On Friday, the City of Winnipeg released its 2018 State of the Infrastructure Report. This release marks the first time the city has been able to strategically categorize its assets and grade their physical conditions.
The city’s current asset inventory has a replacement value of approximately $35 billion, and an overall condition grade of B-. Water and Waste utilities were given a grade of B, while tax-supported and transit infrastructure assets were graded at C+. Water and Waste Utilities hold the second highest value of all city asset categories, at approximately 40 per cent of the total value.
Progress has been made in the city’s infrastructure deficit. Converted to 2018 dollars, the 2009 infrastructure deficit equates to approximately $9.9 billion, compared to the approximately $6.9 billion infrastructure deficit reported this year. The current water and sewer related infrastructure deficit is $146 million and $634 million, respectively.
“The State of the Infrastructure Report and City Asset Management Plan are industry-leading documents providing the most comprehensive information on the city’s infrastructure ever assembled in the history of Winnipeg,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “These documents will help guide Council decision making on infrastructure investment and represent a fundamental resource for Council, the public service, residents, as well as government and industry partners, in understanding the state of our city’s existing infrastructure and the plan to manage $35 billion in city-owned assets.”
In 2015, Council approved the city’s Asset Management Policy, making asset management a core business function. The adoption of the policy also established the framework for infrastructure stewardship through comprehensive asset management plans.
In 2018, the city completed its City Asset Management Plan, which applied a consistent approach to the collection and analysis of data regarding City-owned assets across all civic departments. The 2018 State of the Infrastructure Report is a high-level summary of the detailed findings of the City Asset Management Plan.
“The State of the Infrastructure Report is a game-changer for Winnipeg when it comes to its infrastructure,” said Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, Council Liaison for Project Management. “The City faces multiple, competing spending priorities, and the information contained in the report will help ensure we continue to make strategic, well-timed infrastructure investments.”
The full report, including details on its land drainage assets, is available online.
