There is a lack of safety in the Winnipeg public transit system due to violence, crime, and drug usage present in the city and in and around the system. This is evidenced by the 223 recorded security concerns in 2023, including threats and assaults on operators and passengers [1], and headlining incidents with passengers, including machete attacks [21] and an attack on a 10-year-old [22]. The concern for safety contributes to a lack of ridership and weak operator retention [1], despite significant investments in the transit system [23]. In terms of sustainability, unsafe public transit weakens access to services from a social standpoint, and low ridership on public transit directly translates to increased carbon emissions of up to 3x per passenger, due to increasing personal vehicle usage [6].
Team 1-C is proposing The Route 1 Program for Winnipeg Transit. Route 1 would be a new bus line added to the existing system that will help connect individuals to health and social services, in a dignified and accessible way. Route 1 will have stops at all the partnering social and health services, as well as in areas of concentrated homelessness and poverty, city hubs, libraries, and shopping centres, displayed in the map below. Route 1 buses will look the same as all the other buses throughout the system to remain familiar, while providing some subtle extra resources. Route 1 will be free, to increase accessibility and incentivise the use of this route to access resources and meet needs. Sheltering, drug-use, and violence arise as individuals struggle to have their basic needs met, and depend on the transit system for survival [1L][2L]. Winnipeg Transit thus has an opportunity to help meet these needs and in turn, improve the safety of the system for all.
Team 1-C acknowledges that despite extensive and thorough research, we are not experts in this field. Thus, there were assumptions made throughout this report, that when corrected, may result in a more complete solution. The Detailed Explanation outlines how we will address these concerns.
Proposed Solution Report Detailed Explanation-1.pdf
[1] T. Hashmani, "‘An endless loop’: For Winnipeg commuters, transit safety is a big concern," Global News, Nov. 23, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/10111792/an-endless-loop-for-winnipeg-commuters-transit-safety-is-a-big-concern/. [Accessed: Jan. 23, 2024].