Winnipeg, June 23, 2010 - In September 2009, Winnipeg Transit completed installation of new “iBUS” technology on its bus fleet. iBUS uses GPS-based automatic vehicle location and communication systems to monitor the location of each bus in relation to its schedule and to automatically report schedule deviations to live databases at Transit’s Control Centre.

A variety of passenger information systems are now available that use this “live” data to provide “real time” transit information to Winnipeggers to make it easier and more convenient to travel around the city by public transit:

TeleBUS, the automated telephone schedule system, now provides “real time” bus departure times, and lets passengers use their voice or the telephone keypad to respond to prompts (implemented Fall 2009).

BUStxt allows passengers to use the text-messaging feature of their cell phones to find their nearest bus stop locations, bus departure times, and more (implemented February 2010)

BUSwatch, electronic signs installed at major stops, provide upcoming bus departures in “real time” from those stops (64 of 100 stops already installed).

And now, effective June 23, 2010, additional new passenger information services are available for Winnipeggers to use:

BUSguide, a new mobile website for any Internet-enabled mobile device, such as an iPhone or Blackberry, can now be used to access detailed transit information. BUSguide provides access to the popular Navigo trip planner and allows passengers to find nearby stops, “real time” bus departures, route maps, and fare information. BUSguide can be accessed at beta.m.winnipegtransit.com.

BUSgadget, a small application that can be downloaded to a computer from www.winnipegtransit.com, is a tool that can be customized to display and countdown upcoming real time bus departures for a passenger’s favourite stops. Handy for home, office, or school!

Brand New Winnipeg Transit Website at www.winnipegtransit.com
A new “beta” website is now available for transit users to use and to tell Winnipeg Transit how they like it. While the current version will still be available for a few months, Winnipeggers are encouraged to use the new version to take advantage of the new features:

• Improved Navigo trip planner . . . easier data entry and clearer display of travel plans. Users can now save their common trips in “My Trips” which can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.
• Users can now use the Create Timetable function to create their own personalized timetables for the trips they frequently make. These can be saved in “My Timetables” for access from any computer with an internet connection.
• New Stops and Routes tools are now available to find the stops and routes nearest any address, intersection, or landmark specified by a user. These can be saved in “My Stops” and “My Routes” for access from any computer with an internet connection.
• All of these features are shown in text and on easy-to-read maps that can be zoomed and panned. And, of course, all information is in “real time”!

Comments received during the “beta” period will be used to finalize the permanent version of the website later this year.

Developed internally by Winnipeg Transit staff, the new suite of information tools, www.winnipegtransit.com, TeleBUS, BUStxt, BUSwatch, BUSguide, and BUSgadget, provide Winnipeggers many ways to get “real time” transit information anywhere anytime!

WINNIPEG - June 23, 2010 - Committed to exploring all opportunities to reduce the nuisance mosquito population in the City of Winnipeg, Mayor Sam Katz today presented a motion at a Special Meeting of Executive Policy to ask the administration to review the City’s current adult mosquito control policy.

“Winnipeggers look forward to enjoying our wonderful summers and we need to do our part to ensure everyone can enjoy them,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “With the severe rainfalls combined with the heat we’ve experienced, we’ve seen a steady rise in mosquito populations that are directly affecting the quality of life and potentially the health of our citizens.”

The Mayor’s motion asks for a review of the adulticiding factor analysis guidelines, the criteria for conducting barrier treatments, the impact of Anti-Pesticide Registrant buffer zones, and to explore alternative methods of conducting larviciding and adulticiding operations, and asks the City to consult with the Province of Manitoba to ensure that the provincially-issued Pesticide Use Permit reflects best practises.

“We need to take a comprehensive review of our policy to ensure we are taking a balanced yet effective and progressive approach to mosquito control,” added Katz.

City Council passed the motion today by a vote of 13-1.