City should focus on bus-rapid transit: poll

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This article was published 20/10/2010 (5799 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – A majority of Winnipeggers believe bus rapid transit should be part of the city’s transit plans, according to a Free Press/CBC News poll conducted by Leger Marketing.

As part of a broader election poll conducted earlier this month, Leger asked 800 Winnipeg voters which rapid transit option is best for Winnipeg – bus rapid transit or light-rail transit.

Thirty two per cent of respondents said the city should concentrate equally on BRT and LRT, while another 27 per cent listed BRT as the priority.

Only 14 per cent listed LRT as the rapid-transit priority. Three per cent said none of the above, while another three per cent didn’t know.

The results suggest a majority of Winnipeggers are in line with mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis rapid-transit policy. The former Winnipeg North MP has pledged to complete the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor as a busway all the way to the University of Manitoba. The first phase of the corridor, from downtown to Jubilee Avenue, is expected to be completed late next year.

Mayor Sam Katz has turned down a federal/provincial offer of $126 million to complete the corridor as a busway. He wants to divert the money for road and bridge projects and lobby Ottawa and Broadway for additional cash for light-rail transit.