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Winnipeg City Issues & Urban Affairs: 30-year dream of rapid transit in Winnipeg may soon come true

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    <blockquote>May 20, 2008

    It has been talked about for decades — studied, shelved and restudied by an ever-changing lineup of politicians and bureaucrats. But now the planets may finally be aligning for Winnipeg to join Canada's other big cities in developing a rapid-transit system.

    New federal funding, renewed interest from the mayor's office and demands from a vocal group of transit supporters could set the stage for the first small step — a 3.4-kilometre bus-only road from downtown to Jubilee Avenue in the city's south end.

    "Our view is that there have been plenty of studies done," says a frustrated Paul Hesse, head of the Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition. "The City of Winnipeg has approved a plan for rapid transit, and the levels of government should just fund that plan."

    The group submitted a 1,500-name petition to city council earlier this year demanding that the project finally move forward.

    But even the short bus-only road, with an estimated price-tag of $70 million, is proving to be contentious in a city with other pressing infrastructure needs and where car culture is king.

    Some residents feel the true cost could end up much higher and think the money might be better spent on fixing winter-battered streets.</blockquote>

    Full news article here: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/05/20/rapid-transit.html">www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/05/20/rapid-transit.html</a>
    Thankful People: JVSCant
    • CommentAuthorEdWin
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    Honestly, if it is BRT, I say don't bother. I've ridden the BRT in Calgary, and it is very inefficient.

    Go with some form of train or train/bus hybrid, or don't bother.
    •  
      CommentAuthorjim
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    Fix the sewers for my buck even the city buildings as more people use them besides we subsidise transit enough.
  4.  
    looks like my van may have bought the farm on the weekend, 11 yrs old, 191,000 km, its not worth putting more into it, so I'm using the bus until I sort things out.

    Granted that I live in the Maples, and its not a target for the rapid transit, but I got to say how impressed I am with the service. Checked the Transit web site and used Navigo to check routes and schedules and it worked like a charm. I left the house at 5:37 am yesterday (I was ready at 5:35, but Naivgo said to leave at 5:37 so I waited 2 minutes), short walk, bus right on time, got off at Health Sciences Centre a couple of minutes after 6:00. Used the bus twice during the day to run a couple of errands downtown, lots of choices, good schedules. Left work at 3:30, walked in the door at 4:00.

    I may sound like a convert after only 1 day, but transit has to do a better job at marketing to Increase ridership.

    I can see rapid transit being a need if you live out Pembina or south St Vital, but service in my area is great, considering that years ago, it was virtually non-existent. Got to be a better way to get the word out.

    PS. Must get an I-Pod so I can hear my own music, not someone elses.
    • CommentAuthorcj3470
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    I take transit every day, sometimes 3 to 4 times a day. I have to say I'm impressed with Transit service as it is, but would welcome a "rapid-transit" system.

    <p>To get downtown, it only takes me approximately 20 minutes. By car, with parking etc, it's only 5 minutes less for me to get to school than it is to take a bus. (I know this because I've been getting a ride to school lately, but am so glad I don't have to pay for the vehicle, gas, parking, etc...)

    <p> Navigo is awesome. I use it all the time to find out what time I have to leave to get somewhere. I can be prepared days, even weeks in advanced. I love that they give you a walking option if you aren't going that far. When I had to go somewhere I'd never been before, from school, Navigo told me it would only take 15 minutes to walk and gave me a map to show what directions to take. 5 minutes by bus. I had the extra time, so I walked.

    <p>I'm not sure a rapid transit system will work, or even is needed for all areas of the city. I'm interested to see what they come up with though.
    •  
      CommentAuthorzander
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: Freethinker</cite>PS. Must get an I-Pod so I can hear my own music, not someone elses.</blockquote><p>

    Good call. An iPod and a good magazine or book are the only way to survive long bus rides.
    • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    70 Million ...for 3.4 Kilometers.....someone is going to make a bundle of cash. LOL, I'm not sure whats more absurd, this angst over transit or the amount needed to complete the line. 70 Million, give me a break, hmmm, wonder if this money could better help the social ills of the City, you think North can get a Wii out of it ?
    Thankful People: jim
  8.  
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: Mr. Nobody</cite>70 Million ...for 3.4 Kilometers.....someone is going to make a bundle of cash. LOL, I'm not sure whats more absurd, this angst over transit or the amount needed to complete the line. 70 Million, give me a break, hmmm, wonder if this money could better help the social ills of the City, you think North can get a Wii out of it ?</blockquote>

    I'd settle for an I-Pod!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorSputnik
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: anonymous</cite>Honestly, if it is BRT, I say don't bother. I've ridden the BRT in Calgary, and it is very inefficient.

    Go with some form of train or train/bus hybrid, or don't bother.</blockquote>

    The "BRT" in Calgary is just articulated buses with limited stops. Basically the Winnipeg equivalent of a Super Express bendy bus.
    • CommentAuthorDeanK
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: Mr. Nobody</cite>70 Million ...for 3.4 Kilometers.....someone is going to make a bundle of cash. </blockquote>

    Worse yet... by having yet ANOTHER government construction product happening, construction costs are going to go up that much more.. making it difficult for
    a) business wanting to make something
    b) government projects to come in on time and on budget.
  11.  
    I'm not holding my breath.
    •  
      CommentAuthorjim
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    Never mind the subsidise we pay for ever to keep it running and buy the busses. Improve what we have much cheaper to do .
  13.  
    Moderator
    Posted By: FreethinkerI may sound like a convert after only 1 day, but transit has to do a better job at marketing to Increase ridership.

    I can see rapid transit being a need if you live out Pembina or south St Vital, but service in my area is great, considering that years ago, it was virtually non-existent. Got to be a better way to get the word out.

    Agreed. I stopped driving over a year ago and I have no problems with transit - it gets me just about anywhere I want to go and usually in a reasonable amount of time. I use Navigo almost daily, and the 287-RIDE is great whenever you're stuck anywhere.

    One of the things that bugs me about transit here is how people crap on it without using it. It's easy to say "I took the bus to the mall once and it took forever" or something like that, but unless you've actually used it regularly, to work, to shop, to get the kids to soccer and so on, you're not really qualified to make judgements about it.

    /rant
    • CommentAuthorEastSider
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    OK, I'm going to sound like a caveman here but what is navigo? This is the first time I've heard that term, sounds similar to GPS technology......is it?
  15.  
    I never take transit. I'm too good for transit. My time is too important for transit. Unless and until we have a subway reaching every corner of the city you'll never catch me sharing a ride with (shudder) *strangers*.

    /sarcasm
    • CommentAuthorKristineD
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    In my area, bus service is pretty good during business hours. Try and get a bus home from downtown in the evening or Sunday, allow for 1.5 to 2 hours. Not very good service for a distance that takes no more than twenty minutes to drive.
    • CommentAuthorEastSider
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
     
    Nevermind my post.....I just discovered what Navigo is, thats a pretty neat service!
  18.  
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: grumpy old man</cite>I never take transit. I'm too good for transit. My time is too important for transit. Unless and until we have a subway reaching every corner of the city you'll never catch me sharing a ride with (shudder) *strangers*.

    /sarcasm</blockquote>

    And believe me, some are stranger than others. It sounds like you've been talking to my kids.
  19.  
    I would loke to hear from anyone whose bus service is bad! Everyone on newwinnipeg, who take the bus, say thAT the service is good, so why the hell would the city spend money to improve something that is working? Because of the fed and prov money? Fix the damn streets and then fix the backlanes- surly the same money could be put there!
    If this is seperate, but equal money, then put it into the 3 miles of rapid transit, and Grumpy, J2F and I will go there for our rapid ride, instead of waiting for the Red River X to show up with their rapid rides!
    Thankful People: jim
    • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2008 edited
     
    Fix the damn streets, good idea rosen, i just lost half my van on Ellice, what a mess.

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