Special meeting called on $155M Waverley underpass in Winnipeg

Winnipeg councillorswill get another chance to approve the proposed $155-million Waverley underpass in a special meeting Friday.

Last month, members of the infrastructure and public works committee said they could not vote to approve it because they felt they didn't have enough time to consider the proposal.

• Winnipeg committee puts brakes on Waverley underpass plan for now
• City council green lights Waverley underpass, stops motion to delay project

Mayor Brian Bowman says city councillors and the public will get all the information they need on the project.Hesays getting the details are important, but timing is critical as well.

"It's good that the committee is considering it. They felt they needed extra time. I certainly support them in making sure they get as much information as they need. We want to, obviously, have a decision by council sooner rather than later, because we have $90 million on the table from other levels of government."

Bowman told reporters he hopes projects like theWaverleyunderpass mightqualify for even more federal money - perhaps as much as 50 per cent of the cost.

"I think it is fair to say I'm hopeful. We are looking for a funding formula that perhapsWaverleycould fit into, but other projects could fit into as well," Bowman said.

Bowman says one of the requests city mayors made of the Prime Minister in Ottawa last week was to consider boosting federal participation in public constructionprojects. He says cities get approximately 8 per cent of tax revenue but face paying for as much or more thanhalf of the infrastructure needs in each province.

The city's administrative report askscouncillorsto include$155,082,000 in the 2016 capital budget for an underpass to be built at the CN mainline at WaverleyStreet and Taylor Avenue.

That includes $45,900,000 the provincial government announced it will put towards the project, and a matching contribution the federal government has approved in principal.

The city would pay $63,332,000 towards the underpass.

On Jan.19, the committee asked for a 60-day extension to review the report, but it is back before the councillors well beforethe end of that time.

The report asks councillors to approve it so it may be included in the 2016 budget, which is usually debated in March.