A who's who of downtown business leaders wrote letters touting rapid transit as critical to the city's growth, according to a confidential report obtained by the Free Press.
The report, compiled last year, includes nine letters written by Manitoba Hydro boss Bob Brennan, MTS Centre director Mark Chipman, and Gail Asper, head of the Asper Foundation and the driving force behind the human rights museum planned for The Forks, and others.
But some of that support seems to have evaporated since the city prepared the report, which was part of its successful pitch for federal infrastructure funding.
Yesterday, Mayor Sam Katz announced his position that the rapid-transit plans should be stalled, with the $50 million going instead to fixing aging community clubs, building new recreation centres and upgrading the existing bus system. Manitoba Hydro's Bob Brennan said this week that he has no problem with the city delaying rapid transit for further study.
In his May, 2003 letter, Brennan wrote: "Among other benefits, the transportation system will contribute to the sustainable future of Winnipeg's downtown and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions." In his letter, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc said rapid transit is exactly the kind of sustainable transportation initiative needed to boost the local economy.
But this week Lorenc said the city should instead spend money next year improving existing roads and expanding others, such as Kenaston Boulevard and other clogged routes.
He said the MHCA's support for rapid transit was always contingent upon a positive cost-benefit analysis and a sound financial argument. Building rapid transit now would be a "colossal mistake," added Lorenc. Forks North Portage Partnership boss Jim August, who also wrote a letter of support, said this week he would love to see a rapid transit system "at some point." But he sympathized with the budget crunch faced by Katz and council this year.
The 45-page report was pulled together for former mayor Glen Murray. It lays out the business, environmental and transportation case for rapid transit:
The report says a travel time, door-to-door, of 35 minutes is the critical threshold. Anything longer than that, and ridership drops off. Now, less than half of Winnipeggers can get downtown by bus in 35 minutes. If the six corridors are built, that number will rise to 85 per cent, according to the report. Ridership is expected to increase 15 to 20 per cent in each corridor. Ridership on the southwest corridor alone would increase by 1.2 million trips annually.
That's the equivalent of 15,000 to 20,000 car trips a week.
Building rapid transit would generate $17.3 million in federal tax revenue and $13.3 in provincial tax revenue, as well as a huge boost for New Flyer Industries, the Winnipeg-based company expected to build the speedy buses.
The second leg of the system, from downtown, through St. Boniface to Transcona, would cost another $76 million, including 15 new buses and stations.
In her letter of support, Gail Asper noted that CanWest Global Communications has invested significant dollars in the downtown. The company's investments would suffer if the city fails to build an adequate transportation system.
Chipman wrote that the rapid transit system will bring the city into the 21st century and will help move workers and tourists into the downtown quickly and cheaply.
maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca