Transportation infrastructure and regional development in northern Manitoba: realities and prospects

Abstract

The relationship between transportation and economic development is well documented. Two requirements indispensable to this relationship are access (ability to reach a place) and connectivity (relationship of the place to others). The interaction of people and markets via transportation infrastructure facilitates trade and increased social interaction; all vital for development. This thesis examines the nature of access and connectivity of the multi-modal transport network (i.e. road, rail, water and air modes) of Northern Manitoba, a study area characterized by many small communities distributed in a vast area, with some having no year-round overland access, forcing them to rely on the seasonally constructed winter road system. Models of the four modal networks (graph theory) are used to analyze the transportation network’s structure, accessibility and connectivity for specific points in time with a view to understand network change. Recommendations are offered that would facilitate the integration of transportation planning.