The Debate at Portage & Main

Why I decided to support opening Portage & Main to pedestrians

Abstract

A considered approach to the question of Portage & Main, I summarize the current situation and how we arrived here, and the costs of the proposal as far as they are known. I then consider the various arguments against and for the opening up of Portage & Main to pedestrian traffic, weighing the merit of each and considering what facts are available to back the position. A consideration of the profile of downtown Winnipeg and its direction from an urban planning standpoint is considered as a transition between considering the "no" and the "yes" arguments. Finally, after rendering what I feel is the clear verdict between the two, various opinion polls are considered, along with their interpretation – and why they are at odds with my conclusion. Any ranting has for the most part been saved for the end after a conclusion has been reached.