Winnipeg's rapid transit project remains on track, its leader says, despite its proposed derailing of a train loop through downtown.

And city hall's stripped-down transit plan will take a few months longer to put together, though Coun. Russ Wyatt insists it's still full-speed-ahead as far as bringing it to bring to completion in as little as 10 years — quicker than the concept he rolled out in April.

"We're looking at something a little more aggressive time-wise," Wyatt (Transcona) told The Sun yesterday of his task force's revamped proposal that would cost about $275 million, down from its $312-million price tag with light rail transit.

"It's basically the same. There are no big changes. The bigger change is dropping the downtown LRT."

As The Sun first reported last week, the city's much-anticipated plan has tentatively tossed out a $70-million light-rail loop — the major component of what would have been a Phase 3 to complete in 20 years — in favour of a focus on high-speed "quality corridor" busways to southwestern and eastern suburbs.

"We've gone from three phases to two, by and large," Wyatt explained.

"And we were recommending in our previous concept a completion of the entire southwest corridor but now we're saying we should move it up to Phase 1."

If Mayor Sam Katz and councillors accept the blueprints for a project similar to former mayor Glen Murray's Bus Rapid Transit concept, construction of the dedicated roadways — with park-and-ride stations and priority transit traffic signals — could go ahead any time.

However, the scheme is proposed as an equal cost-sharing arrangement between the city, provincial government and Ottawa for at least Phase 1, which would cost $165 million — up from the previously anticipated $90 million that Wyatt pitched in April.

The task force's sudden change of gears is based on feedback from the public, Wyatt said. But they surprised Katz, who had expected the spring's preliminary recommendations to hold until the final report — which has now been delayed three months until September.

"We still have to do what's best for the city," Katz said, refusing to elaborate on "suspicions" he has about the plan shift amid arguments with Wyatt. "I just hope they're making decisions based on what's best for the city, with no personal agendas involved."

Despite a separate feud with Katz's cabinet over funding for a Transcona recreation park, Wyatt stressed he's focused only on delivering the best transit options possible — even if they resemble what Murray pitched a couple of years ago.