Transit Ideas & Comments

This section is for outlining ideas on how to improve the service of Winnipeg Transit. Others are invited to add their ideas/concerns/comments. Just keep them short — 5 - 10 lines max.

I have since reverse my position regarding transit shelters that I wrote on May 15, 1997. The glass and metal shelters do not hold in the heat very well. I think it's time to return to the wooden shelters

— Comment from Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. February 18, 2008

Since Winnipeg is built over a bed of clay, I've often wondered if it wouldn't be comparatively cost effective to build a subway using a tunnel boring machine rather than disrupt all kinds of streets and above ground infrastructure.
If SkyTrain sized carriages were used then smaller diameter tunnels could be used which could be lined with pre-cast concrete or steel liners — they were doing similar things in London 100 years ago, and with today's technology I think it could be done faster and cheaper.
The first route could extend from East Kildonan, go under the River by the Chief Peguis Trail, to Garden City , then to McPhillips Casino, then to HSC, then to downtown, to Osborne Village, down Pembina, to the U of M, then under the Red to St. vital Centre, up St. Anne's to The Forks, turn east to Trashcona by way of St. Boniface, then back up Henderson to East Kildonan, in one continuous loop with trains going each way.
It may seem like kind of a goofy route, but remember there will be no traffic to deal with so the journey will not take that long.
Another route could extend from Assiniboia, down Portage, up to the Airport, over to Polo Park, down Portage again, hit downtown, then end at The Forks where riders could transfer to the loop line.
I bet if this was done sensibly, without gold plating, Winnipeg could afford it.

— Comment from 'mortomozoid' via Skyscraperpage.com on August 22, 2004

A one day pass would cost the price of two fares. Like a transfer it would be obtained from the bus driver by depositing two fares. It would encourage people who use the bus to go to work to use the bus at night. You could do away with the 5/7 day passes as this would generally be more useful. Encouraging people to use the bus a second time in the day has little cost(since the buses are seldom full at night) and would have great PR value. I first saw this fare in San Jose and was very impressed. In reality Transit should be happy to get 2 fares out of a rider per day. Any additional rides should be free.

— Comment from Bill Reid. October 26, 1999.

There have been many modern light rail projects either under way or completed in the past few years in the USA — Portland OR (MAX), St. Louis MO (MetroLink), Salt Lake City UT (TRAX), Dallas TX (DART), Los Angeles CA (Blue and Green lines). In Canada the Sheppard Ave. subway project is being constructed, and Toronto has expanded its light rail (streetcar) network to include the Harbourfront and Spadina lines. Where is Winnipeg in all this??? Where is OUR light rail line? Forget about my TransPlan 2010 Submission in 1996 for trolleybus service (ETB) for Winnipeg, everyone is building light rail, not electric buses. Canada needs a TEA-21 program NOW!

— Comment from Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. July 18, 1999

Create a "SuperExpress" route using the current 22 Assiniboia Express service. Make it non-stop between the University of Winnipeg Station (Portage @ Spence St.) and Rouge Rd. in Assiniboia where it branches out. I also feel that there should be Bus Only lanes along Portage Ave. between Portage @ Main and Polo Park. I presented this idea to Bill Menzies at the March '99 CBPTW meeting. Bill said that there currently isn't enough buses to do this because the 21 only goes to Grace Hosp. during the peak-hours and the 22 goes to St. Charles, Crestview, and Westwood areas.

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. March 25, 1999.

My suggestion is to have the 99 Downtown Flyer end in Osborne Village.

— Comment by Michael W. McCandless. March 8/98.

Why is it that connections between a 65 Grant Express and a 97 Kenaston are always more than 10 minutes apart, yet there are always route 63, 64, and 78 buses around?

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. February 22/98.

Make Winnipeg Transit self governing (like Winnipeg Enterprises, Hydro) and let them keep ALL their profits/surplus. Get the politicians messy fingers out of it and maybe it would become more efficient, cheaper, and stop losing money.

— Comment by Doug Browning. July 21/97.

On July 17, 1997 there was a local newspaper item where Coun. Garth Steek had suggested that the current $1.8 Million Transit surplus be used for purposes other than Transit. uwto.org opposes that idea.

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. July 21/97.

I wonder if you know of the existence of a "Transit Riders Association" of sorts that would present constructive suggestions and lobby for improved public transit in Winnipeg. I doubt this exists but I would be willing to help start such a body. I would welcome your comments on this concept.

— Comment by Gordon McGonigal. June 20/97.

Replace the unheated shelter with a heated bus shelter on Grant Ave. @ ??? St. (Grant Park Shopping Centre) eastbound. Even more ideal would be to route the 66 GRANT close to one of the general entrances of Grant Park Shopping Centre so that people wouldn't have to trek across the icy parking lot in the middle of winter.

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. May 15/97.

Replace the (last remaining?) wooden bus shack on Osborne St. northbound @ Pembina Hwy. with the more modern type that is seen around Greater Winnipeg.

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. May 15/97.

Stop the constant increases in Transit fares and find better ways of making Winnipeg Transit more cost effective. This is actually decided by Council, so if you don't like those yearly fare increases, write to them.

— Comment by Jim Jaworski of uwto.org. May 15/97.

Reinstate the full 99 Downtown Flyer routing to end at the City Hall area.

— Comment by uwto.org. May 15/97.

I had an opportunity to write to the TransPlan 2010 Committee last year and share my ideas on what I think can be done to improve Winnipeg Transit.
— Submission by uwto.org. September 16/96.