The University of Winnipeg is deeply committed to providing accessible public transit options to our students, faculty, staff and our neighbours. Our goal has always been and continues to be finding a balanced solution that meets the needs of our entire campus and community. As you know, we recently added the Balmoral Transit Hub which is now downtown’s Rapid Transit Terminal, located at the AnX, at the eastern end of our campus.
In late summer, construction of the new UNITED Health and RecPlex necessitated relocation of the Spence Street bus loop. Those buses have been rerouted temporarily along Portage, Memorial and St. Mary. The preferred option was a permanent relocation of this loop to incorporate and provide transit service to our western campus. Approximately 2,000 people use the Richardson Complex for the Environment and Science Complex, McFeetors Hall and the UWSA Daycare during the day. As well, Spence neighbourhood has very high public transit use at 33%, more than double the average elsewhere in the city, with low vehicle use at just 7.9%.
Concerns by some parents at the UWSA Daycare have been raised in the last several weeks about the potential Furby Street bus loop. Since these concerns first came to our attention we have worked closely with UWSA, Winnipeg Transit, daycare management and parents. We have also connected with community organizations and will continue to do so.
The University and the UWSA recognize we could have done a better job consulting and communicating these plans initially. There was a process in place for sharing information but in this instance communication between the Daycare and the UWSA and consequently the University was insufficient. Both the University and UWSA have publicly recognized and apologized for that gap.
We are now exploring alternatives for the bus loop that would take the buses off Furby.
We have asked Winnipeg Transit to continue a temporary bus route to allow for more time to speak with our internal and community stakeholders as well as traffic professionals.
Our goal continues to be to provide safe and accessible bus service for students and the community. We are asking all stakeholders to allow for time to look at alternatives that balance costs, convenience, safety and accessibility. We also commit to providing more timely and inclusive information going forward.
We are listening to our internal and external communities and we are responding so that together we can find a suitable solution.
Thank you for your commitment to this process.
