U of M gondola plan shelved?
Updated at 9:45 PM
St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel's dream of building a cable-car connection between the University of Manitoba and St. Vital has gotten tangled up at City Hall.
Today a pair of deadlocked votes at city council's public works committee left the aerial tramway plan in limbo, as councillors failed to agree on whether Winnipeg Transit should study the idea in greater detail or abandon it altogether.
Late last week, a transit study concluded it could cost as little as $3 million to build a gondola connection over the Red River between the U of M and St. Vital, not including annual operating costs. A pedestrian bridge would likely cost at least $12 million.
Winnipeg Transit did not push the plan, recommending it be "received as information," which is a City Hall euphemism for shelving a report. But Swandel appeared before the public works committee today and pleaded for genuine action.
The St. Norbert councillor convinced committee chair Bill Clement and veteran Mynarski Coun. Harry Lazarenko to ask Winnipeg Transit to conduct a more detailed study.
But Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas trashed the idea, insisting the city should not consider a cable-car connection while a bus rapid transit corridor along Pembina Highway remains unbuilt.
Then North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty deemed the transit plan too timid, resulting in a deadlocked vote.
The result means nothing will happen with the cable-car proposal unless Swandel makes another motion at city council.
This afternoon he was considering his options.
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