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Youth get free ride … for a while
Transit pilot project reduced to 7 months, capped at 30,000 passes
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/26/free-ride-pilot-pr...
WINNIPEG Transit has proposed to let youth ride buses for free for only seven months, stating the $10 million the provincial government provided for a year of that service won’t cover the entire cost.
In a new report, Transit says the program, which is meant to offer no-cost rides to youth aged 11 to 17 and high school students aged 18 to 21, would cost at least $16.5 million to implement for 12 months.
The program stems from the pledge in the province’s 2026-27 budget to invest “in free transit for kids and youth.”
Instead of exceeding the amount of government funding, Transit proposes to offer the free rides from September to March 2027, pending city council approval.
“If it was the full program, like they wanted to do, it would be a lot more money that we would be short … We’re going to be monitoring this very closely, month by month, with (the province),” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee.
High uptake for the program could also lead the city to ask for more money, said Lukes (Waverley West).
While Transit estimates there are 65,000 youth in the eligible age group, including about 60,000 who attend school, it plans to initially cap the program at just 30,000 passes, assuming a 50 per cent uptake.
“The initial distribution of the passes will be capped at 30,000 until the impact to the Transit system and overall demand for the program are better understood. Additional pass distribution will be considered to the extent that the Transit service is able to accommodate it and funding is made available to cover the additional costs,” the report states.
Lukes said the city could print more passes later on, if there is enough demand and the province provides more money.
The report says schools would distribute the passes.
One school division superintendent said he’s “very confident” the province will ensure all students are able to get the free passes and he does not expect his division would need to determine criteria to cap the number of passes given out.
“It’s our understanding that any child who needs a bus pass will get one and so that’s how we’ll distribute them,” said Matt Henderson, superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division.
If schools were forced to provide passes to only some students, that would undermine the intent of the free program, he said.
“We’re not expecting that at all. That (would) actually create more barriers and what this is intended to do is to remove all barriers around transportation to access public education,” said Henderson.
The city’s cost estimate for the program includes $12.6 million in lost fare revenue and extra operating costs, such as adding 14.2 more full-time equivalent staff positions by 2027 to meet extra demand.
Transit says the program is difficult to budget for because of the lack of information on how many youth will use it.
“If more passes are distributed, more funding may be required to add more service,” the staff report states.
Lukes said she shares the provincial goal to encourage more kids to ride transit but fears high demand could make the program cost even more, with little time to plan for it.
“I think it’s great the province is doing this. I just do really think there should have been a lot more due diligence on this … or just giving us time to turn this around so we can deliver a stellar service. But we’re diving in. We’re going to do it … It’ll be a bumpy ride,” she said.
Transit says service will be added during peak weekday periods, doubling feeder route trips that serve most high schools.
Transit also warns the program could lead to potential service issues.
“There is risk related to Transit’s ability to meet service requirements; if demand exceeds the proposed service, then there could be pass-ups and crowding … Full uptake could overwhelm the system and exceed Transit’s ability to meet peak service requirements,” the report states.
Lukes said that potential risk is significant, noting the program will begin in September, when Transit demand traditionally ramps up.
“There’s a lot of pass-ups and there’s a lot of things happening (in September) … So, this is just going to add to (it),” she said.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said the province has noted it is open to considering more funding to run the program.
“They do indicate … that they’ll work with the city to assess it and examine the funds required through future years,” said Gillingham.
In a written statement, Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Glen Simard said the free bus service aims to make life more affordable and the province will “continue to work with the city” on it.
Coun. Jeff Browaty, city council’s finance chairman, said he’s not sure the initial round of 30,000 passes will be enough, since youth who don’t regularly commute by bus may seek the option once it’s free.
“There will be growing pains … (By) the end of September, we’ll have a better idea of how much induced demand the free passes produce,” said Browaty (North Kildonan).
Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) supports the concept of free transit for youth but is concerned a sudden spike in demand for the passes could stretch Transit’s capacity.
“It’d be a really great program to get young people taking transit. The concern is, are we on the hook if things aren’t working out because we have a huge intake?” said Gilroy.
Students will be required to display the valid fare pass and their school photo ID to board the buses.
— with files from Scott Billeck
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