As I discussed yesterday, transit, and especially rapid
transit, is a key part of my campaign. Having already given an outline of my
vision, it's time to get into the details of how I plan to bring effective
transit to all areas of the city.
First, we need to accept that bus rapid transit (BRT) is not
viable. The current BRT plan presents too many right of way and land
procurement issues, as well as being technologically behind the times. I am
proposing a light rail transit (LRT) system, featuring elevated rails and
electric-powered trains, similar to the systems in Calgary and Vancouver. The
advantages of this method of travel include not having any right of way issues,
the ability to use the space above existing roadways, preventing land
procurement problems and costs, novelty to spur ridership during the key early stages, as well as reduced fuel costs and zero carbon
footprint. I have spoken with civil engineers who have built rapid transit
systems in several other cities across North America, and they agree that
raised-track LRT is the right answer for Winnipeg versus either BRT or a
subway.
Proposed routing
It is vital that any transit plan include the ability to
service all areas of the city, and mine does just that. It is of primary importance that all areas of
St Boniface from Tache to Sage Creek have access to a viable rapid transit
network in order to promote ridership and ease traffic congestion and wear on
infrastructure. I have done this by focusing on linking the core to our
post-secondary institutions, as well as including a significant expansion of
the park and ride system, and inducing cyclists and exurban commuters from
outlying areas to join the system at those park and ride locations adding to
revenue.
By including all areas of the city, we will be able to induce
vastly increased ridership on the system, and make the city a more attractive
destination that will lure new residents, as well as retain our existing
population. An effective transit system will especially benefit students and
young families, who will be able to contribute to the city's tax base for the
foreseeable future, particularly if they see Winnipeg as a place they want to
lay down roots and live, work, play, and raise their families. The
corresponding population increase can also act as an inducement to wrestle
increased funding out of other levels of government that will be required to
complete this project. Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Waterloo have all
received significant federal funding for their LRT systems, and we would do
well to tap into that pool of funds.
Essentially, I am proposing a hub and spoke model for our
transit corridors. Using downtown as a terminus, I envision lines running
primarily along existing numbered city routes, ending at new enhanced park and
ride lots. These park and ride lots would be accessible to suburban and exurban
commuters, cyclists and would be focal points for merging bus service from
suburban areas to the LRT system. These LRT access points would be built in key
areas in order to make sure that all areas of the city can benefit from the LRT
corridors. The first phase of my plan would establish the following routes
going to and from downtown:
1.
Pembina Highway, utilizing the existing BRT
corridor, terminating at the University of Manitoba
2.
St. Mary's Road, terminating at St. Vital Centre
3.
Archibald Street to Fermor Avenue, terminating
near the Royal Canadian Mint
4.
Watt Street to Nairn Avenue and eventually
Regent Avenue, terminating at Kildonan Place
5.
Main Street, terminating near the Chief Peguis
Trail
6.
Notre Dame Avenue, terminating at Red River
College (with the potential to branch off down McPhillips Street)
7.
Portage Avenue, terminating at Polo Park
Shopping Centre (with the potential to extend the line to James Armstrong
Richardson Airport and into the Unicity area)
The second phase of my plan would link the lines together
near the edges of the city, following a model similar to the proposed internal
ring road system, truly allowing for effective rapid transit for the residents
of Winnipeg to be able to reach any area of the city in a timely and convenient
fashion.
Funding
I am aware that this is an ambitious plan. Right now,
Winnipeg needs ambitious plans. I do not know the exact cost, but I do know
that it will be significant. It is clear that provincial and federal funding
alone will not be adequate to finance the entire system. At the civic level, we
will have to borrow to be able to pay for the expansion. However, with interest
rates at record lows, this is the best time to borrow in order to save on the total
cost of borrowing. To add to this, the cost of construction is rising at a rate of nearly 5% per year, meaning the cost of borrowing later rather than now will only increase the debt load needed to undertake this project. Additionally, increased ridership will help provide funding,
and an increased service level will facilitate higher fares, as required. The increase in ridership would also reduce wear on other forms of infrastructure, thereby reducing future cost of maintenance and repairs that would be invested into the LRT expansion. It is
likely that a property tax increase will be required to service the debt however it should only be temporary. With increased ridership and funds being diverted from other areas of infrastructure, this project would not need long term tax raises. In addition, with the project in its' infant stages and needing more review before receiving the full go ahead, I would advocate for minimal or no tax increase until the project's vision is clear. As any financial advisor would tell you, borrowing to purchase a
luxury item is a bad idea. Borrowing for
your future, such as an RRSP loan to purchase a house or plan for retirement,
isn’t a bad strategy. Given our current
tax model, the state of the economy, the growing population and our intentions
to spur that growth, now is the time to look ahead to what this city could
become. This will be a key investment in our future, and an important part of
addressing our infrastructure deficit. If we don't act now, we are left with
two options: Grow significantly in population where it will only cost more in
the future, or grind Winnipeg to a halt in terms of innovation and growth and watch
as ex-Winnipeggers make waves in whatever new place they call home as whomever
is left behind deals with the lack of vision politicians and residents had
years earlier when they had the chance to make this city elite.
Advantages of LRT over BRT or subway
–
lower maintenance costs – track vs road
–
lower snow-clearing costs
–
cost of electricity vs diesel (lower cost, fewer fluctuations and availability of resources)
–
far less displacement of homes or businesses
–
ability to expand along existing roadways as
future growth dictates
–
no dealing with below-ground issues – for
example frost and our high water table
–
novelty leading to increased ridership
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