WINNIPEG — The City of Winnipeg and taxpayers could be footing a much larger bill than first expected for the second phase of the bus rapid transit project.
The stretch of land owned by Manitoba Hydro is estimated to cost $20.6 million according to Hydro’s assessment. That’s almost $16 million more than what city assessors upraised the land value at in August 2015.
RELATED: City of Winnipeg opens bidding for rapid transit Stage 2
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Mayor Brian Bowman said councillors voted “begrudgingly” in favour of this land deal. He said he would rather it cost a lot less.
Bruce Owen of Manitoba Hydro said the price tag was a result of negotiations between the city and Manitoba Hydro Board. He said it was not a number Manitoba Hydro came to on its own.
He also said because the land is an active corridor and not one sitting idle, justifies a higher price tag to a certain extent.
City councillor Russ Wyatt said he’s appalled with Mayor Bowman for not taking this back to Manitoba Hydro and fighting for taxpayers more.
RELATED: Winnipeg tax hike to help pay for rapid transit
Wyatt said this is land that the public already owns and shouldn’t be something taxpayers need to foot an even bigger bill for.
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