FAQs

The Marion area experiences local, commuter, and truck traffic, as well as a regularly used railway. Delays are common at the Archibald- Lagimodière intersection, including the nearby railway crossing. Traffic travelling from new and growing communities, both in and around eastern Winnipeg (e.g., West Transcona, Sage Creek), will continue to increase traffic congestion in the area. New and expanding development, including the Public Market Lands, Warman Road Lands, and St. Boniface Industrial Park, will add to local truck traffic and potentially increased railway use. Other considerations in this growing area include the increasing need for safe and accessible active transportation routes (walking and cycling) and improved transit service. 

Increased residential and industrial development places significant strain on area roads and infrastructure that were not designed to accommodate the high traffic volumes and varying types of traffic experienced in recent years. 

The City has studied this general area before, but not through this lens. We heard that the previous study's focus was too narrow to discuss some of the broader transportation issues in the neighbourhood. Council directed the Public Service to find cost-effective ways to address transportation deficiencies along Marion including improvements to the accommodation of pedestrian and cyclists as well as improvements to safety and traffic operation at key intersections; while minimizing land requirements – focuses that were not part of the original study.

To achieve these objectives, the project scope has been expanded to encompass interrelated areas within the neighbourhood, each with unique uses and needs. 

The project will encompass the area around and adjacent to Archibald-Lagimodière Boulevard, which is primarily an industrial area; the area west from Archibald to the onset of the Marion-Goulet couplet, which is mixed-use; and west from the couplet to St. Mary's Road, which is primarily residential. 

Implementing any change within one area requires changes to another to ensure safety, appropriate use, and traffic flow in the neighbourhood.

While a grade separation and realignment are not feasible solutions at this time, we have built upon intersection improvements suggested in the previous study to help address safety concerns and local traffic flow concerns along the corridor.

No. Due to a large footprint, affordability and project risk, the Public Service did not recommend moving forward with grade separation or widening.

Phase 3 of public engagement for the Moving on Marion Street project aims to improve roadway, traffic flow, safety, and livability aspects from St. Mary’s Road to Lagimodière Boulevard, and Lagimodière from Marion to Dugald Road.

Phase 2 of public engagement looked at several primary issues to meet these goals, which have been refined as part of Phase 3 engagement:

• Features to enhance neighbourhood vibrance and livability along the west section
• New bicycle infrastructure in the Marion-Goulet couplet
• Improvements to the Youville-Marion-Goulet intersection
• Improvements to the Marion-Archibald intersection and Happyland Park
• Roadway realignment on Youville Street
• Improvements at the Marion-Archibald, Marion-Panet-Dawson, and Marion-Lagimodière/Dugald intersections

We have designed a range of low-cost solutions that include things like lane additions, turning lane improvements, and signal timing to improve traffic flow in the area. Issues that were refined as part of Phase 3 include: 

1. Integrating the Complete Streets concept through the Marion-Goulet couplet. Complete Streets is the term used to describe a roadway (or portions of a roadway) that allows all people, regardless of their age or ability, to safely move about it regardless of whether they are a pedestrian, cyclist, transit user, or motorist. 
2. Solutions to create a more dynamic pedestrian and cycling experience through the Marion-Goulet couplet while also maintaining usability for cars, trucks, and buses. 
3. Improving the angles, sightlines, and turning movements at the intersection where the Marion-Goulet couplet connects with Youville. 
4. Improving safety at and around the Marion /Archibald Street intersection. 
5. Improving usability and safety at the Marion/Panet Road/Dawson Road N intersection.
6. Improving traffic flow on Lagimodière, including intersections at Marion and Dugald Road.
7. Reviewing the remaining portions of Marion for ways to ensure safety and maintenance while minimizing land requirements.

Incorporating pedestrian and cycling requirements within the study area.

Active transportation infrastructure has been incorporated throughout the study area as part of the proposed design. We are also focusing on complete streets approach for the Marion-Goulet couplet. 

Complete streets is the term used to describe a roadway (or portions of a roadway) that allows all people, regardless of their age or ability, to safely move about it regardless of whether they are a pedestrian, cyclist, transit user, or motorist. 

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The City is meeting with impacted property owners ahead of the engagement program and will proactively maintain open lines of communication with any potentially affected land owners through the process from now until completion. 

It is important to highlight two key things related to property acquisition: construction designs are preliminary and have not been finalized, we do not yet know complete details of property impacts. 

After we meet with potential affected land owners and gather feedback from the broader community on some key project components, we will finalize the design. Once this is complete the design must be approved by City Council, then placed on a prioritization list with other unfunded projects. Construction only begins after a funding source is identified. 

The proposed design adds a multi-use path through Happyland Park (connecting to existing park infrastructure) without significantly impacting trees. Minor impacts such as the relocation of a few disc golf tee boxes would be required to ensure there is adequate space for the multi-use path.

What we heard from Phase 2 of engagement helped to inform the proposed design that is being presented as part of Phase 3 engagement. This version of the design will allow the community to see what the public space could look like and how it could function. The feedback gathered in Phase 3 engagement will support decision-making to inform a more detailed design. 

The Phase 2 public engagement summary and appendices are available online and provide an overview of the feedback collected and how the feedback was considered.

While construction for the majority of the Moving on Marion design remains unfunded at this time, elements of the design proposed for Goulet Street could be installed as early as Summer 2023 as the road work on Goulet Street is scheduled to begin this year. It makes sense to install safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure, improved access to transit, and some neighbourhood livability features now, while funding is available and the road will already be under construction, rather than waiting and ripping up the new construction down the line.

This construction will be tendered in late March 2023 and will include the elements proposed for Goulet between Traverse and Youville. We will refine these elements as needed based on what we hear in Phase 3 engagement.

In 2017, the City initiated the Marion Dugald Transportation Improvement Study to explore different transportation options in the study area that did not include a grade separation or widening. During engagement planning, residents told us that notifications for engagement opportunities was a top concern.

The City recognized the need to engage members of the public and stakeholders, and asked them for help reopening the conversation on Marion to plan public engagement for a future study in ways that were most relevant to the community. A report and summary of the public engagement planning activities is available online.

The input from the Marion Dugald Transportation Improvement Study’s engagement planning process informed the development of the public engagement plan for Moving on Marion Street, and as such, the City will ensure public engagement is carried out in accordance with the feedback previously provided in 2017.

• Learn more about the proposed design
• Attend the open house on March 16, 2023
• Fill out the online survey