Federal cash key to project

The politician who put the brakes on rapid transit in Winnipeg is making tentative noises about placing the long-dormant project back in gear.

Mayor Sam Katz, whose first major act in power in 2004 was to kill off a bus rapid transit corridor parallel to Pembina Highway, is now reconsidering the city's options as council is about to create a new transit kitty and the federal government could funnel about $15 million toward Winnipeg's alternative transportation needs.

The city's 2008 operating budget calls for the creation of a $2.75-million transit savings account, while the federal budget announced in February includes a new fund for rapid transit, buses and bike paths.

Manitoba is slated to receive $18 million from that fund, with the vast majority of that cash -- about $15 million -- earmarked for Winnipeg.

City transit officials are already studying how they could spend the new money, while provincial Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton says the province is willing to consider matching the federal cash to get the first leg of a rapid-transit system built.

Both announcements mean rapid-transit is gaining momentum, but Katz cautioned it will still be years before new busways or light-rail lines grace Winnipeg.

"I've never, ever said I was against rapid transit," the mayor said in an interview late last week, claiming his decision to kill off bus rapid transit during his first few months in office was based on the fact the project was underfunded and never scrutinized properly by city staff and politicians.

Katz said the plan he shelved in 2004 would probably have ended up costing $500 million and would not have convinced more Winnipeggers to get out of their cars and into buses.

"I don't think anyone ever has known the cost," said Katz. "I don't think anyone has ever done the accounting."

The mayor has always preferred the idea of creating a light-rail system to creating dedicated bus corridors. But given the immense and still-uncalculated cost of light rail, Katz is grudgingly reconsidering bus rapid transit, depending on what Winnipeg Transit administrators have to say.

His cabinet voted to create a rapid-transit kitty after they were prodded to get off the fence and decide whether to finally put money away for the massive project -- or kill it off altogether.

But the federal cash is the real key to moving the project forward sooner rather than later.

"It could give us an opportunity to get rapid transit back on the agenda," said Ashton. "We can't do it unless the city is committed. We're certainly interested, if the city is." When it comes to green transportation, the Doer government has recently shown little interest in rapid transit, preferring to build bike trails instead.

Rapid transit made no appearance in the NDP's election platform last year and it earned nary a mention in any one of Premier Gary Doer's throne speeches during the past five years. It's entirely possible the new federal money could wind up building more Winnipeg bike trails.

But Ashton said the province is waiting to hear city hall's pitch for the money and said rapid transit could make a comeback.

"It starts with what's on the political agenda, and if rapid transit is on the agenda, we'd find a way to make it work," said Ashton.

Katz said the city has already made its pitch for the federal cash. The city and province have until March 31 to make a public commitment, or else the $15 million will disappear.

Ashton said the cash would likely be spent on the first leg of the southwest transit corridor -- a busway from downtown to Jubilee Avenue that would allow transit to bypass Confusion Corner.

Four years ago, that leg came with a $43-million price tag, but subsequent construction inflation means the current cost is probably more than $60 million.

Nevertheless, the new mood at city hall is heartening to Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, a longtime BRT advocate.

"If the province and the city can work this out through this negotiation in the next week or two, we could see the beginning of rapid transit in Winnipeg," said Gerbasi.

"It is within our grasp. It is totally doable. And it is a huge opportunity. If we don't take this opportunity now, we could lose and it could be several years again before we get that opportunity (again) -- and the price keeps going up the longer we wait."

The changing mood has also revived the interest of rapid-transit activists. Grassroots supporters of rapid transit have collected 1,500 signatures on an online petition they're expected to present to council today.

-- With files from Joe Paraskevas