City committee backs light rail transit study

A city committee has recommended $100,000 be spent to explore the option of light rail transit in Winnipeg.

The Executive Policy Committee, also known as the mayor's cabinet, approved the motion from Mayor Sam Katz during a meeting Wednesday morning.

The recommendation will now move to city council for a final vote next week.

Katz first raised the idea last week of looking at light rail transit because construction and operation of such a system is not as expensive as first believed, he said, adding one kilometre of rapid transit costs $38 million. Light rail costs $50 million for one kilometre.

A light rail system also has the potential to stimulate development of infill neighbourhoods along its corridor, Katz noted.

'We need to ensure that what we build makes sense for the long term development of our city and provides Winnipeggers the necessary incentives to leave their cars at home.' —Mayor Sam Katz

The city has been touting high-density development, such as infill housing in existing neighbourhoods, as a solution to low vacancy rates and urban sprawl.

The city is already in the middle of constructing a $138 million bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor, which Katz said would not be turfed in favour of an LRT system.

However, if a BRT study supports a light rail system, that bus corridor could be modified, he said.

"I remain committed to working towards building a rapid transit system in the City of Winnipeg," he said.

"But we need to ensure that what we build makes sense for the long term development of our city and provides Winnipeggers the necessary incentives to leave their cars at home and embrace public transportation alternatives, and provides solutions for financing with all our funding partners."

Phase 1 of the BRT will see a dedicated bus lane built from The Forks in downtown to Jubilee Avenue in the Fort Rouge neighbourhood.

The three-year project began last year and is being funded by all levels of government.

Phase 2 of the project would run from Jubilee Avenue to Bison Drive, near the University of Manitoba, officials have said.

Details about when the second stage might happen or how it would be financed have not been revealed.

If a study supports an LRT, that section would be serviced by rail, not bus, Katz said.