Winnipeg mayor 'absolutely committed' to rapid transit expansion

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman is reaffirming his support for building the second phase of the city's rapid transit system, despite the budget challenges to pay for it.

Bowman told reporters on Wednesday that the city's finance committee is looking at every option in the budget process to fundPhase 2 of the bus rapid transit (BRT) network.

"Oh, I'm absolutely committed to completing Phase 2. That's never wavered and that should not be questioned," he said following a meeting of the executive policy committee.

"This mayor and, I believe, this council are committed to seeing it through.Council has voted on this previously."

Phase 2 would extend the existing SouthwestTransitwayfrom Jubilee Avenue to the University of Manitoba. The corridor currently runs from downtown to Jubilee.

Over the past year, council has debated whether to proceed with the second phase, with some suggesting the expansion be scrapped or replaced with light rail.

There have been concerns lately over the ballooning costs for the early work on the second phase.

The original estimate for early work to prepare a hydro corridor for the transit corridor expansion was set at $4.25 million. That estimate has now risen to more than $7 million.

Meanwhile, the city has beenlooking at buying up some land as part of the expansion plan, but some on council have raised questions about where that money would come from.

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Coun. John Orlikow, who chairs council's property and planning committee, said on Tuesday that the city needs $19.7 million a year for 30 years to pay for the property.

Bowman has pledged to finish the rapid transit lineduring his election campaign this past fall, and on Wednesday he reiterated that promise.

"There should be no misinterpretation about the commitment for rapid transit. We need a modern transportation system in a growing and thriving city," he said.