A city task force is unveiling its vision of Winnipeg's transit future today — a $312-million overhaul that includes a dozen bus rapid transit lines reaching deep into every city neighbourhood and a light-rail transit system for the downtown. The recommendations by the task force come after months of public consultation, and are being touted as a "made-in-Winnipeg" solution to the city's transit woes, which include dwindling ridership and slow, awkward service.

The recommendations re-establish bus rapid transit as the future of Winnipeg's public transportation system after Mayor Sam Katz shot down the idea last year. Katz has said he favours light rail.

But critics fear the political uncertainty in Ottawa could mean the loss of federal funds for the project and derail the plan before it gets off the ground.

The three-phase project, stretching over 10 to 20 years, would see the development of bus rapid transit in all major areas of Winnipeg and, eventually, the construction of a light-rail transit system to connect the main attractions in the city's downtown area.

"We want to be able to attract new riders to the system and bring back some of the old riders to the system," said Winnipeg city councillor Russ Wyatt, who chaired the city's Rapid Transit Task Force. "We think this plan is a way to do that."

The plan, which will be unveiled to the public during an open house at the Winnipeg Convention Centre today and Monday, is meant to ease commuter gridlock and cure one of Winnipeg Transit's chief ills — long, complicated rides from the edge of town into the city centre.

The plan, which will be unveiled to the public during an open house at the Winnipeg Convention Centre today and Monday, is meant to ease commuter gridlock and cure one of Winnipeg Transit's chief ills — long, complicated rides from the edge of town into the city centre.

Wyatt said the task force will take input from the public at the open houses and present a final proposal to the city next month. The city is hoping to tap the provincial and federal governments for one-third shares of the cost.

During the first phase, BRT corridors would be developed along existing roadways, including Main Street, Henderson Highway, Portage Avenue, Pembina Highway and St. Mary's Road. Buses on these routes would have the ability to override traffic signals at intersections and use a jump queue lane to move ahead of traffic.

Coloured diamond lanes would be available for the exclusive use of buses and emergency vehicles during rush hour. Heated transit stops would be spaced farther apart to allow the BRT buses to move more quickly along their routes.

Real-time schedule signs would be installed to alert passengers to the exact time the next bus will arrive at their stop based on GPS technology installed in the buses.

Transit fares would be collected at kiosks at the stations to speed loading and allow passengers to get on the buses at the front and back doors.

During Phase 1, two busways would also be constructed on Nairn Avenue and in the Confusion Corner area of Pembina Highway and Osborne Street.

The busways would be closed to other traffic to address areas subject to chronic traffic snarls.

In Phase 2, the project would be expanded to include BRT corridors on Notre Dame Avenue, McPhillips Street, Regent Avenue and St. Anne's Road. Busways would be added on Higgins Avenue along the Louise Bridge and on Regent Avenue just east of Lagimodiere Boulevard.

Phase 3, which Wyatt admits is likely 10 to 20 years off, involves the creation of a busway along Pembina Highway from Wardlaw Avenue to Bison Drive, and BRT corridors on Archibald Street, Kenaston Boulevard, Marion Street, Broadway and Vaughn Street.

Phase 3 also includes the construction of a light-rail transit system to connect downtown attractions like the MTS Centre, The Forks, Waterfront Drive, Red River College Princess Street Campus, the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the new Manitoba Hydro office tower and the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

Throughout the process, recreational paths for biking, walking or in-line skating would be constructed alongside the busways, and integrated cycling lanes would be included on many BRT corridors. For years, former mayor Glen Murray promoted the idea of establishing a rapid transit corridor in the southern part of the city connecting the University of Winnipeg to the University of Manitoba. He looked at a variety of options, including the use of the diesel rail lines along Pembina Highway and a higher-tech system in which trains would be controlled by magnets.

This new system would rely heavily on the city's existing infrastructure — with an emphasis on upgrading the network of diamond lanes for buses and adding bus-only busways like the one now in place on Graham Avenue.

Years of city studies have favoured BRT, and the city already had $34 million in federal and provincial funding to begin building the system's first phase. But that plan was scrapped last year when Katz announced he wanted to use the funds for recreation centre upgrades instead.

After receiving input from transit users during public meetings earlier this year, the task force developed a plan for improving the speed, reliability and frequency of transit service in Winnipeg.

Wyatt said the task force also considered cost, environmental safety, and the effects on downtown revitalization and economic growth in coming up with the proposal.

David Leibl, a member of Winnipeggers for Bus Rapid Transit, said he is pleased the idea of BRT is back on the city's radar.

He said countless studies have shown the system to be the best fit for Winnipeg's transit needs.

"Obviously I'll need to look at what the task force is proposing, but I feel like they're on the right track with this," said Leibl, who will review the plans himself at the open house today. "I believe the process has shown there is a consensus emerging that this is something we need to grow as a prosperous and sustainable city."

Leibl said he is not as enthused about the idea of light-rail transit in the downtown. He said many other jurisdictions are moving away from light rail as a mode of transport. The small loop of LRT will also be very costly and will take a significant amount of time to construct, he said. Leibl said he also hopes the plan will include a significant focus on developing bike and walkways for people wishing to use a more environmentally friendly way to get around. Yesterday, Coun. Donald Benham, a longtime supporter of BRT, said the looming election in Ottawa might result in Winnipeg losing any hope of federal funding for infrastructure.

"If we'd proceeded in the fall of 2004, all of that money would be in the ground right now," he said. "We'd have the beginnings of a new system. I'm concerned we might miss out on federal funding with the current situation in Ottawa."

Benham said he believes the task force did a good job of listening to the ideas and desires of Winnipeggers when it comes to new transit plans.

The challenge now, he said, will be to get city administration to sign on the dotted line and commit to fund it.

"The question is, are you going to fund this, and if so, where are you going to get the money from?" he said.

Wyatt said the plan calls for the costs to be shared equally among the three levels of government.

A timeline for how quickly the project could get started is contingent on those funding agreements being nailed down, he said.