Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 16, 2007 - Committed to improving public
transit infrastructure in Winnipeg, the Honourable Vic Toews, President of
the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, together with Steve Ashton,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for Manitoba, and Winnipeg Mayor Sam
Katz today showcased the newly upgraded heated transit shelters in the
heart of the Graham Mall Transit corridor. This improvement is just one of
the many enhancements the citizens of Winnipeg will see on city streets as
Winnipeg Transit moves forward with its Transit Improvement Program.
"Increased transit use is a clear priority for the Government of
Canada. We are pleased to see that the City of Winnipeg is using its
federal Gas Tax and Public Transit Capital Trust funding to improve its
transit services," said Minister Toews. "Projects like the one we see
today contribute to our commitment to build strong, sustainable
communities that encourage the use of public transportation to help reduce
our footprint on the environment."
"Winnipeg's transit system provides an environmentally conscious way to
travel around our capital city," said Minister Ashton. "The provincial
government is committed to restoring the 50/50 funding arrangement and is
pleased to join with our civic and federal counterparts to help improve
the system and make it more efficient for riders."
The Transit Improvement Program is a comprehensive approach to improve
speed, reliability, comfort, convenience and accessibility of Winnipeg's
transit service. It will help to reduce traffic congestion, lower
greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the quality of Winnipeg's transit
program.
"Winnipeggers have told us they want to see improvements made in our
current system," said Mayor Sam Katz. "With more heated bus shelters,
transit signal priority lights, and on-street improvements, we will
continue to attract ridership and increase the reliability and comfort for
our transit riders, and improve traffic flow for not only transit, but all
Winnipeg commuters."This year's completed upgrades include 104 new
transit shelters at major transit corridors (37 of which are heated), new
signage, information kiosks, new bus benches, and sidewalk
improvements.
Phase one of the on-street transit priority program will improve bus
operating speeds and transit on-time reliability with signal-timing
improvements, road geometry improvements, transit queue jumps, transit
signal priority lights, and transit-only lanes. Transit-only lanes have
new red concrete which has been used in other jurisdictions to keep
non-transit traffic from using dedicated lanes.
Work completed or underway includes Pembina Highway, St. Mary's Road,
and St. Anne's Road. These initiatives will save commuters time as they
travel between downtown and suburban areas along Pembina Highway and St.
Mary's Road, and along St. Anne's Road. These measures will also improve
the on-time reliability of service on these corridors.
The Government of Canada is providing $167.3 million to Manitoba from
2005 to 2010 through the Gas Tax Agreement. As part of its recently
launched $33 billion "Building Canada" infrastructure plan, the Government
of Canada extended Gas Tax funding by an additional $2 billion per year
nationally, from 2011 to 2014. Gas Tax funding is available to local
governments for projects that contribute to environmental sustainability,
and in particular, infrastructure projects that lead to cleaner air,
cleaner water or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Gas Tax
Fund is administered in Manitoba by the Province of Manitoba.
The Government of Canada is also providing $32.6 million to Manitoba
through the Public Transit Capital Trust for public transit projects that
increase capacity, reduce congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on Building Canada, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
Contacts:
Karine WhitePress Secretary Office of the Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities613-991-0700
Graham GorkCommunications CoordinatorProvince of
Manitoba204-945-5795
Carmen BarnettPress Secretary Mayor's Office City of
Winnipeg204-986-5569
Infrastructure Canada613-948-1148
BACKGROUNDER
Winnipeg's "Transit Improvement Program" is
a comprehensive approach to improve transit service along
the major arterial streets with high transit service levels that will
improve:
speed
reliability
comfort
convenience
accessibility
Funding for these improvements is made possible by the following
funding partners:
Bus Stop/Station Upgrades (2006-2007)
City of Winnipeg
$590,000
Government of Canada (Public Transit Capital Trust)
$3,150,000
Government of Canada (Gas Tax
Fund)
$1,300,000
Total:
$5,040,000
The Bus Stop/Station Upgrades Program is to continue in 2008 and 2009
with the Government of Canada (Gas Tax Fund) funding $2.1 million in each
of those years.
For the Phase 1 (2007) portion of the on-street transit priority
program:
City of Winnipeg
$345,400
Province of Manitoba
$1,334,600
Government of Canada (Gas Tax Fund)
$320,000
Total:
$2,000,000
BACKGROUND
In 2006, City Council approved a comprehensivemulti-year Transit
Improvement Program that includes:
Bus Stop Upgrades at most major stops
New heated and non-heated shelters, new signage, information kiosks,
new benches, and sidewalk improvements at the following locations:
Downtown (Graham, Portage, Main, Vaughan, Donald, Fort, University
of Winnipeg)
Osborne Junction – Osborne Village
Polo Park
Kildonan Place
St. Vital Centre
University of Manitoba
Pembina Highway
Henderson Highway
Regent Avenue West.
Schedule: 2007-2009
The first phase of this program isunderway and improvements are now
starting to appear at some major bus stops throughout the city and along
some of the Quality Corridors.
Please note, work completed by November 16, 2007, will include stop and
station upgrades in the downtown (Portage, Graham, Main), Osborne
Junction, University of Manitoba, Polo Park, St. Vital Centre, Kildonan
Place, and along the Pembina, Henderson, and Regent West Quality
Corridors; and on-street transit priority measures along Pembina
Highway and at Osborne Junction.
On-Street Transit Priority Program: the goal is to
improve bus operating speeds and transit on-time reliability on major
arterials with:
signal timing improvements
road geometry improvements
transit queue jumps
transit signal priority lights
transit-only lanes
Schedule: 2007-2009
Diesel-Electric Hybrid Articulated Buses:
The test bus is expected to arrive near year end of 2007 for a
winter demonstration.
Upon successful testing in April 2008, an order will be placed
and delivery of 20 of these units is anticipated by the end of March
2009.
Regular Air Conditioned Buses:
33 regular low-floor buses are expected to be delivered in spring
2008.
PROJECT BENEFITS
supports the commitment in Plan Winnipeg 2020 Vision for sustainable
transportation
improves the quality of public transit in Winnipeg
encourages higher ridership
reduces greenhouse gas emissions
supports economic growth
improves streetscape
