April 12, 2020: Transformation Transit Is Coming to Southwest Winnipeg

Photo Credit: CBC

I’ve long been a supporter of improving transit in Winnipeg. During the 2014 election, I campaigned on supporting the construction of Stage 2 of the Southwest Transitway. Today, Stage 2 of the Southwest Transitway (SWT) is in testing and training mode and will open for service on April 12, 2020!  Winnipeg Transit is adopting a new type of service model that will bring changes to many of the routes in southwest Winnipeg and mitigate current operational challenges. Winnipeg Transit is using a “spine and feeder” service model for southwest Winnipeg. A spine and feeder model consists of two basic components;

(1) high-frequency corridors that form the core of the service (spine); and

(2) local routes that provide passengers with simple connections to the spine routes (feeders).

Transit routes will be changing and increasing in frequency, and the following investments are being made to improve transit:

• 28  new 60 ft articulated buses have been purchased to serve the spine segment routes.
• Seven new rapid transit stations have been constructed along Stage 2 of the SWT at the following locations: Beaumont, Seel, Chevrier, Clarence, Plaza, Chancellor, and Markham.
• Park & Ride lots will be located at Seel Station and Clarence Station (665 parking spots and 400 parking spots, respectively).
• Three enhanced stops with large heated shelters will be built at Southpark, Stadium, and University of Manitoba stations.
• Five additional heated shelters will be constructed at major on-street connection points.
• 38 bus operators;
• 4 operations supervisors;
• 1 control centre staff focused on BLUE Line headway management;
• 5 maintenance staff;
• 5 Customer Service CSR; and
• 5 Finance

Complete details of Stage 2 of the Southwest Transitway (operating costs, history, maps, etc)  are in the Southwest Transitway Route Network report

Complete details of the routes can be viewed here:

• Proposed new routes
• Modifications to current in-service routes
• Current in-service routes that will be cancelled

A comprehensive education campaign will be launched in mid-March to create broad public awareness of the route and frequency changes. I will keep you updated!  This will transform the way we use Transit – and will be a template to transform transit for the rest of the City.