Winnipeg mayoral candidate Kevin Klein pledges to restore 150 bus stops
Kevin Klein says the transit network overhaul has left some passengers stranded with fewer stops and shorter hours.
WINNIPEG · Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein has promised to bring back at least 150 bus stops removed in Winnipeg Transit's recent network overhaul. He also pledged to extend late-night service hours and guarantee front-door dropoffs at all acute-care hospitals. Klein made the announcement on Wednesday, criticizing the transit changes implemented 16 months ago. He said the overhaul has left some passengers stranded with fewer stops and shorter operating hours.
"We need an effective, efficient... transit system that is safe, in order to grow, in order to expand," said Klein. He was a city councillor when council approved the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan in 2021 and voted against it. Klein said he was worried the changes were happening too fast and without enough consultation. "I was worried there was not enough consultation and a lack of stops that would create pain and issues for those that ride transit," he said.
The new primary network reduced bus stops from about 5,100 to approximately 3,800 and cut routes from 87 to 71. It also reduced late-night service in many areas. Winnipeg Transit spokeswoman Patricia Bal said the service has since added late-night hours to 10 on-request routes and 11 fixed ones. She noted there are currently 3,895 bus stops. Klein said he has spoken to workers who cannot get a bus after their shifts end. "I've talked to some staff at the outlet mall and other places who are not capable of getting a bus when their shift ends," he said. Complaints from just three weeks ago show some riders remain stranded, according to Klein.
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If elected, Klein said he would direct Winnipeg Transit to review every stop removed in 2025 within his first 120 days in office. The review would assess stops near hospitals, clinics, seniors homes and schools. Neighbourhoods that lost the most service would get priority. The 150 stops deemed highest need would resume service by fall 2027. Klein also promised to extend service hours on routes connecting hospitals and areas that lost late-night buses. This would ensure a bus stop near the main entrance of every acute-care hospital from before the morning shift change until after the late-evening one, seven days a week. "A nurse facing a late shift should be able to count on a bus to get home," he said.
He vowed to make meetings of the private Transit advisory committee public and require it to include riders. The committee recommends strategies to improve transit safety. "We need to hear from people that are having problems with the service so that we can fix it," said Klein. He estimated the promises would cost between $5 million and $7.7 million yearly once fully implemented, a figure covering 150 restored stops.
Don Woodstock pledges permit system reform
Another mayoral candidate, Don Woodstock, said he would reform Winnipeg's building permit system to make it easier and faster. He proposed rewriting building bylaws in plain language and creating standard checklists and digital templates for common DIY projects. Woodstock said a risk-based review system would prioritize safety and a simpler process would encourage more people to get permits. "Now, you're encouraging people to do the right thing," he said. His targets include issuing simple permits within five days and approving occupancy permits within two days. Inspectors would be required to call, text and email upon arrival at a site and leave a dated notice. If an inspector misses these steps or a scheduled appointment without two hours' notice, the property owner would get a $150 credit.
With files from Winnipeg Free Press