Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

City may open diamond lanes to more users

Motorists cruise down the east-bound diamond lane on Portage Ave.

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Motorists cruise down the east-bound diamond lane on Portage Ave. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

MAYOR Sam Katz's inner circle wants Winnipeg to explore the idea of allowing taxis and others cars with at least two passengers to use diamond lanes.

Today, executive policy committee will consider a motion to ask city staff to explore the idea of expanding the range of vehicles allowed to use diamond lanes during peak traffic hours.

Right now, only transit buses, cyclists, emergency vehicles and right-turning vehicles are allowed to use diamond lanes. Other vehicles that use the lanes during peak hours are subject to getting ticketed.

Late on Tuesday, the city published a motion to allow taxis and possibly other vehicles to use the lanes, based on the fact Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa treat diamond lanes as "high occupancy vehicle lanes."

If approved by EPC, the diamond lane motion will be considered by transportation planners working on Our Winnipeg, the city's new long-term planning blueprint. It proposal would then come back to a council committee.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 17, 2010 A6

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