...
In other transit news, Mayor Sam Katz now says he does not expect to
make an announcement about Winnipeg's new rapid transit system until
September, when city councillors go back to work.
Ever since March, when Ottawa announced it would hand Manitoba $17.9
million for alternative transportation, the city and province have been
working on a deal to build southwest Winnipeg bus rapid transit
corridor and lay the groundwork for a future light-rail system.
On Wednesday, the mayor said officials are still studying the issue
carefully considering the potential "half a billion-dollar" cost of the
project in the long term.
"We're not planning for today. We're planning for 10, 20 and 30 years
down the road," said Katz, who is a fan of light-rail transit even
though city officials have called it cost-prohibitive.
"LRT is the future. If you and I want our children and grandchildren to
stay in Winnipeg, you have to look at it. Otherwise, you're making a
big mistake."
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca joe.paraskevas@freepress.mb.ca.