Winnipeg is a city of 650,000 inhabitants at the geographical centre of North America. Of the 65,000 persons working in the Central Business District, 40% travel by public transport. Graham Avenue is a nine-block roadway in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, parallel to the city's major artery, Portage Avenue. In addition to large and small retail operations, restaurants and services, Graham Avenue is also the site of two shopping malls, a nineteenth century heritage designated church, the Canada Post headquarters for the region, the main public library, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's offices, studios, and student residence. Following completion of a Functional Design, Land Use and Retail Impact Study in 1990-91, the street was converted to a transit mall in 1994-95. A steering group of public and private interests was established to evaluate design options, to consult with affected stakeholders, to build public and political support, to devise measures to ameliorate impacts on property owners during construction, and to provide for ongoing physical maintenance after construction. About 1,700 buses operate on the Graham Mall each weekday. Since completion of the project, passengers have benefited from dramatic improvements in schedule reliability, faster bus running times (3 to 4 minute savings in each direction), and much improved waiting areas at bus stops. The higher speeds have permitted Winnipeg Transit to realise operational economies without reducing service levels to the public.
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