Rapid Transit for Winnipeg - Manitoba Liberal announce major support for building Rapid Transit

This morning just south-east of the corner of Corydon and Osborne, together with Paul Hesse I announced our Manitoba Liberal support for Rapid Transit for Winnipeg.  A Liberal government will provide $44 million in the first year, and in subsequent years until the city-wide rapid transit system is built. 

For the last 12 years the NDP has only managed to build rapid transit an average of 300 meters a year.  This is not good enough.  As the next step in building towards a Rapid Transit system for all of Winnipeg, we will build rapid transit from the arena to the stadium.  Our major sports teams will continue to thrive when we help get people to and from games.  This rapid transit corridor will also be very important in moving people to and from our major universities. 

Rapid Transit is the backbone for people movement in all major cities around the world.  Winnipeg needs a Rapid Transit backbone for many reasons. 
1) It will facilitate the development of new housing beside rapid transit stops.  Winnipeg urgent needs more rental units.  This will be a very important step toward getting such rental units.
2) The location of the Rapid Transit backbone is vital to future city planning and development because no city plan can be adequate without knowing where the rapid transit system will be located.
3) This will stimulate our economy because building the rapid transit system will mean a big stimulus not only in building the system, but also in the secondary residential and commercial development which will result from this.  It can be said that all Winnipeggers will benefit either from better access to transportation and housing or improved opportunities for jobs.   The wide range of new jobs needed will mean it affects a great many sectors of our economy in a beneficial way.
4) Rapid transit is needed to take Winnipeg to the next step as a major world class city.
5) Should there be a recession globally in this time of economic uncertainty, the investment in building rapid transit will play a major role in continuing to shelter our economy from the negative effects of events elsewhere in the world.
6) For those outside of Winnipeg, it will offer an easy way to get around in Winnipeg, especially for those coming in by bus, train or plane, but increasingly those who drive to Winnipeg can park and ride and benefit in a major way as well.   Thus Winnipeg's Rapid Transit will be the core of the future transportation network to benefit all Manitobans. 
7) Rapid Transit is an important step in creating a Manitoba which uses energy more efficiently and produces fewer greenhouse gases because Rapid Transit is more energy efficient in moving people than cars.  At the same time Rapid Transit will help those who drive cars by reducing traffic and congestion on the road, and reducing the wear and tear on roads and bridges.

Manitoba Liberals will, in the first 100 days of a Liberal government, work with the City of Winnipeg and the federal government to finalize the details of the next phase in the development of rapid transit in Winnipeg.