Urban Affairs Minister Gerry Ducharme says it's "unrealistic" for Winnipeg to expect 75-per-cent provincial funding for a proposed transit corridor.
Ducharme, a former city councillor, said in an interview yesterday he also has several concerns about diesel-powered buses being used along the proposed $59.6-million southwest transit corridor.
The civic board of commissioners has proposed using buses on the corridor instead of an electrical light rail system, which carries an estimated $249-million price tag.
A board report, released this week, said the busway is more affordable to the cash-short city while annual operating costs and the environmental impact are about the same as those of an electrical rail system.
The board's recommendation hinged on the assumption the province would cover 75 per cent of the $59.6-million cost.
Ducharme said the 75-per-cent figure is not realistic, although he is open to discussing funding.
But he said he doesn't believe the city can build an exclusive 10-kilometre busway along Pembina Highway for $59.6 million.
"I have my doubts because $59.6-million is not realistic," Ducharme said, noting there will be at least five overpasses along the proposed 10-kilometre route linking the University of Manitoba area with downtown.
"How much did we pay for the Bishop Grandin overpass?" Ducharme asked, referring to the $29-million Bishop Grandin extension nearing completion.
He said he also does not think the busway technology is the best solution to Winnipeg 's clogged traffic arteries.
"It may be the cheapest, but it's not the best buy for your buck. The most efficient system I think is the light rail."
The minister said he would also like the city to look at converting the existing CN Rail and Letellier lines, parallel to Pembina Highway , to operate an electrically-powered light rail system.
"Have they looked at using existing lines at all as they do in Dusseldorf and other European cities?" Ducharme, who visited the West German city last year, asked. "What I like is a combination of light rail and the busway. I would still have to be convinced about the busway," he said, adding he is not ruling out any options.
He said the city has never officially presented its position on a transit corridor although there have been informal talks in the past.
Coun. Al Golden (Glenlawn) and Coun. Marcel Laurendeau (University) both said they have reservations about the busway.
Coun. Roger Young (Pembina-Riverview) also expressed concerns about it during this week's civic works and operations committee meeting.
Young managed to get the committee to agree to a one-day public meeting Sept. 4 to discuss the transit proposal and consider all alternatives.