| Portage Avenue, in downtown Winnipeg, is one of the best-known streets in the city, and indeed in Canada. Frequented by residents and visitors alike, the street is an important symbol of the city. However, the potential of downtown Portage Avenue to remain a positive symbol of the city is compromised by a number of problems that affect the vitality and image of the area. The objective of the practicum is to determine solutions that will address the problems associated with downtown Portage Avenue, and that will re-establish it as a Great Street--described by Allan Jacobs as a place that is comfortable for, and attractive to, pedestrians.; The issues and solutions associated with downtown Portage Avenue are determined by surveying merchants in the area and key informants. These findings are compared and contrasted with recent surveys and other data pertaining to the downtown, and to downtown Portage Avenue in particular.; The issues that are relevant to the re-establishment of downtown Portage Avenue as a Great Street are primarily the degree to which the area accommodates general vehicular traffic, parking, transit operations, pedestrians, and street-oriented businesses. The solutions include the reconfiguration of the Portage Avenue right-of-way, landscaping, erecting signage identifying parking locations, standardizing parking rates in private lots, expanding the "Easy Streets" parking token program, and implementing an improvement program that would encourage property owners to renovate their buildings. In addition, solutions associated with Portage Place are the improvement of skywalk connections with the sidewalks, the encouragement of tenants to use their on-street entrances, the erection of canopies and banners, and the improvement of the bus waiting areas.; The practicum concludes by recommending to the client, North Portage Development Corporation, actions it can take that will contribute to the re-establishment of downtown Portage Avenue as a Great Street. |
