Transit Plus recommendations move on to budget stop

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This article was published 07/01/2020 (1851 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A City of Winnipeg committee has steered a proposed $3.5 million in upgrades to the Transit Plus service recommended by Manitoba’s ombudsman toward the 2020 budget process.

As well, the infrastructure renewal and public works committee voted Tuesday to send to budget consultations the proposal to eliminate the rule which allows Transit Plus pickups only within 500 metres of a Winnipeg Transit stop.

The recommendations were approved on the eve of the one-year anniversary of a scathing 152-page ombudsman’s report on the service formerly known as Handi-Transit.

While the news was welcome, Patrick Stewart of the Independent Living Resource Centre said, “We endorse the resources that are being recommended… we would ask council to exercise caution when it comes to the final piece of policy.”

That policy, as outlined in the public service’s report, was a recommendation to have “winter-only” service times changed from the usual October to April schedule, to a more flexible schedule dependent on snowfall and weather patterns.

Considering Winnipeg’s unpredictable weather, Stewart said implementing such a recommendation could spur a lot of bad-news stories.

“I think this is a recipe for disaster for some individuals. And it will create a lot of conflict and mistrust with the community, as well,” he said.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) also appeared as a delegation to speak about axing the rule requiring Transit Plus pickups to happen only within 500 metres of a Transit stop. Such a decree bars some riders living in far-flung areas of the city and should be considered a human rights violation, Mayes said.

He reminded councillors of a motion they passed unanimously last fall condemning Quebec’s Bill 21, which bans some civil servants from wearing religious symbols.

“Let’s not be stressed by (the) price tag. If we really want to chastise another jurisdiction if they’re failing to do something about human rights, here’s our chance to do something about human rights,” Mayes said.

Meanwhile, the committee also voted to allow Transit Plus vehicles to use diamond lanes on roads. The change will come into effect once the city communicates the change to Transit Plus drivers and other entities, such as Winnipeg police.

Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) said she’s glad the change was made.

“Transit Plus is a parallel service,” she said. “I’m surprised it took this long.”

Diamond lanes are currently restricted to transit buses, taxis and bicycles.

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca