Charter buses for secondary students in Linden Woods to end this year

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2025 (306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students who live in Linden Woods will face a long trek to school when Winnipeg Transit switches to a new route system and ends charter buses this year.

For decades, transit has run charter buses for junior high and high schools across the city. Instead, the students will have to jump on a regular route once the changes take effect June 29. Students who live in Linden Woods and attend either Shaftesbury or Oak Park high schools will be the only ones in the city who will have to transfer twice to get to and from school, under the incoming ‘spine-feeder’ system.

“This will endanger these students,” said a parent, who asked not to be named.

“They will have to wait at not just one bus stop, but two. Can you imagine waiting when it is -40 C and you don’t know when the next bus is? It’s totally unsafe.”

Pembina Trails School Division assistant superintendent Troy Scott admitted there are risks in an email sent to parents on Jan. 30.

“These multiple transfers can lead to inconsistent ride times due to delays or cancellations, longer wait times between buses and increased safety concerns,” Scott wrote.

“In response, the division formally requested that the city reinstate transit charters for these two schools, until new transit routes from Linden Woods to Shaftesbury and Oak Park are established. However, the city declined this request, stating they are working toward an alternative route solution as quickly as possible.”

Winnipeg Transit created school charters decades ago to ferry students between school and home at a number of junior high and high schools. The city’s website says the system was created not for the benefit of students, but “so that overloads do not occur on regular transit service during weekday peak periods.” Students still pay regular transit fares.

The incoming system is considered the biggest overhaul since the service was created 140 years ago. The city has 142 routes, most of which will be adjusted as of June 29.

Instead of every route heading to downtown, the ‘spine-feeder’ model will have buses travel from outlying areas to main routes.

The system will better provide service in smaller areas and take passengers to community amenities.

Shelley Amos, superintendent of Pembina Trails, said the division has decided to take action in the next school year by hiring charter buses and charging students a fare similar to public transit.

“This measure is designed to give the city time to address the service gaps affecting students travelling from Linden Woods to schools in Charleswood,” she said.

“The school division will continue to work in collaboration with the City of Winnipeg and Winnipeg Transit and remains hopeful that a potential solution will be considered.”

City spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said city staff began working with school divisions “far in advance of this change.”

“Up to this point, school charters have filled a gap, because our current routes weren’t always set up with students in mind,” Benedictson said.

“We are not alone in moving away from providing (a) separate school charter service. Other Canadian cities are making similar decisions to make sure limited resources are best used in ways that can serve all riders.”

Benedictson said transit will continue to collect traffic pattern data so it can take a look at the system annually “to help prioritize potential new routes, provided resources are available.”

Three city councillors, John Orlikow, Janice Lukes and Evan Duncan, are working together to help the students from Linden Woods.

Lukes admits “it’s a challenge,” but she wanted to assure parents they are working with transit to make changes for the September 2026 school year.

“We know all the schools will have a better system with the changes except for these two schools. We’re trying to figure out how to put a permanent bus on that route.”

Meanwhile, various organizations that represent people with disabilities said they won’t know what their members think about the transit changes until they take effect.

Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities, believes many seniors will welcome them.

“I am very aware of the massive changes coming,” Newman said. “The number of seniors riding the bus today is not what it should be. We have a real transportation problem with seniors.”

She said the new feeder buses should be better than the current system to better get seniors to grocery stores, banks, doctors, and other services in their neighbourhoods.

“The whole concept of localized transportation is huge for people staying in their area,” Newman said. “I can think of six people I know who would go on the bus if it doesn’t go downtown.

“For me, I see value in this new system.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca