City Hall in brief: Electric transit buses, Louise Bridge repairs, Arlington Bridge funding

Transit proposes electric bus purchase

Winnipeg Transit hopes to buy more battery electric buses, despite city council directing it to stick with diesel models from 2027 onward.

A report requests a “one-time exception” from council’s 2025 vote to buy solely diesel buses from that point on, over concerns the city couldn’t afford more zero-emission models.

The new proposal calls for Transit to buy up to seven 20-foot-long electric buses for a pilot project to support on-request trips, pending city council approval.

On-request serves up to 4,000 riders a week, at times, and could use 35 buses that are under 30 feet long, the report states.

Winnipeg Transit currently uses 30-foot and 40-foot buses for the service, which can struggle with tight turns, forcing riders to walk farther to get picked up.

“A smaller bus would serve communities better. It would bring buses closer to people and reduce road damage, noise, vibration, and complaints from residents,” the report states.

Each smaller battery-electric bus costs less than each 40-foot diesel bus, and the purchase may be eligible for federal funding, it notes.

Transit declined to state the estimated price per bus, noting the final cost will be determined through a request for proposals.

The report says the bus purchases can be covered within Transit’s existing capital budget.

Louise Bridge repair on track for 2030: report

The City of Winnipeg is postponing some of the work needed to rehabilitate the 116-year-old Louise Bridge but still expects the project to be completed by 2030.

A staff report seeks permission from the public works committee to award M. D. Steele Construction a $12-million contract to repair piers and stabilize the north riverbank at the bridge.

The new report says a second phase of bridge work will be deferred to 2028 and 2029, subject to budget approval. However, the report predicts the project should still wrap up by the summer of 2030, after the bridge fully closes to traffic for about 18 months.

In 2024, city council approved a $40-million preliminary design that aims to extend the life of the Louise Bridge by at least 30 years, which called for construction no later than 2030.

Arlington Bridge funding could be used sooner

City staff are seeking $2 million to bump up preparations to demolish the rest of the decommissioned Arlington Bridge.

The first phase of demolition is now complete and the money would cover costs to prepare to demolish the rest, a staff report says.

“This over-expenditure would allow preparation work to occur in advance of the planned 2027 demolition,” the city report says.

It says initial steps to demolish the structure came in on time and under budget.

Despite being labelled an “over-expenditure,” the report notes the project’s overall budget would cover that cost.

The Arlington Bridge opened to traffic in 1912 and closed suddenly on Nov. 21, 2023 owing to structural concerns.