The Winnipeg Area Transportation Study, or W.A.T.S. as it is commonly known, is a regional transportation plan created during the administration of the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg.
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In 1962 Metro's Planning Division, headed by George Rich and Boris Hryhorczuk, set out to survey the daily commuting habits of metropolitan Winnipeg citizens.
They officially announced the creation of the WATS group on December 11, 1963.[1]
The recommendations of the W.A.T.S. report was to construct 5 "radial" freeways, 1 suburban beltway, and 1 5.4 mile underground subway line.
The precursor to the planned subway line was the Norman D. Wilson report, Future Development of the Greater Winnipeg Transit System published on March 4, 1959.
In 1980-81 city transportation planners tried unsuccessfully to add the Northern Freeway to the city's five year Capital Budget. The Northern Freeway was to connect Sherbrook St. with McGregor St., creating the Sherbrook-McGregor Overpass. However, Sr. MacNamara of the Rossbrook House opposed this and City Council ultimately voted against it.
Instead, Winnipeg Transit purchased feeder buses built by Orion Bus Industries of Ontario via the Urban Transportation Assistance Program (UTAP). The first of these buses were delivered in July 1981.[2]
Another W.A.T.S. Freeway, the Southern, is currently being constructed as the Sterling Lyon Parkway, and includes the Kenaston Underpass.