Winnipeggers want a fast, comfortable and environmentally friendly rapid transit system to replace city buses they say run too rarely and are too slow.

That's according to a report to be released today following weeks of public meetings hosted by city council's rapid transit task force.

When asked what they liked about the existing transit system, participants cited friendly drivers, the city's new Navigo trip planner website and the affordability of fares.

Infrequent and slow service, uncomfortable bus stops and difficulty transferring from one route to another ranked as the biggest complaints.

Any rapid transit system, be it light rail, speedy bus corridors or some other form, must be fast, frequent, reliable and environmentally friendly, said those who attended the public meetings or filled out a questionnaire.

Coun. Russ Wyatt, who chairs the task force, noted that 95 per cent of those surveyed support the development of a rapid transit system.

"We heard it over and over again, even though we didn't ask the question directly, that a rapid transit system is key to Winnipeg's image as a modern, post-industrial city," said Wyatt.

About 430 Winnipeggers filled out a 13-question survey, and the task force hosted 10 meetings scattered around town earlier this year. At those meetings, a total of 334 participants broke into focus groups to discuss what they liked and disliked about the existing bus service and what they wanted in a rapid transit system.

The meetings we meant to gather impressions from the public that the task force will use to determine what form of rapid transit is best for Winnipeg.

Those who attended the public workshops were not all diehard transit fanatics. About 15 per cent didn't take the bus at all and many more rode only once or twice a week.

The results of the public consultations are no surprise to activists, who tried last fall to salvage the city's plan to build a network of high-speed bus corridors.

Dave Leibl, a member of Winnipeggers for Bus Rapid Transit, said it was a shame the city had to delay the BRT project, form a task force and host a series of public meetings to find out what extensive research on rapid transit has shown all along.

"It was silly to throw all this away and start from scratch," Leibl said.

In the "comments" section of the questionnaire, almost 20 per cent of the respondents said rapid transit had been studied enough and the city should act without further delay. Another 17 per cent said the city should build the BRT system that council voted to scrap last fall. About 10 per cent favoured a light rail system, and another 12 per cent asked for lower fares for disadvantaged riders.

The report will be available on the task force's website today at www.rapidtransitwinnipeg.ca