need better traffic light controls, including longer green lights in slippery weather and traffic detector maintenance

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Well if it means making the third lane of Arcola a bus-only lane during rush hour, that could make the congestion worse. I would be OK with making it a bus and HOV lane. Arcola also needs right hand turn lanes.

A bus-only lane is a frightening thought. Arcola is crazy at rush hour and it seems there's a daily accident as well.

What I don't understand is why the city approved the building on the corner of Winnipeg and Sask Drive/Arcola (can't remember where those change). The city had bought up the land for a turning lane between Broad and Winnipeg.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

A bus-only lane is a frightening thought. Arcola is crazy at rush hour and it seems there's a daily accident as well.

What I don't understand is why the city approved the building on the corner of Winnipeg and Sask Drive/Arcola (can't remember where those change). The city had bought up the land for a turning lane between Broad and Winnipeg.

There is a near miss accident every few minutes on Arcola at rush hour. Traffic stops dead in the 2 SE bound left lanes and NW bound drivers think they can turn left without looking for third lane traffic. Super scary. I watch people do it al the time. There have been dozens of accidents caused by this.

Regarding Winnipeg I am sure they still have lots of room for the new intersection.

[Mike328]

Originally Posted by Stormer

What is really needed is widening the Ring Road overpass and Pilot Butte Creek Bridge to 3 lanes. The City recently rehabbed both but missed opportunities to do it right.

Ugh...don't remind me of this. Perfect project to show the city not properly planning for the future.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Uhh, they did widen the bridge. The issue is that the useless local businesses sabotaged the whole area by their whining.

[Mike328]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Uhh, they did widen the bridge. The issue is that the useless local businesses sabotaged the whole area by their whining.

Right, it was widened but if memory serves me right was only for the extended turn lanes and upgraded pedestrian pathway.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Uhh, they did widen the bridge. The issue is that the useless local businesses sabotaged the whole area by their whining.

I was talking about the Arcola bridge over PB Creek

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Stormer

I was talking about the Arcola bridge over PB Creek

Ah ah. I'm of the belief that Arcola should never be widened just to punish what I consider to be the worst end of the city .

Honestly though when the merge lane from the Ring has a stop sign on it you know the city is just ignoring it.

[Rabbit Fighter '77]

I noticed today a Starbucks opened in what I assume is the old Subway Cafe location in Regina Centre Crossing. It appears that Subway is still there however. Does this mean that Starbucks is planning on expanding in Regina. Obviously for many years Starbucks blacklisted the city so to speak as a result of unionization within the Chapters branch, but is this a sign of future expansion opportunities and perhaps standalone locations. I would like to see more options outside of Tim Hortons. However with that said, the absence of Starbucks has I'm sure had a positive effect on local coffee shops such as Atlantis.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Rabbit Fighter '77

I noticed today a Starbucks opened in what I assume is the old Subway Cafe location in Regina Centre Crossing. It appears that Subway is still there however. Does this mean that Starbucks is planning on expanding in Regina. Obviously for many years Starbucks blacklisted the city so to speak as a result of unionization within the Chapters branch, but is this a sign of future expansion opportunities and perhaps standalone locations. I would like to see more options outside of Tim Hortons. However with that said, the absence of Starbucks has I'm sure had a positive effect on local coffee shops such as Atlantis.

It's just more of the same. It's a simply a licensed location with the staff not being directly employed by Starbucks itself.

The union issue is alive and well.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Ah ah. I'm of the belief that Arcola should never be widened just to punish what I consider to be the worst end of the city .

Honestly though when the merge lane from the Ring has a stop sign on it you know the city is just ignoring it.

Saw an accident there the other day. That needs its own acceleration lane too

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Wasn't the money ear marked for a new transit storage facility?

The $30million Fleet Maintenance Facility is still alive - coming from a different federal fund (with matching prov & City money, of course).

[Dan0myte]

Fairfield Inn is now taking online reservations. First available date is Sept 28th. They're charging a huge premium ($162/night) to be one of the first people to stay in the hotel.