The City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba have reached a $138-million funding agreement to build a rapid transit system and dedicated bicycle paths linking south Winnipeg to the downtown Winnipeg area.

Winnipeg will contribute $30.75 million, which includes $17.5 million from the 2008 federal transit trust. The province will match the federal transit trust contribution of $17.5 million and will fund 50 percent of the net operating costs of the rapid transit system through its existing 50-50 transit funding agreement, fulfilling its legislative commitment under the Climate Change Act passed earlier this spring.

The new rapid transit corridor will utilize the innovative tax increment financing tool to capture any incremental growth from residential and commercial infill development along the rapid transit corridor. Tax increment financing is an investment and development tool that reinvests property and school taxes into certain areas to encourage infrastructure development that otherwise would not take place.