A man boards a bus at a bus stop along Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Sudoma)
The City of Winnipeg is rolling out a pilot project to make bus shelters more durable and weather-resistant.
The city is testing polycarbonate panels at 30 high-use locations before winter, which will be 250 times more impact-resistant than safety glass.
Officials say the material is already used in several Canadian cities, and the panels will help reduce ongoing repair costs and improve safety for riders.
“Shelters are an important part of our transit network and a lifeline for riders, especially in winter,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, in a release.
“We’re investing in stronger, longer-lasting materials so shelters stay safe, clean, and usable — and so our staff can focus on maintaining more shelters rather than repeatedly repairing the same ones.”
According to the city, it has spent more than $1 million replacing broken shelter glass since 2020. Polycarbonate costs about 15 percent more than safety glass but is expected to last much longer.
Transit crews have recently inspected more than 100 shelters, repaired glass at 70 sites, and refitted three with the new panels. The city will evaluate how well the material performs through the winter before deciding whether to expand the program in 2026.
