Station expected to provide relief

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This article was published 10/07/2017 (3190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A brand-new transit station is expected to be a driving force to reduce traffic headaches for football fans and other stadium-goers.

On July 4, a crowd braved the rainy weather to celebrate the grand opening of Stadium Station at Investors Group Field.

At the same time, they revelled in the launch of Bohémier Trail, a new road that connects to Pembina Highway and provides Winnipeg Transit buses with exclusive access to Stadium Station.

This roadway was named after the Bohémier family, who moved to the area from Quebec in 1884. While commemorating the family’s longstanding local connection, the corridor also pays tribute to the community’s Franco-Manitoban and Métis heritage.

These new additions are making history as the first completed parts of the Southwest Rapid Transitway’s second stage, which extends Stage 1 to the University of Manitoba.

Janice Lukes, city councillor for the South Winnipeg-St. Norbert ward, expects that these enhancements will create a positive effect on transportation to and from the stadium.

“It’s going to reduce the traffic congestion because previously the buses were mixed in with the cars that were mixed in with the people that were mixed in with the bikes,” she said. “It was just chaos.”

As an added benefit, fewer vehicles will be travelling on local roads, which will be better for the surrounding community, she said. The new route should also increase overall safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

“Right now, it’s only going to be used for Bomber games and any other large events like concerts and Canada Games. When there are 15,000 people or more planned for an event at the stadium, then they will use it,” she said. “Once the rapid transit corridor opens in 2020, they will use it all the time.”

Stage 2 is being built as a public-private partnership, and nearly $200 million of government funding is being invested to support the first and second stages of Winnipeg’s rapid transit projects. Project funding comes from PPP Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg.

Bohémier Trail and Stadium Station were ready for buses to use on Friday, July 7 in time for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ home opener. Lukes said only time will tell if this will be a game changer for fans who are fed up with traffic snarls.

“You can do all the modelling in the world with all this technology,” Lukes said, “but the real test is where do the people go and how does it flow.”