‘Major route changes’ to Winnipeg Transit could be rolled out by June

CTV’s Jeff Keele has details on changes being rolled out at Winnipeg Transit promising boosted downtown service.

Winnipeg Transit’s spring schedule will beef up and extend service on its busiest routes, while the city considers rolling out “major” changes to amp up downtown access and reliability this summer.

According to a city news release, Winnipeg Transit’s spring schedule launches April 12.

It adds extended service after midnight on 10 routes and more buses on the busiest routes, the city said.

More trips are being added on the F5 line, which serves Notre Dame Avenue and McPhillips Street; the F8 line, which serves Pembina Highway and Henderson Highway; Route 74 on the section between CF Polo Park and Old Commonwealth Path; Route 557, which serves South Osborne, Southdale, Island Lakes, and Sage Creek; Route 676, from St. Vital Centre to Bridgwater Centre; and from St. Vital Centre to Creek Bend Road.

Service is being extended after midnight on D10, D14, D16, D17, 28, 38, 43, 70, 74, and 680, while service will be “adjusted” on FX3 east of Kildonan Place mall and FX4 north of McLeod to reflect lower ridership at some times of day.

“Refined schedules” will also be added across the network, the news release said.

Standing policy committee chair Janice Lukes said the spring schedule is in addition to other changes that were already implemented to extend evening on-request service and to add trips to crowded routes.

“We know the new network is an adjustment and it’s important that Winnipeggers know we are adjusting behind the scenes to make Transit work for them,” she said in a news release.

‘Major route changes’ could be implemented in June: report

Additionally, the city’s standing policy committee is set to consider a report recommending the first major route changes since the overhauled network launched last summer, aimed at improving service access and reliability in downtown Winnipeg.

“These proposed route changes respond directly to ideas brought forward by passengers and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ—improving connections to jobs, events, and services while making our bus network more reliable,” Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release on Wednesday.

Among the proposed changes – changing the routing of D19 to bring buses closer to the Winnipeg Clinic and simplifying the D16 line to address issues with late buses. The latter revised line would go from CF Polo Park to downtown via Academy Road, River Avenue, Tache Avenue and Main Street and add 18 new routes from RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame campus to downtown.

The standing policy committee will consider the changes at a March 4 meeting.

If approved, the changes would go into effect with the summer schedule in June, the city said.

84 per cent of downtown riders unhappy with new transit system

The proposed changes were released the same day the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ unveiled the findings of its public transit survey, which revealed “strong dissatisfaction” among downtown transit users.

Among the key takeaways—84 percent of downtown riders reported being unhappy with the new system, with 67 per cent of those respondents saying they are very unhappy.

Additionally, the survey found commute times downtown increased an average of 22 minutes, rising from 29 to 51 minutes.

One-third of respondents indicated they often find other ways to get around downtown, like driving or taking an Uber.

Downtown riders who tended to be the most frustrated with the new Winnipeg Transit system include many groups who face barriers, the BIZ said, including low-income people, seniors and those with disabilities.

The findings were shared in advance with the city, the organization noted.

“We’ll continue these important conversations and urge the City to act quickly to strengthen transit services that support downtown as an economic hub and destination,” Downtown Winnipeg BIZ CEO Kate Fenske said in a news release.

“It’s important that policy decisions consider downtown impacts upfront, to avoid negative and unintended consequences for businesses, residents and visitors.”

The survey was conducted through Probe Research over six weeks starting in December 2025. Nearly 1,400 people shared their experiences and recommendations, the BIZ said.

The self-selecting survey is not representative of a random selection of Winnipeg adults, the report explains, so no margin of error can be ascribed.

The full findings can be found on the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s website.