Politics · Canada · 57 mins ago
Winnipeg transit changes become a key issue before civic election
Winnipeg voters are debating the city’s redesigned bus network ahead of the civic election on Oct.
28.
The city introduced the new system on June 29, 2025, using rapid and express routes as main lines, with other routes connecting riders to them.
The network now has about 4,000 bus stops, down from 5,200, and some riders say buses are late and they have to walk more.
Mayoral candidates Mike Vogiatzakis and Don Woodstock have proposed reversing or cancelling the plan if elected.
The city says switching back would cost millions of dollars, after it spent about $20.4 million putting the new network in place.
Transit advocates instead want more buses, support for drivers and a funding model that splits operating costs between the province and the city.
The city plans to add benches and shelters at new stops, including about 40 shelters by the end of 2026.
Winnipeg’s transit changes have become a key issue before the civic election on October 28.
The city launched its largest transit-system change on June 29, 2025, introducing a spine-and-feeder network.
Some riders say the new system has made travel harder, while mayoral candidates have called for reversing it.
City officials and transit advocates say restoring the old system would be costly and argue for improving service and funding instead.
The city has spent around $20.4 million implementing the new network.
- Who
- Winnipeg voters, transit riders and mayoral candidates are debating the city’s transit system.
- What
- The new transit network and whether to reverse it have become election issues.
- When
- The changes were unveiled on June 29, 2025; the civic election is October 28.
- Where
- Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Why
- Some riders say the changes have made travel harder, while candidates and advocates debate whether to restore or improve the system.
Candidates calling for a rollback
City officials and advocates supporting the new network
Whether to reverse the changes
Candidates calling for a rollback
Mike Vogiatzakis proposed changing transit back within 30 days of taking office, and Don Woodstock pledged to immediately cancel the plan.
City officials and advocates supporting the new network
Janice Lukes said converting back would cost “millions and millions of dollars”; James Van Gerwen said he saw no logic in returning to a broken system.
Transit priorities
Candidates calling for a rollback
Bashir said she wants the old system back and described problems with late buses and more walking.
City officials and advocates supporting the new network
Van Gerwen called for more buses and support for drivers, while Kyle Owens advocated more provincial funding to improve reliability and expand routes.
The city unveiled its largest transit-system change, introducing a spine-and-feeder model.
Mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis proposed changing transit back within 30 days of taking office.
The city said around 40 new bus shelters would be installed.
Winnipeg’s civic election is scheduled.
- Network launch
- June 29, 2025
- Bus stops
- Around 4,000, down from 5,200 before the changes
- Implementation spending
- Around $20.4 million
- New shelters
- Around 40 planned by the end of 2026
- Election day
- October 28
What people are saying
Buying a car wasn’t even in my plan…but now they’re (buses) late and I’m walking more now,
It would take “millions and millions of dollars to convert back to the old system,
I don’t see any logic behind going back to a system that was broken.
Nostalgia is always popular in Winnipeg. It’s an easy way to get attention and get people engaged in transit to talk about the old system and the old routes, but Winnipeg Transit isn’t going back.