According to Statistics Canada, in 2011, the dominant form of travel in Winnipeg was by car as a driver (69%), followed by commute trips using public transit (15%), as a car passenger (7%), walking (6%), bicycle (2%), and other modes (1%).[1]
Transportation structures within the city are the responsibility of the Winnipeg government's Public Works Department.[3] More generally, transportation in Manitoba is regulated by The Driver and Vehicles Act and The Highway Traffic Act. Moreover, insurance is mandatory in the province, and is made available via Manitoba Public Insurance and Autopac brokers.[4]
Situated at the confluence of the Red and the Assiniboine rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg, The Forks became an early meeting place for the purpose of trade and would prove to be the most important location for European and First Nations trade in Manitoba. The common method of transportation on these waterways during this time were often birch barkcanoes generally used by the Indigenous peoples, while European traders would tend to use York boats.[citation needed]
Overland transport in the 19th century was often by ox-drawn Red River cart, which could be built and maintained using only locally obtained material.[citation needed]
Winnipeg was incorporation as a city on 8 November 1873, and has since continued to grow and expand, along with its transportation needs and its inventory of structures.[3]
As the City is situated at the confluence of the Red and the Assiniboine rivers, it was necessary for Winnipeg in its early years to construct various bridges, allowing the city to grow and enabling those on opposite sides of the rivers to be united.[3]
First constructing bridges in order to cross the Red and the Assiniboine rivers, the early growth of Winnipeg saw the need for additional structures to be built; either to either go over (overpasses) or go under (underpasses) railroad tracks and/or roadways. As the street network developed and expanded, the City built various other structures (culverts) in order for the creeks within Winnipeg (e.g. Bunn's Creek, Omand's Creek, Sturgeon Creek, etc.) to flow under the newly-constructed streets.[3]
Today, the City of Winnipeg's Public Works Department is responsible for street and sidewalk maintenance and for managing structures within the city.[3]
Arlington Street Bridge
The Department's Bridge Operations Branch is responsible for the "inspection, maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction of all bridges; overpasses; underpasses, major culverts; overhead traffic sign support structures, roadside safety installations, and related structures" in Winnipeg.[5]As of January2020[update], the Branch is responsible for the maintenance of the following structures:[5]
The Public Works Department's "Streets Program" includes the maintenance of paved and unpaved surfaces, and associated ditches and culverts, alley, and railway crossings. This maintenance includes patching, restoration, pavement raising, crack sealing, and curb maintenance; as well as grading, dust control, and gravelling.[6]
One noted feature of Winnipeg's urban road network is Confusion Corner, a complex intersection where four arterial roads and a special Winnipeg Transit bus lane are funnelled into a rhomboid-shaped loop of one-way streets at a junction with Osborne Street.[7] Similarly, many downtown streets in Winnipeg are one-way, often making navigation in the area frustrating. Other than downtown and around Polo Park, however, one-way streets in Winnipeg are rare.
On a separate note, photo traffic enforcement in the city may be used in any school zone within Winnipeg, regardless of whether there is a speed reduction.[8]
As the City is situated at the confluence of the Red and the Assiniboine rivers, it was necessary for Winnipeg in its early years to construct various bridges, allowing the city to grow and enabling those on opposite sides of the rivers to be united.[3]
Today, the Bridge Operations Branch of the Department of Public Works is responsible for the "inspection, maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction of all bridges; overpasses; underpasses, major culverts; overhead traffic sign support structures, roadside safety installations, and related structures" in Winnipeg.[5]
As of January2020[update], the Branch is responsible for the maintenance of the following bridge structures:[5]
For new bridge construction in Winnipeg today, standard cross-sections with "roadside safety features" have been developed—significant, recent examples include the Provencher Bridge, the Norwood Bridge, and the Maryland Twin Bridges. Now, when a structure in Winnipeg is scheduled for major rehabilitation, the standard cross-section is incorporated into the design.[10]
The Disraeli Bridges, part of the Disraeli Freeway on Winnipeg Route 42, stretch over the Red River, going from Main Street to Henderson Highway, and are integral in connecting the City's downtown and northeastern areas. Originally constructed in 1959/60 and named after Benjamin Disraeli,[11] the Bridges were authorized for rehabilitation in 2008, and subsequently became Winnipeg's largest bridge project in history (current as of 2020[update]).[12][13]
Winnipeg is unique among cities its size in that it does not have freeways within the urban area.
Beginning in 1958, the primarily suburban Metropolitan council proposed a system of freeways, including one that would have bisected the downtown area. The plan culminated in the monumental "Winnipeg Area Transportation Study" (WATS)[14] of 1968. The extensive freeway plan faced stiff community opposition and was deemed over-ambitious. It was not implemented as a concerted undertaking, but construction of major traffic corridors follows the study to this day, including expressways such as Route 165/Abinojii Mikanah, although most are in the form of urban arterial roads, and no freeways are likely to be constructed within the urban area anytime soon. However, a one-mile stretch of freeway was built in the late 1950s, called the Disraeli Freeway (part of the Disraeli Bridge project), which is part of Route 42.
Winnipeg is one of the first Canadian cities of its size to have a ring road (the Perimeter Highway) which provides a by-pass for travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway. Within the city, the Trans-Canada Highway follows regular city streets.
Many Manitoba provincial highways enter Winnipeg, but the majority lose their highway designation and become Winnipeg Routes once they reach the Perimeter Highway. At present, only two provincial highways pass entirely through the Winnipeg area:
Highway 75 (a northern continuation of I-29 and US 75), which becomes Route 42 (i.e., Pembina Hwy) in Winnipeg. This road is an exception to the rule that only two provincial highways penetrate the Perimeter Highway, as Highway 75 actually continues until the intersection with Bison Drive / Chancellor Matheson Road (which leads to the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry).
On 14 April 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper with Manitoba Premier Gary Doer announced at James Richardson that both the federal and provincial governments would contribute CA$212.5 million towards a divided four-lane expressway called CentrePort Canada Way. Created as a hub for national and international trading corridors, as well as to attract new transportation logistics development to the city area,[15] CentrePort Canada Way has since been completed and links Inkster Boulevard to the Perimeter Highway. The expressway allows for 5 minutes to 90km/h (56mph).[16]
The current local public transit system in the city is provided by Winnipeg Transit, which now operates entirely with diesel buses. In 2011, public transit was the form of travel for 15% of commuters in Winnipeg. Today, the City of Winnipeg government aims for its residents to ultimately adopt public transit and other methods of sustainable transport as their preferred choice of transportation.[1]
Local public transit services in Winnipeg are primarily provided through Winnipeg Transit's regularly-scheduled bus service.[19] Winnipeg Transit operates a fleet of approximately 585, all of which are low-floor easy-access buses, covering 89 routes throughout the city.[1][20]
Winnipeg Transit bus #469 servicing Route 38 at The Forks Market.
Primary bus routes run from 5:30a.m. until just before 2:00a.m. Monday to Saturday, and until just after midnight on Sunday. As of June 2019, 89 fixed routes plus four DART routes run throughout the city. There are three types of routes:
Main line routes provide service from suburban neighbourhoods to downtown, observing all bus stops, and normally operate seven days a week. Some routes operate as crosstown routes, which means buses operate from one suburban area to another, in most cases passing through the downtown area.
Express routes operate mainly during rush hour from suburban neighbourhoods, observing a limited number of bus stops to downtown.
Suburban feeders generally provide service in suburban areas where ridership demand is lower. Downtown Spirit—provided by Winnipeg Transit in conjunction with Downtown BIZ and The Forks North Portage Partnership—is a free downtown transit service that runs in downtown Winnipeg via Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard and back to The Forks.[20]Winnipeg Transit bus on McPhillips Street at Mountain Avenue.
In 2006, the City government began a multi-year comprehensive transit improvement program that involved:[1]
"An accelerated program of fleet replacements with low-floor accessible buses;"
"The implementation of upgrades to major stops and terminals;"
The new Osborne Station terminal on Winnipeg's Rapid Transit system, opened in April 2012. Commuters can be seen through the glass, and a mural can be seen on the side of the underpass.
The Winnipeg Rapid Transit is a 3-kilometre bus transitway between Harkness and Jubilee Station. A Phase 2 extension between Beaumont & University of Manitoba and St. Norbert Station commenced on 12 April 2020.
For decades, the city has explored the idea of a rapid transit link, either bus or rail, from downtown to the University of Manitoba's suburban campus. The most recent proposal in the 2000s called for several enhanced bus routes, which would extend across the city.[21][22] These routes would use bus-only lanes for most of their length, with separate busways being built around congested sections.
Every year, the Winnipeg government dedicates funds to improve, upgrade, and expand upon the city's pedestrian and cycling networks. Moreover, the Public Works Department of the City of Winnipeg recommends an annual list of projects in the Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan. Before going to the City Council for final approval, the adoption of annual pedestrian and cycling projects requires approval from the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works.[27]
Driving through certain corridors in Winnipeg, one may come across dedicated pedestrian and cyclist traffic signals in addition to typical traffic lights (i.e., through-traffic and left-turning).[28] The city also has a number of multi-use paths, which are paved or unpaved routes shared by both pedestrians and cyclists and are physically separated from motor vehicles.[29]
Ultimately, pedestrians have the right of way over traffic in Winnipeg, just as elsewhere; both drivers and cyclists must yield to them when crossing the road, a bike lane, etc., and cyclists must yield to them on shared paths.[29][28]
Protected bike lanes are located within the road right-of-way, but are physically separated from motor-vehicle lanes by concrete curbs, planters, vehicle parking, etc. Some protected lanes allow for only one-way bicycle traffic, while others accommodate travel in both directions. (The direction of these lanes are irrespective of the direction of regular traffic. For example, a two-way street can have a one-way bike lane.) Similarly, contraflow bike lanes allow cyclists to travel in the opposite direction of motor vehicle traffic, either on one-way streets or on the opposite side of the road. These lanes can be protected or painted, but are always separated with a yellow line to signify the opposing direction of travel.[28]
Some bikeways have dedicated bike signals, providing greater visibility for cyclists. Most of these signals will grant cyclists a few seconds of lead time over vehicle signals in order to allow a head start.[28] In addition to regular bike lanes, the City has also introduced 'floating' travel lanes at transit stops, which allow a protected space for cyclists to bypass buses/passengers while they load and unload.[28]
Cyclists in Winnipeg are also able to take their bikes in Winnipeg Transit buses using free racks installed on the front of select buses (2 bikes per bus), in all seasons but winter.[31]
Campaigns and initiatives
The City of Winnipeg publishes an annual cycling map, typically available in public libraries, bike retailers, hotels, and other tourist hotspots, as well as online. The map is developed in partnership with Bike Winnipeg, Winnipeg Trails Association, Manitoba Cycling Association, Climate Change Connection, Green Action Centre, Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba, and Winnipeg in motion.[30][32]
Bike Winnipeg is a non-profit organization, working as an inclusive group of people and organizations, that helps and advocates for cycling as a year-round mode of transportation in Winnipeg. The organization came as result of a forum organized by a group of cyclists and held at the University of Winnipeg on 20 September 2006. More than 100 cyclists attended the event to discuss the development of cycling in Winnipeg, and Bike Winnipeg was officially incorporated as an NPO in February 2007 (as Bike to the Future). The organization decided to change their name in April 2013.[33]
Bike Week Winnipeg is a weeklong celebration of events aimed at encouraging Winnipeg residents to ride their bikes. It originally began as Bike to Work Day, but has since turned into a weeklong event.[1]
As of January2020[update], the Public Works Department's Bridge Operations Branch is responsible for the maintenance of 54 pedestrian bridges and 5 pedestrian underpasses.[5] Ultimately, pedestrians have the right of way over traffic in Winnipeg, just as elsewhere; both drivers and cyclists must yield to them when crossing the road, a bike lane, etc., and cyclists must yield to them on shared paths.[29][28]
The airport is operational 24 hours per day, handling about 3.5 million passengers annually, and is part of the national airports system of Canada. From 1937 to 1949, the airport was the headquarters and site of the national maintenance base of Air Canada, which has since moved to Montreal-Dorval.
The CPR and the CNR were especially instrumental railroads in the early development of Winnipeg as a city.[3] They now operate large rail yards, customer service operations, and intermodal facilities inside Winnipeg. In particular, Symington Yard is the largest of CNR's rail classification yards in Canada, one of 20 intermodal facilities and one of the largest rail yards in the world.[35][36]
As of February2021[update], CentrePort Canada is in the middle of developing its "Rail Park" on 665 acres (2.69km2) of land, providing colocation services for rail-oriented companies.[15]
Winnipeg is served by several taxi companies, the three largest (in order of size) being Unicity, Duffy's, and Spring Taxi.[37]
Fifty percent of Winnipeg residents can be expected to use a taxi at least once during the year.[38] Both Unicity and Duffy's Taxi are cooperatives (co-ops), wherein the individual drivers of participating co-ops own their own license and supply their own vehicle; Spring Taxi, in contrast, owns a significant portion of its taxi fleet.[39]
Unicity is a cooperative that collectively owns the assets of the Unicity dispatch or taxi call center, and it is the largest taxi operation in Winnipeg.[40] Unicity Taxi was formed by three smaller companies in the mid-1970s—Moore's, Grosvenor and Yellow Taxi.[citation needed] The company has subsequently brought many smaller independent companies into its fleet and now offers 165 cars as well as an ultra-modern dispatching (DDS Pathfinder) and accounting (taxicharger) systems to serve its customers.[citation needed]
Duffy's Taxi is a cooperative taxi firm that operates 154 vehicles,[41] with a large call center that accepts approximately 2,800 calls per day.[42] The organization was formed in the 1950s as an amalgamation of the original and much smaller Duffy's Taxi with Vets Nash Taxi, which was a cooperative of war veterans.[citation needed]
Spring Taxi is the newest and smallest centrally-dispatched taxi company in Winnipeg. Spring Taxi owns 16 of the 32 vehicles that run under the company, with the remaining 16 being owner-operated.[43]
Other taxi services in Winnipeg include Blueline Taxi and Dignity Taxi. Limousine services include Ambassador Limos, Executive Limos, Five Star Limos, Friendly Limos, Hollywood Limos, London Limos, Tony's Team Transport, and Winnipeg Limos.[20]
Splash Dash water services
Splash Dash is a water taxi shuttle service, created in the summer of 1992 after the Forks opened, that runs between various downtown areas.[44] This is still the most western of the terminals for the River Spirit Water Bus Service, as it is officially known.[45]
Initial fares were $2 for a "dock to dock return ticket" or $5 for a day pass. Three pontoon boats were utilized to transport passengers along the rivers. Service hours were from 11am till 8pm with 30 minute headways most of the day except during the lunch hour where headways were 20 minutes. In the early 2000s, Hugo Dock was added.[44]As of 2012[update], the current one-way fare is $3.50, and an unlimited day-pass is $15.00.[45]
Splash Dash has struggled to operate since opening, due to the problem of high water on both the Red and Assiniboine Rivers during most years. After the ice melt in spring, it may take several weeks, sometimes until late June or early July, for the waters of the two rivers to recede enough to allow the installation of the fixed and floating portions of the docks in use. Expansion plans had earlier called for the Splash Dash to run as far west as the Sherbrook-Maryland Bridge by 2007.[45]
Carsharing and carpooling
GoManitoba is a province-wide website that helps to facilitate carpools and promote the use of public transit.[1] The platform allows individuals to choose to commute either with others from their workplace or campus, or with those who are travelling on the same route as them.[46]
The Peg City Car Co-op is a carsharing (cooperative) service that includes 130 vehicles and over 3600 members.[1][2][47][48] It was officially launched by a group of five volunteers on 24 June 2011 with just three vehicles.[2][49] The cooperative claims that every car in its fleet represents 13 to 15 cars taken off the road.[2] In 2023, the co-op announced they will be adding 35 additional vehicles and launch free-floating car sharing in Winnipeg.[50]
Ride-sharing services in the city include My Cab App by Greencity, ReRyde, Uride, WinRyde and Uber.[20][51]
Sustainability
Bike racks with shelter and bike lockers, at Osborne Station on the Winnipeg Rapid Transit system.
The Winnipeg Trails Association is an organization dedicated to the development of sustainability in Winnipeg, primarily through active transportation. Main activities of the WTA related to transportation include: academic research and data collection; infrastructure usage audits; project management and implementation; transportation infrastructure design; and policy development, among others. Founded in 2003 and incorporated as a non-profit in 2017, the WTA says that its biggest priority for the past 5 years has been to "accelerate trail development" into downtown Winnipeg; to incorporate "sustainable transportation in long term planning, including inevitable connections along major commercial corridors;" and to fix the considerable "lack of recreational and transportation options in Winnipeg’s Northwest quadrant."[52]
The city has announced plans to connect Active Transportation missing links, with a bridge across the rail yards between Arlington and Salter, and a bridge across the Red River at Matheson.[9]
Park & Ride
Winnipeg Transit provides a park-and-ride service (Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm), whereby people can park their car at one of the 11 designated locations in the city and then take the transit service to their destination.[53]
Transportation in Boston includes roadway, subway, regional rail, air, and sea options for passenger and freight transit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates the Port of Boston, which includes a container shipping facility in South Boston, and Logan International Airport, in East Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates bus, subway, short-distance rail, and water ferry passenger services throughout the city and region. Amtrak operates passenger rail service to and from major Northeastern cities, and a major bus terminal at South Station is served by varied intercity bus companies. The city is bisected by major highways I-90 and I-93, the intersection of which has undergone a major renovation, nicknamed the Big Dig.
The Transitway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) network operated by OC Transpo in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It comprises a series of bus-only roadways and reserved lanes on city streets and highways. The dedicated busways ensure that buses and emergency vehicles on the Transitway rarely intersect directly with the regular traffic, and make it possible for them to continue at full speed even during rush hour. OC Transpo operates a network of rapid routes which use the Transitway to connect communities with the O-Train light rail system. Additional bus routes also use segments of the Transitway.
Los Angeles has a complex multimodal transportation infrastructure, which serves as a regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic. The system includes the United States' largest port complex; an extensive freight and passenger rail infrastructure, including light rail lines and rapid transit lines; numerous airports and bus lines; vehicle for hire companies; and an extensive freeway and road system. People in Los Angeles rely on cars as the dominant mode of transportation, but since 1990 the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has built over one hundred miles (160 km) of light and heavy rail serving more and more parts of Los Angeles and the greater area of Los Angeles County; Los Angeles was the last major city in the United States to get a permanent rail system installed.
Transportation in Seattle is largely focused on the automobile like many other cities in western North America; however, the city is just old enough for its layout to reflect the age when railways and trolleys predominated. These older modes of transportation were made for a relatively well-defined downtown area and strong neighborhoods at the end of several former streetcar lines, now mostly bus lines.
A bus lane or bus-only lane is a lane restricted to buses, often on certain days and times, and generally used to speed up public transport that would be otherwise held up by traffic congestion. The related term busway describes a roadway completely dedicated for use by buses, whilst bus gate describes a short bus lane often used as a short cut for public transport. Bus lanes are a key component of a high-quality bus rapid transit (BRT) network, improving bus travel speeds and reliability by reducing delay caused by other traffic.
In transport engineering nomenclature, a counterflow lane or contraflow lane is a lane in which traffic flows in the opposite direction of the surrounding lanes.
Provincial Trunk Highway 1 is Manitoba's section of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is a heavily used, 4-lane divided highway, with the exception of a short 18 km section in the southeastern corner of the province. It is the main link between southern Manitoba's largest cities, and also serves as the province's main transportation link to the neighbouring provinces of Saskatchewan and Ontario. The highway is the only major east-west divided highway in Manitoba, and carries a large majority of east-west traffic within and through the province. It has full freeway status sections at Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. The total distance of the Trans-Canada Highway in Manitoba is approximately 490 km (300 mi).
Winnipeg Transit is the public transit agency, and the bus-service provider, of the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Established 141 years ago, it is owned by the city government and currently employs nearly 1,600 people—including approximately 1,100 bus drivers.
Downtown Winnipeg is an area of Winnipeg located near the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. It is the oldest urban area in Winnipeg, and is home to the city's commercial core, city hall, the seat of Manitoba's provincial government, and a number of major attractions and institutions.
Transportation in Vancouver, British Columbia, has many of the features of modern cities worldwide. Unlike many large metropolises, Vancouver has no freeways into or through the downtown area. A proposed freeway through the downtown was rejected in the 1960s by a coalition of citizens, community leaders and planners. This event "signalled the emergence of a new concept of the urban landscape" and has been a consistent element of the city's planning ever since.
Transportation in the Canadian city of Toronto forms the hub of the road, rail and air networks in the Greater Toronto Area and much of southern Ontario. There are many forms of transport in the city, including railways, highways, and public transit. Toronto also has an extensive network of bicycle lanes and multi-use trails and paths.
A large metropolitan area that is surrounded by rivers and hills, Pittsburgh has an infrastructure system that has been built out over the years to include roads, tunnels, bridges, railroads, inclines, bike paths, and stairways; however, the hills and rivers still form many barriers to transportation within the city.
Transport in Hamilton, Ontario consists of a variety of modes.
Route 42 is a major arterial road located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Toronto, Ontario, like many North American cities, has slowly been expanding its purpose-built cycling infrastructure. The number of cyclists in Toronto has been increasing progressively, particularly in the city's downtown core. As cycling conditions improve, a cycling culture has grown and alternatives such as automobiles are seen as less attractive. The politics of providing resources for cyclists, particularly dedicated bike lanes, has been contentious, particularly since the 2010s.
Montreal has a developed transport infrastructure network, which includes well-developed air, road, rail, and maritime links to the rest of Canada, as well as the United States and the rest of the world. Local public transport includes a metro system, buses, ferry services and cycling infrastructure.
Cycling in Canada is experienced in various ways across a geographically huge, economically and socially diverse country. Among the reasons for cycling in Canada are for practical reasons such as commuting to work or school, for sports such as road racing, BMX, mountain bike racing, freestyle BMX, as well as for pure recreation. The amount and quality of bicycle infrastructure varies widely across the country as do the laws pertaining to cyclists such as bicycle helmet laws which can differ by province.
Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by motorists are also cycling infrastructure, except where cyclists are barred such as many freeways/motorways. It includes amenities such as bike racks for parking, shelters, service centers and specialized traffic signs and signals. The more cycling infrastructure, the more people get about by bicycle.
The Vancouver Greenway Network is a collection of greenways across Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Greenways are streets where pedestrians and cyclists are prioritized over motorized vehicles, through structures such as road closures and road diverters to prevent or limit motor vehicle traffic, widened sidewalk-promenades, narrowed road space, speed restrictions, bike lanes, raised sidewalks and speed bumps. The City of Vancouver hopes to create and maintain the trend of constructing new greenways to establish a network where, potentially, every citizen could access a city greenway within a 25-minute walking or a 10-minute cycling distance of their home.
The Graham Avenue Transit Mall is a 9-block transit mall in downtown Winnipeg that is mostly reserved for Winnipeg Transit buses, as well as cyclists and pedestrians.
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