Governments commit funding to Winnipeg's rapid transit extension

The plan for Phase 2 of Winnipeg's bus rapid transit (BRT) has picked up speed with amulti-million-dollarfunding announcement on Monday.

The federal government will provideup to $137.3 million, while the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg will each contribute $225 million.

The fundingwill help extend the SouthwestTransitwayfrom Jubilee Avenue to the University of Manitoba. The corridor currently runs from downtown to Jubilee.

"Stage 2 of the Southwest corridor and the expansion of the Jubilee underpass are important infrastructure projects that will serve Winnipeggers for years to come, saidMayor Brian Bowman, adding the source of the city's share of the money must still be determined.

Monday's funding announcement was made at theBalmoralStation bus terminal in downtown, near the University of Winnipeg, by Bowmanalong with Minister of Canadian Heritage Shelly Glover andMLAKevin Chief,Manitoba's minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg.

"Our growing city needs a modern, efficient public transit system to make it easier to get to work, school or the world-class shopping and entertainment options across Winnipeg," said Chief.

Quick facts

The project will:

• Extendthe BRT system by 7.6kilometres.
• Add10 transit stations.
• Add two park-and-ride facilities.
• Add twotransitway bridges.
• Add an overpass, an underpass and a tunnel.