Winnipeg Transit is undergoing its most significant transformation in over a century, with a brand-new system set to roll out in June.
Winnipeg’s senior transit planner, Kevin Sturgeon, says this overhaul is part of the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan. Beginning in 2019, Sturgeon says the plan is to modernize the city’s transit system and better meet the needs of riders.
“We realized that to accomplish these goals, we would have to redesign our transit network from scratch. That had not happened in Winnipeg before. Some other cities have done that. But Winnipeg had never done it. Every change we’ve had to our transit system over the last, you know, about 140 years has been incremental, piece by piece.”
He says the message from riders was that things weren’t working. Ridership was up, but there were many pass-ups, meaning somebody couldn’t get on the bus because it was too full and passed them by. Another criticism was that buses were late, sometimes even early, but not on schedule. Overall, Sturgeon says what they heard a lot of was about confusion.
“The problem with our current system that we will have in place here until June is the way that it’s set up. It’s really complicated to deal with the problems. The route network is very complex, which, of course, is part of the confusing reason. There are just, you know, different routes that go to the same place at different times of day and the same route number but different branches that go to completely different ends of the city. That’s confusing and complex, but it also makes it hard for us to tackle the problems.”
In a 2023 survey by the Free Press and Probe Research, about 47 per cent of Winnipeg residents used transit occasionally, but only 20 per cent were regular riders. Frequent users were often young adults (18-34), inner-city residents, BIPOC individuals, and people with disabilities, while 53 per cent never used transit. Older and infrequent riders prioritized safety, while younger adults, women, and frequent riders wanted better route connections.
The revamped transit system will introduce a structured classification for bus routes, dividing them into two main categories:
- Primary Transit Network: These routes will operate frequently, especially during rush hours. Many of them will run through downtown and offer service from early morning until after midnight. The goal is to make these routes the backbone of the transit system, providing dependable, frequent service for high-demand areas.
- Feeder Routes: These buses will primarily serve neighbourhoods, connecting riders to essential destinations such as schools, grocery stores, and libraries. Unlike the primary network, feeder routes will not travel downtown, making them less susceptible to congestion-related delays. By keeping these routes localized, they are expected to maintain better on-time performance.
Sturgeon says a key advantage of the new system is that buses on high-frequency routes will arrive often so that exact timing becomes less critical.
“If a bus comes every five minutes, it doesn’t matter if it’s on time or not. As long as it’s coming every five minutes, you don’t care when it was supposed to be there.”
The redesign also aims to improve overall efficiency. Faster, more direct routes mean buses can complete more trips in a day, allowing for better service without significantly increasing costs. A simplified network will make expanding transit into new and growing neighbourhoods, including suburban developments and denser urban areas, easier.
As part of the transition, all bus stops will receive new signage clearly indicating which routes will be affected. Many stops will also be relocated to improve accessibility and efficiency, particularly for express routes and high-traffic areas.
“About all the routes are changing. And so we decided that we’re going to put out a new sign. So it’ll be a new style. It’ll look different than anything we have on the street right now, and that’ll be people’s first clue, the first thing you’ll see in the next few months, hinting that some changes are coming.”
While change can be challenging, feedback on the new plan has been largely positive. According to Sturgeon, over 75 per cent of public responses have been supportive, an unusually high rate for such a significant transformation. However, he acknowledges that not all riders will be happy with the adjustments, and transit officials are working to address concerns as they arise.
Updated route changes and transit modifications can be found on Winnipeg Transit’s website, winnipegtransit.com/primarytransitnetwork, or through the city’s 311 services.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
