Committee to revisit diamond-lane access for taxis in the fall

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This article was published 13/04/2017 (3430 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you drive a taxi, don’t expect a green light to bypass bumper to bumper traffic in a diamond lane anytime soon.

The civic infrastructure and public works committee has laid over a report whether to look at spending $100,000 for a pilot study on allowing cabs —and Handi-Transit vehicles — to access the lanes used almost exclusively by Transit buses during rush hours.

Committee chairman Marty Morantz expressed concern that with the province’s recent moves to clear the way for ride-sharing services such as Uber to come to Winnipeg.

“There wouldn’t just be taxis there — there would also be Uber,” he said Thursday.

“That would make it more complicated.”

Morantz asked for the matter to be put over until September so the city can study the idea.

Currently only buses, bicycles and emergency vehicles can travel in diamond lanes between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

A city report recommends councillors not change the policy.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca