Transportation Master Plan: 2050

Introduction

Transportation Master Plan: 2050 will provide the long-term vision for transportation in Winnipeg, and the methods and means to move our city and people into the future. Through a combination of technical research, data analysis, and public and stakeholder engagement, TMP2050 will help ensure our transportation system supports quality of life and economic vitality for years to come.

Background

The City of Winnipeg Charter requires that its municipal development plan be reviewed and re-adopted/replaced every five years. City Council is responsible for approving the plan, referred to OurWinnipeg, along with its subsidiary plans, policies, strategies, guidelines, programs, and actions.

The Transportation Master Plan (last updated in 2011) is one of these subsidiary plans. We are currently in the process of reviewing and updating it, and are undertaking a largescale, multi-component study that involves in-depth, evidence-based research and analysis, as well as extensive public and stakeholder engagement.

Transportation Master Plan: 2050 (TMP2050) will provide the long-term vision for transportation in Winnipeg, and the framework to move our city and people into the future. Through a combination of technical research, data analysis, and public and stakeholder engagement, TMP2050 will help ensure our transportation system supports quality of life and economic vitality for years to come.

The TMP2050 study will result in an action plan that includes recommendations on challenges and opportunities relating to existing and future: infrastructure; public rights-of-way; public services such as transit, parking, and traffic management; rules and regulations; and human behaviours.

The study will focus on eight areas we know are important to Winnipeggers:

1. Transportation and land-use: Reinforce the critical link between transportation and land use, and ensure the continued alignment of various City planning documents.
2. Environmental sustainability: Facilitate an understanding of the impact of the current transportation network on the ecosystem (land, water and air) and advance low carbon pathway mobility options such as walking, cycling, transit, rideshare, carpool, and electric vehicles as described in the Winnipeg Climate Action Plan.
3. Equity & inclusiveness: Apply an equity lens to address potential systemic barriers and inequities in transportation for vulnerable and under-served populations (i.e. – elderly, single parents, low-income families and users of mobility devices). Maximize accessibility and mobility on multi-modes for all users regardless of age, ability or income.
4. Economic development: Support development or redevelopment of major node areas with emphasis on efficient goods transportation for business and industry.
5. Strategic approach: Establish a framework with realistic and quantitative planning objectives for emerging technologies and business models such as the electrification of transportation, automated vehicles, shared mobility, and mobility services on demand.
6. Mode choice: Identify barriers to use and strategies to increase walking, cycling, transit, ridesharing and carpooling in an effort to reduce high levels of single-occupant automobile use.
7. Transportation demand: Identify a range of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) tools that include but are not limited to use of new transportation technologies, land development review and approvals, user pricing, and program incentives.
8. Transportation supply: Identify means to maximize multi-modal capacity of current infrastructure and improve level of service. The goal Is not about reducing travel times, rather about making sure that as many people as possible have freedom of mobility and can get to work, medical appointments, shopping, school, recreational and other activities safely and effectively.

To gather both anecdotal and technical information on these focus areas, the City of Winnipeg (City) is conducting a series of component studies that form the overarching TMP2050.

Core Framework
Examine, define and summarize the current conditions of Winnipeg’s vast transportation network. Develop detailed reports of traffic patterns, trends, and forecasts that will determine the future state, and make recommendations on how to improve the overall network.

Goods Movement
Focus specifically on how goods move within and through our city, whether by truck, rail, delivery vehicle or other means. Develop detailed database of urban goods movement within Winnipeg and the surrounding region. Facilitate modelling scenarios including within the downtown, the overall city and the surrounding region.

Regional Transportation
Look at how the transportation network is impacted by a recent influx of daily traffic from outside the Perimeter. Develop scenarios about current and future impacts of commuting on the city’s transportation system, including potential for mode split. Facilitate an understanding of regional land use planning and transportation system planning.

Emerging Technologies & Future of Transportation
Look at how technology is changing how people move around cities, and what role that could play in future planning. Investigate and explain developments and trends with autonomous vehicles, inter-vehicular communication, ride sharing, park and ride systems, active transportation, intelligent transportation systems, and electric vehicles. Detail potential impacts of technology, scenarios and opportunities for Winnipeg’s future transportation system.

Active Transportation
Review and analyze progress made on walking and cycling objectives since the implementation of the 2015 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy. Update the PCS and make recommendations to the active transportation component as part of the overall Transportation Master Plan.

Non-capital Intensive Transportation Options
Undertake a detailed analysis of traffic demand management and operations, including: parking; transit planning and operations; ride sharing; vehicles for hire; goods delivery and management; and active transportation. Strategize short-term projects that could improve the transportation network without significant capital investment.

Each of these component studies will result in its own final report (with recommendations); these reports will each form a chapter of the final TMP2050 plan document. That document will ultimately address six strategic priorities set forth in OurWinnipeg (2011):

As OurWinnipeg is currently undergoing an update, its evolving nature will require an agile approach to alignment from the TMP2050 team. The eventual TMP2050 plan will also integrate with the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan and Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, will support the principles of the City's Climate Action Plan and Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies, and will serve as a 30-year blueprint to guide future investment in Winnipeg’s transportation network.