Transit proposes late service on 11 routes, new hires

Winnipeg Transit plans to spend millions of dollars each year and add 33.5 new staff positions to ensure buses on some of its fixed routes can run later into the night.

A new proposal calls for council to approve $3 million in 2026 (when many of the changes will start in April) and $4.4 million throughout 2027 to extend service on 11 bus routes. The funding will also pay to extend a separate extension to night-time service for on-request routes.

“This gives a lot of really good late night service to areas that never had late night service under the old network or under the first instance of this new network,” said Bjorn Radstrom, Winnipeg Transit’s manager of service development.

Radstrom said the routes were selected for added hours based on gaps identified in transit’s new primary route network, which was implemented on June 29. The city also considered proximity to large workplaces with night shifts, ridership data and public feedback.

Radstrom said further changes could be needed as circumstances change, such as the construction of new neighbourhoods or addition of large companies that rely on night shifts.

Transit’s new hires would include 27.5 new bus operator positions, plus six more positions to cover operating, plant, equipment and administrative supports.

While Transit has sometimes struggled to hire enough bus drivers, that’s not expected to be an obstacle to this plan.

“We’re doing better with our hiring than we ever have… We’re continuing to hire about six operators a week,” said Radstrom.

“We’re doing better with our hiring than we ever have.”

In 2025, Transit hired 234 operators, while 120 left their positions, he said.

“We haven’t had a single service cancellation due to a shortage of operators since the launch of the new network,” he added.

On Thursday, council’s public works committee will vote on a request to refer the plan to the city’s 2026 budget process.

The committee’s chairwoman said she will support the proposal.

“People need to get to work. Transportation and movement is the backbone of our economy,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West).

Lukes said the changes match key complaints received by the city after the new network was implemented, with some residents noting they could no longer rely on the bus to get home from work or school.

“We’re making these changes, we’re taking feedback,” she said.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he supports adding more night-time bus service, although he’s still reviewing the details of the plan.

“If that’s what it takes to ensure that transit’s available late at night for transit users, then that’s an investment that I’m certainly willing to look at,” said Gillingham.

If approved, the fixed route changes would kick in on April 12, 2026.

The following routes would offer a last trip that starts after midnight:

• D10 Panet – Adsum
• D14 Salter – Stafford
• D16 Academy – Notre Dame
• D17 Talbot – Selkirk
• 28 Arlington – Stafford
• 38 Mountain – Munroe
• 43 Watt – Logan; 70 Roblin
• 74 Kenaston – Keewatin
• 224 Sherwin – Valour
• 680 River Heights – Cambridge (on weekdays only)

Currently, the last bus for fixed two-digit “connector” routes makes its final pickup around 10 p.m., while the last bus on three-digit “community” routes do so at 7 p.m.

City council has already approved a separate plan to extend hours later into the night for 10 on-request bus routes, starting Dec. 14, with funding until April. The latest plan would extend its funding permanently as well.

On-request service will end just before 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday and around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday and holidays on those routes, instead of around 10 p.m. On-request service allows riders to request a pickup from their location to a stop on the primary bus network by using the Winnipeg Transit website, app or by calling 311.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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