The operations for those rail yards were moved to Symington Yards by CN. Rail has changed quite a bit with connection to road, port and airport. The work has evolved from labour intensive loading and unloading to intermodal where the boxes are loaded and unloaded offsite while the railway concentrates more on the delivery.
The Forks development owes a lot to Lloyd Axworthy and has mostly been one of the most successful rejuvenation projects Winnipeg has ever seen. A close second place would be Seasons Tuxedo. Between the two areas, they have been huge economic drivers for the city's economy and overall successful. The Forks has taken longer to reach economic sustainability. It has heavily relied on Portage Place's parking money of $3 million or so a year to get it through the tough years. Things are much better now but the infusion of the final payment of money from the sale of Portage Place should keep it going for years to come.
The North End has the fewest green spaces of anywhere in the city. The CP yards are massive so that would address some of the issue. However, most would likely agree that something transformative for the neighbourhood would be appropriate. A mall is just not in the cards for an over-retailed city. However, a mixed development where a grocery, pharmacy and banking and other services are available.
The most important thing initially might be that rail overpasses would not have to go through. Arlington and Salter bridges could could be north and south roads. This would apply to a few more roads as well which could save hundreds of millions in infrastructure costs. Mayor Gillingham has suggested that some of the spur rail lands including ones owned by city may be good for active transportation. He isn't wrong. Rail lines along the east side of the city have been successfully transformed although Councillor Browaty will confirm that like any other area of the city security can be an issue with homeless encampments sprouting up. This doesn't mean they shouldn't be done. Anyone will tell you how great the walking and bike path along that rail spur has been.
They key for any rail development is not speed but thoughtfulness. It has taken more than 10 years for Seasons Tuxedo to reach where it is now and building continues to happen. The Forks has been going on since the 1980s and more left to do. The main point is that even when the railyard moves, it takes some time to come up with a plan.
The Kapyong Barracks developments is now decades in the making and only now getting started. While new housing and development is critical, it is important to think of the sustainability of what is being built. Does it have good traffic flow, enough green space, public space, housing, retail, restaurants and offices? Build a single focus development of housing and it may be a food desert. Put just a park in and it might be dangerous with no people in it at various times a day.
The CPKC yard should not be moved unless it is make economic sense for the company and the city. If they are moving to the CentrePort then it by all means is sensible. If the rail company is moving then the area will be clear and it totally make sense to extend the roads where tracks once stood. And thereafter create a development plan to service the area lest the empty areas see people build with no permission.
There have been some times lately when open spaces have led to people building their own places. The area behind Grant Park was built up by the Metis only to have it taken away. This raises the question of whether CPKC land might be purchased by indigenous groups. It is entirely possible. Still, the issue is what sort of plan will be followed and how the costs will be covered.
It is possible that Axworthy will present a very ambitious plan only for the next federal government to torpedo it. The Martin government had an agreement for indigenous supports that the Harper government cancelled. It is possible this could happen as well. Still, it is better to have a plan even though this has been discussed for over 60 years. At some point, the railyard might move and they may seek partners in doing so. It would be better to have thought deeply on this and maybe incentivize it.
Until then, the question of rebuilding overpasses will remain. Hold off because you won't need or let two areas of the city be cut off from one another?
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