Winnipeg mayor commits to more late-night buses

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says expanding late night transit service will be part of the 2026 budget process, but changes could come sooner.

The City of Winnipeg is committed to expanding its late-night transit service.

On Thursday, Mayor Scott Gillingham and Coun. Janice Lukes announced the city will be adding more late-night buses as part of the 2026 budget process.

While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Gillingham said the city is working to determine what kind of budget requirement is needed, adding that he can’t give a specific date as to when the changes will be made.

“If our staff came back and said, ‘We can make some changes within budget this year,’ then that would be what we would pursue,” he said.

This announcement comes after many riders and council members expressed concerns that the new network’s service ends too early to meet the needs of some shift workers and late-night commuters.

Gillingham said many of the main routes currently have late-night service, so the expansion will be focused on residential areas and routes.

“What this release is about is an absolute commitment from Coun. Lukes and myself, and I would say more councillors than just the two of us, to address the late-night bus service issue that some people have raised, specifically in some of the residential areas and some of the residential routes where we need to re-establish service later into the night than is currently there,” he said.

“I’m committed to making sure people have that.”

At the request of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works, Winnipeg Transit is preparing a formal plan for extending service hours that will go before council in November.

CTV News previously reported the city is making changes to the brand new transit system, including relocated bus stops, additional articulated buses and adjusted schedules.

The new network launched in June, with the goal of improving efficiency and reliability.