Mayor Sam Katz, who wants to revisit a long-planned rapid transit corridor, wrote a glowing letter in support of the project last year.

"It would be a real bonus as well as a wonderful asset to have rapid transit service the areas surrounding The Forks," wrote Katz to then-mayor Glen Murray. "Rapid transit would provide an alternative to those who have been reluctant to come downtown because of parking and traffic concerns. I believe that rapid transit will be yet another positive step in the right direction to further revitalize downtown Winnipeg and I look forward to seeing it become a reality."

The letter, dated May 1, 2003, was included in a package received by Manitoba Liberal MPs when the city was lobbying for federal infrastructure funding. It was one of several letters of support from local leaders such as Katz, who owns the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team.

During the mayoral campaign and after, Katz said he wants to review the city's plan to build a bus rapid transit, comments that caused several councillors to the project would be scrapped.

It's one of several times Katz has expressed skepticism about Murray's pet projects, including the restaurant on the Esplanade Riel and the removal of pedestrian barriers at Portage and Main.

"As a private citizen I very much believed that rapid transit is good for the city," said Katz of his letter: "Now that I see they are doing bus rapid transit I want to revisit it. I want to see the benefits. I want to see the expenses," said Katz.

"I think I have the right to be briefed on what's going on. Would you ask me to vote on somethiig when I don't know anything about it?"

Asked simply if he is in favour of rapid transit, Katz would not say: "I never said I was against it. I never said I was for. Just allow me the opportunity to get educated."

After months of negotiations with the federal and provincial governments, the city won $51 million in March to fund the first phase of rapid transit, linking the University of Winnipeg, Main Street and the University of Manitoba.

When the deal was announced at a splashy press conference at The Forks, the three levels of government said the corridor would be complete by the time school starts in 2007.

For at least the last two years, the city has favoured bus rapid transit instead of a light-rail system or an underground subway.

Katz would not comment on whether he thinks the city should look at other forms of rapid transit such as light rail, though he suggested the term "rapid transit" was misleading.

The buses, which will eventually be built by Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries, will run at 80 km/h along dedicated high-speed corridors or along diamond lanes on existing roadways such as Pembina Highway.

The $162-million infrastructure deal reached in March also secured money to build the Kenaston underpass and begin the overhaul of the city's sewage-treatment system.

Katz hedged when asked if he was willing to reopen the infrastructure deal.

"I'm willing to maintain an open mind. Period."