Winnipeg's rapid transit plan is officially off the tracks. Following hours of debate at City Hall yesterday, councillors voted 11-5 to delay the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system's $50-million first leg and instead pour most of that cash into recreation centres.

The unofficial killing of the city's long-planned dedicated busway system prompted not only anger from students and environmentalists, but the sudden resignation of Rick Borland, Winnipeg Transit's director of the past 25 years.

Borland's stunning resignation — he'll step down tomorrow and retire in January — comes after he blasted a senior mayoral advisor for misinformation on the BRT plan. However, Mayor Sam Katz denied any responsibility for the loss of the highly respected bureaucrat.

"I don't believe we are responsible for his resignation," he told reporters.

"Being responsible is about making tough decisions and identifying priorities. This resolution supports the right priority for Winnipeg."

The adopted resolution — to launch a $200,000 task force to again study rapid transit options after similar previous efforts — means only $7 million of the $50-million pot will soon go into Winnipeg's bus service improvements.

Dozens of frustrated university students and green-minded advocates vowed to continue pushing for BRT or another form of transit that encourages dense development, fuel consumption and convenience.

"I wish I could have understood what the reversal is all about," pro-BRT coalition leader Kaj Hasselriis said, noting council's support for the project last year. "I think most city councillors are living on a different planet than me."

The argument was among the Main Street chamber's most heated in some time. Coun. Lillian Thomas, a BRT booster, became enraged by mid-afternoon.

"Stand up for rapid transit, stand up for progress," Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) said to applause from the gallery. "Not one more report! The time for action is now!"

After the debate and several delegations, the vast majority in favour of rapid transit, only Thomas and councillors Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre), John Angus (St. Norbert) and Donald Benham (River Heights-Fort Garry) opposed the move to stall the transit dream of former mayor Glen Murray.

Adrienne Batra of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded council's decision to hold off on starting a project whose total cost is pegged at more than $400 million.

"It was a good day for taxpayers," Batra said.