# Winnipeg Rapid Transit

Winnipeg Rapid Transit is a bus rapid transit system of Winnipeg Transit in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, currently consisting of the BLUE line. The system's only route runs on both dedicated transitway and arterial road in Southern Winnipeg. Future expansions are in the planning stages, consisting of an Eastern Corridor connecting downtown to Transcona and a West-North Corridor connecting St. James with Downtown and West Kildonan.

## History

The timeline of accomplishing some form of rapid transit in the Winnipeg area goes back to the late 1950s, when the Greater Winnipeg Transit Commission hired an urban planner from Toronto to design a subway for Winnipeg.
The Future Development of the Greater Winnipeg Transit System recommended 3 semi-circular lines intersecting at various points in the metro area. Combined, these three rapid transit lines would have cost $449 million.
During the 1960s when the Greater Winnipeg Development Plan was being written, the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg studied a future transit system for the region. In their report, Winnipeg Area Transportation Study: Projections & Recommendations (Vol. 3), a 5.4-mile (8.69 km) underground subway system between Polo Park Shopping Centre and Henderson and Hespeler Avenue in Elmwood was recommended. The WATS study did computerized modelling for a bus only transit system, but found it woefully inadequate for a metro population of 781,000 in 1991.
   The transit system visualized in this scheme would involve the introduction of 36 different transit routes totalling 622 route miles and requiring a fleet of 1,090 buses. Such an operation would ensure that, on the average, in the peak hours, buses in the metropolitan area would be spaced at 3.38 minute intervals along their routes. This compares with 6.43 minutes under the system in operation in 1962.
In 1972, Mayor of Winnipeg Steve Juba advocated for a suspended monorail operating along Portage Avenue and later St. Vital. Juba said that it would be cheaper to construct than a subway. Cost estimates were $22 million for the completed project, or $1 million per mile. At the time, the only monorail operating in North America was the Seattle monorail. While Juba was away, City Council held a vote on the monorail, which was lost.
After the amalgamation of Winnipeg with its suburbs in 1972 and the creation of Winnipeg Transit, the newly-created transit department completely changed its view on rapid transit, opting for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) instead, and changing where it should initially go to between downtown Winnipeg and the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba. Deleuuw Dillon was hired to create a plan for bus rapid transit, now the Southwest Transit Corridor. However, politicians balked at the cost of any form of rapid transit—rail or bus, due to the very high initial construction costs. Dillon Consulting remains involved in planning for Southwest BRT.
In 2002, Mayor Glen Murray pushed for BRT as the mode choice for the Southwest Transit Corridor using guided bus technology like that in the Essen, Germany. He made a deal with Premier Gary Doer that would see the construction of the Kenaston Underpass, the construction of the Manitoba Hydro headquarters downtown, and the construction of Phase I of the Corridor. All projects except the BRT were funded and constructed. Murray quit his job as Mayor to run for a seat in the 2004 Federal election, which he lost.
The next Mayor, Sam Katz, promised to cancel a $43-million federal grant for the Southwest Transit Corridor and use that for improving recreation centres. At the same day of the 29 September 2004 vote on rapid transit, 25-year (1979–2004) veteran Transit Director Rick Borland quit the position and retired over the issue when one of Katz's advisors, Bryan Gray, criticized a report by Winnipeg Transit used to request funding for the busway.
In November 2004, Katz visited Ottawa and rode the O-Train (now the Trillium Line). Katz commented "And it's new, it's innovative -- it's the 21st century. There's no reason in my mind that we shouldn't explore this."
Instead, Katz formed an ad hoc group, chaired by Councillor Wyatt (Transcona), in the same ward that New Flyer has its manufacturing plant, to complete a study on the viability of LRT for Winnipeg, though Katz could not accomplish an LRT for Winnipeg. The Rapid Transit Task Force report was released in 2005.
Columnist Tom Brodbeck wrote in a September 2004 Winnipeg Sun article that there had been no cost-benefit analysis of the BRT project.
As a compromise, Katz allowed Phase I of BRT that "could be converted to LRT at a later date." Papers were signed in September 2008, with construction beginning during the Summer of 2009.
On April 8, 2012, Phase 1 of the Southwest Transitway opened.
On April 12, 2020, Phase 2 of the Southwest Transitway opened.

## Southwest Transitway

The Southwest Transitway is a dedicated bus rapid transit roadway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, which commenced operation in April 2012.
The first section was built parallel to the railway tracks running southwest from Queen Elizabeth Way at The Forks to Pembina Highway at Jubilee Avenue. An extension from Jubilee Avenue to Markham Road and the University of Manitoba was then built, which opened on April 12, 2020. Bus rapid transit services through the downtown Winnipeg area use the Graham Avenue Transit Mall and other bus priority routes.

### Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Southwest Transitway commenced operation on 8 April 2012. The first section runs parallel to the railway tracks in a southwest direction from Queen Elizabeth Way (near The Forks) to Pembina Highway at Jubilee Avenue. Bus rapid transit services through the downtown Winnipeg area used the Graham Avenue Transit Mall and other bus priority routes.
Jubilee Station was the last one to be constructed and was completed on June 21, 2015. City Council was set to vote on approval of the station's construction in late 2012. It had a construction budget of C$3.9 million, with costs shared between the City (43%) and developer Gem Equities (57%). Due to cost overruns, Jubilee Station's actual cost was C$8.8 million after construction. The City owed more than C$1.3 million back to Gem to equalize the shared costs.
Funding was approved for the planned extension of the transitway south from the Jubilee interchange to Bison Drive and the University of Manitoba. A funding announcement was made in February 2015, construction began in late 2016, project completion in Fall of 2019. Driver testing commenced in the Fall of 2019, with plans to begin service on 8 April 2020.
Winnipeg Transit tried to mitigate pigeon droppings at Osborne Station, but in 2018 it was still a problem at that location. Winnipeg Transit sought advice from Orkin Canada who recommended using OvoControl P in nearby bird feeders to control the pigeon population.

### Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Southwest Transitway commenced operation on 12 April 2020. Phase 2 of the project saw the Southwest Transitway extended from the Jubilee Overpass, through the Parker Lands and the Manitoba Hydro right of way before joining the CN Lettelier line north of Abinojii Mikanah. The Transitway then goes through Waverley Heights to Markham Road, where BLUE buses continue to the University of Manitoba or to St. Norbert
In March 2019, Winnipeg Transit introduced a new route structure, which begun at the opening of Phase 2 (12 April 2020). Previously, the Southwest Transitway operated as an "Open Busway" design. The new "Spine & Feeder" routing is similar in functionality to rail-transit lines. Switching to "Spine & Feeder" meant that Winnipeg Transit has significantly changed its ideology since 1973, when it began promoting BRT, as the "Open Busway" ensured a "one-seat ride" and "spine & feeder may require a transfer to and from a feeder bus in the Fort Garry, Fort Richmond, and St. Norbert communities. The advantage of the spine & feeder design is there will be fewer buses entering the downtown area, being delayed by traffic congestion on downtown streets and along the Graham Avenue Transit Mall and as a result there will be less wear and tear on affected roadways.
Parker Station (now Beaumont Station) was put on hold, pending legal settlements. It will be part of a future single-family and multi-family neighbourhood, Fulton Grove, situated within the Parker lands planning area. The station will be located between the existing Jubilee and Beaumont stations.
Financing Phase 2's estimated $590-million cost will be split three ways: $225m provincially, $140m federally, and $225m municipally. Of the City's share, $19.7-million will have to be budgeted annually for the project, starting in 2020. In order to raise the revenue to pay the costs, one or a combination of "cash-to-capital funding, a property tax increase, [or] a transit fare increase" would be needed, according to the Dillon report of 2014.

### Stations

| Station | Routes | Description |
| Balmoral Station | BLUE, 42, 46, 48, 49 | The renovated former Winnipeg Bus Terminal (formerly a Greyhound Canada bus depot), located at Balmoral Street next to the University of Winnipeg, is the downtown terminus for the Southwest Transitway's BLUE Line rapid transit route. |
| Harkness Station | BLUE, 47, 65, 66, 68, 635 | Located at the intersection of Harkness and Stradbrook Avenues. The entry and exit point of the transitway to local roads to and from downtown. Also, a transfer point for Route 68 and Route 635. |
| Osborne Station | BLUE, 47, 65, 66 | Designed by architectural and landscape company ft3, it was constructed on a bridge over Osborne Street near Osborne Junction. This station is the only fully covered station on the Southwest Transitway. There is an entry and exit point to Warsaw Avenue south of the station for Routes 65 and 66. According to City of Winnipeg documents, Osborne Station cost upwards of $30 M when completed. |
| Fort Rouge Station | BLUE, 47, 95 | Located in the Fort Rouge Yards area off Morley Avenue. Transfers can be made to Route 95 with service to Riverview and Grant Park/Pan Am Pool, Shaftesbury Park, South Tuxedo, and Polo Park. Also the only station that had a kiss & ride, allowing drivers to drop off passengers at the station. |
| Jubilee Station | BLUE, 47 | Jubliee Station is located just northeast of the Pembina Highway overpass. It opened on June 21, 2015, and includes geothermal heating to clear the platform of snow and ice. Directly across the tracks is a retail area comprising a Dollar Tree and the Salisbury House Restaurant. |
| Beaumont Station | BLUE, 29, 641, 677 | Located north of Parker Avenue, at the north end of Beaumont Street, just east of Georgina Street. Connections to/from Pembina Highway can be made with Route 29, and to/from Waverley Street with Routes 641 and 677. |
| Seel Station | BLUE, 642, 650, 690, 691, 694 | Located at the east end of Seel Avenue, north of McGillivray. The location of a Park and Ride. |
| Clarence Station | BLUE, 690, 691 | Located north of Clarence Avenue, between Marshall and Irene. The location of a Park and Ride. |
| Chevrier Station | BLUE, 649 (Nearby), 691 | Located north of Chevrier Boulevard, between French and Hervo. Connections to/from Pembina Highway can be made with Route 649. |
| Plaza Station | BLUE | Located at the west end of Plaza Drive, north of Bishop Grandin. |
| Chancellor Station | BLUE, 676 (Nearby), 693 (Nearby) | Located north and south of Chancellor Drive, between Gaylene and Gull Lake. The St. Norbert and University of Manitoba branches of the BLUE split south of here. Connections to/from Pembina Highway can be made with Route 676. |
| Southpark Station | BLUE (U of M), 662, 693 | On-street stop located on Southpark Drive, northeast of Markham Station, west of Pembina Highway. |
| Stadium Station | BLUE (U of M) | Located at the east end of Bohemier Trail, west of University Crescent. Terminal for extra buses operating to Princess Auto Stadium on game days. |
| University of Manitoba Station | BLUE (U of M), 36, 47, 60, 74, 75, 78, 662, 671, 672 | On-street stop located on Dafoe Road, west of Alumni Lane, on the University of Manitoba grounds. It is the terminus for all routes serving the University of Manitoba. |
| Markham Station | BLUE (St. Norbert), 662, 693 | Located at the south end of the Southwest Transitway, north of Markham Road. |
| St. Norbert Station | BLUE (St. Norbert), 91 | On-street stop located on Pembina Highway in St. Norbert |

### Routes

| Route Number/Name | Description |
| BLUE | Service between Downtown and the U of Manitoba or St. Norbert, via the Southwest Transitway. The main route on the Southwest Transitway. |
| 47 Transcona – Pembina | Service between Transcona and the U of Manitoba, via Phase 1 of the SWT. Only stops at Harkness, Osborne, Fort Rouge and Jubilee Station. Enters/exits the Southwest Transitway just south of Jubilee Station. |
| 65 Grant Express | Service between City Hall and Ridgewood, via Phase 1 of the SWT. Only stops at Harkness and Osborne Station. (Peak Hours Only) Enters/exits the Southwest Transitway just south of Osborne Station. |
| 66 Grant | Service between City Hall and Polo Park or Unicity/Dieppe (no service to Unicity on Sunday/Holidays), via Phase 1 of the SWT. Only stops at Harkness and Osborne Station. Enters/exits the Southwest Transitway just south of Osborne Station. |
| 635 Osborne Village | Service between Harkness Station and Misericordia Health Center |
| 641 Lindenwoods West | Service between Beaumont Station and the Kenaston Common shopping area |
| 642 Lindenwoods East | Service between Seel Station and Winnipeg Technical College |
| 649 Chevrier | Service between Windermere and Whyte Ridge, via Chevrier Station |
| 650 McGillivray | Service between Seel Station and Whyte Ridge |
| 662 Richmond | Service between Markham Station and the University of Manitoba |
| 671 Dalhousie | Service between the University of Manitoba and Prairie Pointe |
| 672 Killarney | Service between the University of Manitoba and Prairie Pointe |
| 676 Bridgwater/River Road | Service between St. Vital Centre and Bridgwater, via Chancellor Station |
| 677 Wilkes | Service between Beaumont Station and Outlet Collection. Service extended to the Kenaston Common shopping area during weekday peak hours. |
| 690 Industrial | Service between Seel Station and Kenaston, via Clarence (peak hours only) |
| 691 Whyte Ridge | Service between Seel Station and Whyte Ridge, via Chevrier (peak hours only) |
| 693 Waverley Heights | Service between Markham Station and Bridgwater Forest, via Chancellor (peak hours only) |
| 694 Wildwood | Service between Seel Station and Hamelin, via Wildwood Park (peak hours only) |

## Eastern Transitway

The eastern corridor is a planned bus rapid transit line from downtown Winnipeg to Transcona.

### Alignment Options

St. Boniface Option — the line would cross the Red River near Blue Cross Park and go through North St. Boniface and Whittier Park, crossing Archibald Street and going through the Mission Industrial Park terminating near Kildonan Place Shopping Centre.
Point Douglas Option — the line would see improvements to Higgins Avenue and a transit only bridge crossing the Red River, going through the Mission Industrial Park terminating near Kildonan Place.
Further public consultations on routing options will take place in October 2019, as no firm decisions have been made. However, since then further planning and decision-making on the Eastern Corridor has been put on hold, commensurate with the release of the Final Draft of the Transit Master Plan, expected Winter 2020.

## North-West Transitway

The north-west corridor is a proposed bus rapid transit line that would use either the median or curb lanes along Portage Avenue from Polo Park to downtown, continuing on Main Street all the way to Inkster Boulevard in West Kildonan.
The airport link is a proposed bus rapid transit link connecting Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport to the North-West Corridor.

## Other related works

The City of Winnipeg used the Phase 2 project as an opportunity to rebuild and expand the Jubilee Underpass, which has a history of flooding during heavy rainfalls in the Summer. Storm drains are being upgraded to prevent flooding. The CN Portage Junction Overpass, constructed in 1948 was replaced by a modern structure in 2018.