An internationally-known authority on public transit has been retained to study the possibility of a new transit system for Winnipeg, the Greater Winnipeg Transit Commission announced today.

The study will be made during the month of September by Norman D. Wilson, a Toronto engineer with a 54-year career specializing in public transportation problems, Commission Chairman Jack Blumberg said.

The study will be on the feasibility of surface rail transport on a segregated right-of-way, subways or a monorail.

Even if Winnipeg does not require a subway in the near future, the study will enable GWTC to find the land necessary for garages, turn-arounds and loading stations before areas become too heavily built up to make the acquisition of the land practicable for transit purposes.

"In the U.S. public transport has become a passing thing," said Mr. Blumberg, "but we have no intention of allowing that to happen here."

Mr. Wilson studied Winnipeg's public transport problems once before, in 1951 when he recommended that the street railway franchise of the Winnipeg Electric Co. be taken over by the city and the GWTC be established.

Mr. Wilson's most recent assignment has been to work on the extension of Toronto's subway system along Bloor St. and University Ave.

A facet of Mr. Wilson's experience the commission hopes to make use of is zoning and planning. He has prepared zoning by-laws and town plans for Sarnia, Cornwall and Oshawa in Ontario — experience the commission expects to find valuable in projecting its future requirements.