WINNIPEG TRANSPORTATION |
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Winnipeg has had a public transit system since the 1880s, starting with
horse-drawn streetcars. It had electric streetcars from 1891 until 1955, and
electric buses from 1938 until 1970. Its public transit system now operates
entirely on diesel buses. For decades, the city has explored the idea of a
rapid transit link, either bus or rail, from downtown to the University of
Manitoba's suburban campus. A BRT (Bus rapid transit) system was proposed in
2004 that would use a dedicated 3.4 km busway in combination with on-street
operation to provide service along this Southwestern Corridor. Funding (more
than $50 million) was secured from all three levels of government for this
purpose. It now appears that mayor Sam Katz intends to redirect this money
to other priorities, such as community recreation centres, effectively
cancelling the project. Winnipeg is home to large transit bus manufacturers
such as New Flyer Industries and Motorcoach Industries. |
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| Winnipeg is unique among North American cities its size in that it does not
have any freeways. Beginning in 1958, the primarily suburban Metropolitan
council proposed a system of freeways, including one which would have
bisected the downtown area. Like in Toronto, New York and San Francisco, the
freeway plan faced stiff community opposition, and the projects were
eventually shelved in the mid-1970s when freeway-building fell out of favour
with municipal governments. |
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