Rapid Transit is finally coming to Winnipeg

Paul Hesse and I (top photo) were at the Rapid Transit Announcement today. As you can see, we were pleased with the success of the effort Paul has made with the Rapid Transit Coalition, the effort I have made in the Manitoba Legislature, and the effort we have both made through our political campaigns, particularly in 2007, to promote rapid transit in Winnipeg.

It is long overdue.

At the same time I was disappointed that all that was announced was the single line from downtown to the University of Manitoba. The rest of Winnipeg also needs rapid transit, and at the pace being proposed for this first line, it may be six years before it is completed and thus six years from now before important additional lines to service St. Boniface, Elmwood, Transcona, and the north and west parts of Winnipeg are even considered. We should be moving faster than this to modernize our city and to ensure all Winnipeggers have easy access to rapid transit.

The bottom photo shows the proposed corridor through Osborne Village.