WINNIPEG - JANUARY 12, 2005 - In order to obtain public input regarding the challenges and benefits of our existing transit system and the issues that need to be addressed with regard to any future Rapid Transit System, the Rapid Transit Task Force is pleased to announce the dates of 10 public workshops to be held across the City of Winnipeg.

Starting on January 20th, 2005, and running through to February 8th, 2005, the citizens of Winnipeg are invited to attend a two-hour workshop at one of the locations convenient to them.

“The Rapid Transit Task Force mandate includes the need for direct citizen input to develop a new and modern rapid transit system for the future of our city”, stated Councillor Russ Wyatt, Chairperson for the Rapid Transit Task Force.

The ten public workshops will assist the task force by collecting information on what are the positive aspects of our existing transit system, what are the problematic areas, and what issues need to be addressed in a future Rapid Transit system.

“Instead of first defining a solution before defining the problems, we need to build a modern transit system that is customer service orientated by first defining the problems and challenges and then tailoring a ‘Made in Winnipeg’ Rapid Transit Solution, and to do this we need the public’s help”, stated Wyatt.

All the Public Workshop Meetings are from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and are the following:

Dates, times and locations for the Public Workshops can also be found on the Rapid Transit Task Force Web site at www.rapidtransitwinnipeg.ca, or by contacting the Rapid Transit Task Force at info@rapidtransitwinnipeg.ca and/or Phone: 956-7140.

Media Contact for more Information, please call Councillor Russ Wyatt at 311