More than a half-billion dollars has been committed by the federal, provincial and city governments for improvements to Winnipeg Transit.
In an announcement on Thursday, July 7, 2022, the three government bodies they will be investing in the purchase of approximately 100 electric buses along with the needed charging and feeling infrastructure. As well 135 diesel buses will be purchased and a new energy efficient bus storage and maintenance facility will be built to replace the 70-year-old North Garage.
Canada will provide $183.7 million, Manitoba $153 million and Winnipeg $122 million to the project.
“Today marks a significant step in transforming Winnipeg’s public transit system for a future population of a million people. With over half a billion dollars in tri-level investments, Winnipeg Transit will implement critical elements of an entirely new transit network that will better respond to the needs of transit riders including transitioning to zero-emission buses, establishing a new network layout that will double the homes with transit through a short walk, designing the new downtown rapid transit corridors and build a much-needed upgrade to Winnipeg Transit’s North Garage,” said Mayor Brian Bowman.
The three governments are also investing an additional $49.6 million ($19.9m Canada, $16.5m Manitoba, $13.2m Winnipeg) in the replacement of 325 wheelchair securement devices on existing transit vehicles, Purchase a new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) on buses to replace radio hardware and equipment.
Some of the funding will also go towards a redesign of the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan and preliminary design of the proposed downtown Rapid Transit corridors.
© News4.ca 2022
