Progress on securing funding for a complete rapid transit system in Winnipeg is at a virtual stand-still while the city continues to delay the second phase of the Southwest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in favour of a light rail transit (LRT) system that has yet to materialize.

The first phase of BRT involves a 3.6 kilometre line that will link Queen Elizabeth Way at the Forks and Jubilee Avenue at Pembina Highway, alleviating traffic congestion in areas like Confusion Corner. The first phase is slated for completion before next year.

The second phase of the BRT line, which would extend the corridor by six kilometres to the University of Manitoba, has been delayed due to the mayor’s much publicized commitment to LRT, which would see electric-powered railcars along city streets.

“We’re going to do the first stage (of BRT) and see what the first stage looks like,” said Gord Steeves, city councillor for St. Vital and a member of the city’s executive policy committee, suggesting that rapid transit is on hold.

“I think people ... are going to watch for a couple of years to see how the first leg works and make a decision (based on that).”

The mayor wants to convert the current BRT corridor to light rail and turned down $130 million in infrastructure-stimulus funding for the second phase last year, saying that he would rather see money from the Building Canada Fund dedicated to road and bridge infrastructure.

“People can live in the suburbs and that’s fine, they can drive and that’s fine,” said Steeves, a staunch LRT supporter.

“But ... a transit culture has to grow in this city.”

The city’s 2011 capital budget, which includes funding for the city’s new and long-term infrastructure and other assets, did not include any new funding for rapid transit. Additionally, the city’s 2011 operating budget basically held the line on funding the city’s current on-street transit services.

Russ Wyatt, city councillor for Transcona, voted in favour of making LRT the city’s preferred rapid transit method in July of last year.

He now feels that the mayor has not moved swiftly enough to secure funding for an LRT system, which would require provincial and federal funds.

“The mayor made a very strong push to go to LRT last year and I think the expectation of the public is that he will do something a lot sooner than a few more years,” said Wyatt.

This is part of the Transit in Winnipeg feature. Its companion pieces are “A more liveable Winnipeg” by Paul Hesse (http://uniter.ca/view/6256/) and “Car convenience stifles effective public transit” by Joe Wasylycia-Leis (http://uniter.ca/view/6257/) .

Published in Volume 65, Number 25 of The Uniter (March 31, 2011)