The Accessibility of Portage and Main

Winnipeg’s ongoing debate on the opening of Portage and Main has been of broad and current interest in the city.

Winnipeg’s ongoing debate on the opening of Portage and Main has been of broad and current interest in the city. The concourse under Portage and Main was originally opened in 1979, due to the city experiencing a declining economy downtown. In this time, shopping centers were popping up in suburban areas, making it less necessary for people to shop downtown. Since this time, downtown has become revitalized with local businesses, shops, restaurants, and workplaces. It is more difficult for those in the area to navigate the confusing setup of the concourse, especially for those with decreased mobility. Furthermore, the nature of the underground decreases visibility, making it less safe.

Many argue that opening the intersection is a waste of money, and that it will cut into commute time by adding pedestrian crosswalks.

Opening Portage and Main is larger than just traffic and taxpayer money, it’s an accessibility issue. Those with decreased accessibility must take extra time and caution to navigate the underground concourse, and must use two ramps, five door openers, and four elevators to cross Portage and Main. On weekends and after business hours, certain entrances are closed, increasing the time it takes to cross for those with decreased accessibility. For someone who cannot use stairs, it takes an extra 400 meters to cross the street when offices are not open in the concourse. In Manitoba, there are multiple acts in place to ensure those with different abilities are not discriminated against, or treated unjustly. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures that those with different abilities have the right to be free from discrimination. The Manitoba Human Rights Code recognizes the dignity and worth of those with differing abilities. There is also the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which prevents barriers those with differing abilities experience. The Act specifies that those with differing abilities should not experience barriers to transportation, which includes certain buildings and environments. Furthermore, Canada has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which applies to all provinces and territories. Under the convention, Manitoba has committed to “preventing and removing barriers” which inhibit those with differing abilities from accessibility, including mobility. By opening Portage and Main, the city would be respecting and fulfilling their commitments to these acts, as well as respecting and committing to those who experience different abilities in our city.

Safety is also a concern in the concourse. For women, the lack of visibility underground can be a problem. After work hours and on weekends, businesses are closed and there aren’t many people in the concourse, making it more dangerous for women to be alone. Women resort to taking longer routes to avoid the underground in the evenings and weekends. By opening the intersection, this would encourage people to walk above ground, increasing visibility and safety. We all have the right to feel safe and free from harassment, and an open Portage and Main would provide a better environment for women.

In the concourse, there are very little signs, which direct one to elevators or accessible areas. Many of the elevators are under construction and poorly lit, or tucked in corners where they are not very visible. There are a few ground-level entrances with elevators, but they’re difficult to find and not every entrance has one. On the ground level entrances, many of them don’t have push buttons to access the concourse. All of the signs in the concourse are in English, which could pose as a challenge to newcomers or those whose first language is not English. Because of the circular design and multiple levels, the concourse can be very confusing without explicit directions that are accessible to everyone.

Overall, the opening of Portage and Main would make for a more accessible city. The more people there are above ground the safer navigating downtown is for many people. Those who are differently abled would have a much easier time crossing the street. For less than a minute added to a car’s daily commute, accessibility and safety can and should be made a priority of Winnipeg. 

Maren Tait

Global College Practicum Student