Transportation Terms#

Active Transportation#

Any human-powered mode of travel — walking, cycling, skateboarding, using a wheelchair, or any other non-motorized means.

Why it matters: Winnipeg’s Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies, adopted in July 2015, provide the long-term vision for walking and cycling in the city. Over 3,000 residents and stakeholders participated in developing those strategies. The city’s annual Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan identifies specific infrastructure projects each year.

See also: Complete Streets

Learn more: City of Winnipeg — Walking & Biking | Bike Winnipeg

BLUE Line (Southwest Transitway)#

Winnipeg’s only rapid transit line — a dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor running from downtown to the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus, with an extension launched in June 2025.

Why it matters: Phase 1 opened in April 2012; Phase 2 extended the transitway to the University of Manitoba in April 2020. Buses operate on a physically separated roadway at speeds up to 80 km/h, free of traffic. In June 2025, Winnipeg launched a new city-wide primary route network alongside an extension of the BLUE line.

See also: Winnipeg Transit Master Plan

Learn more: Southwest Transitway | Winnipeg Rapid Transit

Complete Streets#

A transportation design policy requiring streets to be planned, designed, and operated to enable safe access for all users — pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists of all ages and abilities.

Why it matters: Winnipeg’s Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies embody complete streets principles, requiring that new road projects and renewals consider the needs of all users. Moving from car-centric design to complete streets is a core goal of Complete Communities 2.0.

See also: Active Transportation

Learn more: Smart Growth America — Complete Streets | City of Winnipeg — Walking & Biking

Frequent Transit Network#

A set of routes that operate at 15-minute or better frequencies throughout most of the day, seven days a week — frequent enough that riders don’t need to consult a schedule.

Why it matters: Winnipeg’s Transit Master Plan (adopted 2021) reorganized the city’s bus network around a frequent transit network of “primary routes,” launched in June 2025. Frequent transit is also the basis for height bonuses in the 2025 infill housing zoning: fourplexes up to 39 feet are permitted within 800 metres of a frequent transit route.

Learn more: Winnipeg Transit Master Plan | How Rapid Transit Works

Last Mile#

The gap between a transit stop and a rider’s final destination — often the most challenging part of a transit trip to serve efficiently.

Why it matters: Winnipeg’s low-density suburbs create significant last-mile challenges. Transit-oriented development (encouraged by Complete Communities 2.0) reduces last-mile gaps by putting more destinations within walking distance of transit stops.

Learn more: Winnipeg Transit Master Plan

The percentage of trips taken by each transportation mode — car, transit, walking, cycling, etc.

Why it matters: Like most Canadian Prairie cities, Winnipeg has a high car mode share. Approximately 21% of Winnipeggers report cycling daily or a few times a week for transportation — higher than many expect — but the majority of commute trips are still by car. Complete Communities 2.0 aims to shift mode share by concentrating development near transit.

Learn more: Bike Winnipeg | City of Winnipeg — Walking & Biking

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)#

A type of land use development that concentrates higher-density, mixed-use buildings within walking distance of a rapid transit station or frequent bus stop.

Why it matters: Complete Communities 2.0 explicitly directs the highest residential and employment densities to areas served by rapid transit — particularly around the BLUE line stations and future rapid transit corridors. The 2024 corridor and mall zoning amendments permit as-of-right residential development along commercial corridors and near transit nodes.

Learn more: Complete Communities 2.0

Walk Score#

A national ranking system that measures the walkability of any address or neighbourhood on a 0–100 scale based on proximity to amenities.

Why it matters: Winnipeg’s city-wide average Walk Score is 48 — significantly below the national average for Canadian cities. However, inner-city neighbourhoods like Osborne Village, the Exchange District, and Corydon Avenue score much higher. Improving walkability through mixed-use infill is a core goal of OurWinnipeg 2045.

Learn more: Walk Score — Winnipeg

Winnipeg Transit Master Plan#

The long-range strategic plan for public transit in Winnipeg, adopted by Council on April 29, 2021. It calls for a completely redesigned transit network built around a primary route network (launched June 2025) and three rapid transit lines to be completed by 2045 at a cost of $588 million to $1.1 billion.

Why it matters: The Transit Master Plan is the roadmap for transforming Winnipeg Transit from a hub-and-spoke system into a grid-based frequent network. The plan also identifies Union Station as the city’s flagship mobility hub and proposes an elevated downtown transitway.

Learn more: Winnipeg Transit Master Plan | CBC — Rapid Transit Network

Last updated: March 2026