A multi-million-dollar proposal to build a rapid-transit route to downtown Winnipeg is to be hauled out of mothballs for a fresh look.

The city's executive policy committee asked officials yesterday to prepare an updated report on the future of rapid transit in Winnipeg.

The proposal, involving a corridor from downtown to the University of Manitoba, first surfaced in the early 1970s. Despite years of studies and support from former mayor Steve Juba, who wanted the city to build a monorail, the proposal was put on ice.

Deputy Mayor John Angus said yesterday if the city wants to deal with anticipated traffic needs three or five years down the line, the time to start planning is now.

"We're faced with continual transportation problems and we can't wait for those problems to escalate before we start looking at solutions," he said.

"Winnipeg is the only major city in North America that doesn't have this type of thing on the drawing boards."

The transit corridor proposed in the 1970s would have run from the U of M area to downtown along an existing rail right-of-way parallel to Pembina Highway.

Alternatives examined included a $33-million trolley bus corridor, a $43-million light rail system and an $85-million monorail.

When the transit corridor was first proposed, the stretch of Pembina near Jubilee Avenue was carrying about 36,000 vehicles from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a typical weekday, according to city traffic surveys.

That has since increased to 41,000 vehicles.

Angus (Ind-University) noted motorists can also face serious traffic problems on Henderson Highway during the morning rush-hour.

While the Pembina route is the logical place to start because it has an existing railbed, Angus said the Portage Avenue route to west Winnipeg would have to be added later.

Angus noted the city, federal and provincial governments are spending hundreds of millions of dollars rebuilding downtown Winnipeg.

"To make full use of it, the city needs a quick, convenient and inexpensive way for suburban residents to get downtown for shopping, entertainment and work," he said.

"With the three governments now planning a $20-million redevelopment of the Canadian National Railways East Yards, it's a good time to re-examine the transit proposal," he added. Earlier plans designated the East Yards as the downtown terminal for the traffic corridor.

Angus said he favors a light, rapid rail system which could be combined with a terminal area where people could park their cars before catching trains.