All candidates were sent a questionnaire put together by Functional Transit Winnipeg and given several weeks to reply. Responses have been summarized below. You can read each candidate’s full response and the questions we asked by following the link underneath each summary.
Functional Transit Winnipeg’s priorities for this election are increased operating funding for transit, implementation of a frequent service network and measures to address driver and passenger safety. We have noted comments related to those priorities in the summaries.
Winnipeg’s transit system in three words: “Value-added, stretched, neglected.”
Frequency: To improve ridership, need to focus on a high-frequency network and find alternatives to fixed-route service in low-density suburbs to get people to the high-frequency network.
Supports contracted ride-share type services and very small vehicles.
Safety: Safety should be addressed by finding more efficient resources to help people with meth addictions, as a key step.
Safety: Provide separate transit police/security, not transit supervisors that also deal with scheduling and timeliness of buses is needed.
Operating funding: Transit should be a value-oriented service with lower costs than other cities. Supports incremental increases year-over-year in Transit at an amount above inflation and growth.
Winnipeg’s transit system in three words: “Underwhelming, but has potential.”
Gives current transit system a letter grade of D.
Would freeze transit fares.
Operating funding: Transit in Winnipeg has been starved of proper funding and if we don’t improve service, we will have gridlocked roads.
While commuting for an 8 to 4 job downtown can be convenient, travelling across the city, or for other purposes other than work, transit is no efficient or reliable currently.
Frequency: Supports increasing funding dramatically to increase frequency, accessibility, and efficiency
Safety: To address safety, transit police (separate from Winnipeg Police Service) and more driver shields are needed.
Operating funding: Would increase funding for transit, exploring options other than property taxes.