Functional Transit Winnipeg demands improvement to service amid cancellation of proposed transit cuts

December 5, 2019

WINNIPEG – The City of Winnipeg’s infrastructure and Public Works Committee voted today to cancel cuts to transit service after last week’s marathon eight-hour committee meeting that saw just over 90% of speakers demanding better transit service.

Functional Transit Winnipeg (FTW) is happy to see the committee realize cuts to service are unacceptable, but the organization has been clear that the status quo is just as unacceptable.

“Hundreds of Winnipeggers have been emailing and speaking to their councillors demanding transit be fundamentally improved,” said Derek Koop, President of FTW. “The IRPW meeting didn’t hear 8 hours of delegations last week to keep the status quo, they heard the citizens of Winnipeg calling for significant improvements.”

FTW is calling for the implementation of service every 10 minutes or better all day and into the evening seven days a week on the 22 proposed frequent, rapid and direct transit routes in the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan.

“The city has a new Transit Master Plan that will be released next year and the opportunity to set a vision with this four year budget, yet they still aren’t promising any funding for the Transit Master Plan” said Koop. “Without funding for frequent, reliable and affordable transit service, this Transit Master Plan will just be shelved. The money spent on this master plan would be wasted if we don’t act on it in this four year budget.”

Frequent, affordable and accessible transit service will make transit the preferred option in Winnipeg meaning reduced carbon emissions, better access to necessities and amenities for riders and reduced need for expensive infrastructure expansions.