Major transit overhaul planned for Winnipeg

Winnipeg is set to see large-scale changes to its transit system thanks to hundreds of millions in funding from all three levels of government.

Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson, Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman, provincial labour minister Reg Helwer and MPs Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North) and Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South) made the announcement Thursday morning.

The changes include purchasing 100 electric buses as part of a transition to emission-free transit, as well as charging and fueling infrastructure. Around 135 diesel buses will also be added to help meet the city’s growing transit needs.

The 70-year-old North Garage is also slated to be replaced by a new energy-efficient bus storage/maintenance facility.

The city will also undergo a redesign of its entire network, which will include preliminary work on downtown Rapid Transit corridors, among other changes.

“Today marks a significant step in transforming Winnipeg’s public transit system for a future population of a million people,” Bowman said.

“With over half a billion dollars in tri-level investments, Winnipeg Transit will implement critical elements of an entirely new transit network that will better respond to the needs of transit riders including transitioning to zero-emission buses, establishing a new network layout that will double the homes with transit through a short walk, designing the new downtown rapid transit corridors and build a much-needed upgrade to Winnipeg Transit’s North Garage.”

The upgrades come with a price tag in the hundreds of millions from each government, as the federal government is expected to provide up to $183.7 million, with the province kicking in $153 million and $122 million coming from the city.

“Winnipeg is a fast-growing, thriving city. If we want to continue welcoming more residents in a sustainable fashion, we need a public transit system that is reliable, accessible and user-friendly,” said Lamoureux.

“The investments we’re making in transit will help connect Winnipeggers to work, to school and to each other while creating jobs and reducing emissions.”

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