Winnipeg Residents Benefitting from Major Road, Bridge and Public Transit Improvements

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - July 28, 2015) - Infrastructure Canada

Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre joined with the Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister of Municipal Government and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Brandon East, and Janice Lukes, Councillor of South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Ward and Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works for the City of Winnipeg to celebrate how the municipality's 2015 allocation of the federal Gas Tax Fund is improving roads and public transportation across the City of Winnipeg.

Part of this year's allocation will continue to be used to pay down financing for two completed projects that area residents and tourists alike are already enjoying - the Disraeli Bridge and the Chief Peguis Trail. Through the flexibility of the federal Gas Tax Fund, municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this permanent source of infrastructure funding.

Funds are additionally targeted for upgrades to public transit being supported through the now permanent federal Gas Tax Fund. This is an annual budget item to ensure the public transit fleet continues to operate efficiently and that the Winnipeg public transit system continues to provide reliable and effective transportation option for local commuters.

Also funded are 38 road maintenance projects to improve surface quality and extend their life. Plans include resurfacing portions of three major roads, including the southbound lanes of Henderson Highway between Monroe Avenue and Hespeler Avenue, and between Whellams Lane and Springfield Road; as well as the southbound lanes of Main Street between Inkster Boulevard and Mountain Avenue. In addition, 35 local road improvement projects were scheduled for work this summer. A full list of the projects can be found in the attached backgrounder.

Each of the projects announced today are improving the quality of life of Winnipeg residents and tourists through better roads, reduced traffic delays, faster commuting by public transit and increases in the efficiency of the overall transportation network of the City.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is contributing $40,886,000 to these 41 projects through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• Between 2014 and 2019, the Government of Canada is providing over $340 million in funding for municipal infrastructure in Manitoba through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• The total federal Gas Tax Fund allocated to the City of Winnipeg from 2006/07 to 2015/16 was $333,383,432.

Quotes

"Our Government is pleased to be contributing to these projects, which are helping improve the local transportation network and quality of life for Winnipeg residents through reduced travel time and better traffic flow. The renewed federal Gas Tax Fund, part of the historic New Building Canada Plan, is just one of the ways we are helping to build better communities while creating jobs and enhancing economic growth across the country."

Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, On behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"Improvements to our municipal infrastructure are a priority in Manitoba, and this funding is an important step towards helping make the City of Winnipeg's transportation infrastructure more safe and efficient for all residents. Support from the Federal Gas Tax Fund has been a valuable means of support for a number of worthwhile projects in Manitoba that will complement our five year plan that commits record funding to infrastructure, creating long-term jobs and economic growth."

The Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister of Municipal Government and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Brandon East

"Gas tax funding is important for Winnipeg, and helps improve, maintain and modernize our roadways and critical transportation infrastructure, including the Disraeli Bridges. On behalf of the City of Winnipeg, I say thank you to the Government of Canada for your renewed commitment to this funding that is critical to help Winnipeg and other municipalities in Manitoba build and renew the bridges, roads, sidewalks, and bike paths that matter so much."

Janice Lukes, City Councillor and Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works for the City of Winnipeg

Related Products

Please see the attached backgrounder for a complete list of the projects funded through the 2015 federal Gas Tax Fund allocation.

Associated Links

To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html.

Manitoba's five-year, $5.5 billion infrastructure plan can be found at http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/pdf/five-yr-plan.pdf

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/infc_eng

Backgrounder

Winnipeg used its 2015 allocation of the federal Gas Tax Fund to improve roads and public transportation across the city. Part of this year's allocation will continue to be used to pay down financing for two completed projects that area residents and tourists alike are already enjoying - the Disraeli Bridge and the Chief Peguis Trail. Funds are additionally targeted for upgrades to public transit. This is an annual budget item to ensure the public transit fleet continues to operate efficiently and that the Winnipeg public transit system continues to provide reliable and effective transportation option for local commuters. The following local road improvement projects were also funded: