MLPD is a cross-disability systemic advocacy organization with interests in making society's systems accessible to persons with all types of disabilities. Terms of reference for the Transportation Committee includes all parts of the transportation systems in Manitoba. These transportation parts are the sidewalks, streets, and transit facilities including rapid transit, regular transit, Handi-Transit and private taxi services. Handi-Transit has been a major focus this year.

This year, the Transportation Committee started meeting again in March according to MLPD's new organizational plan and membership's priority. During the first meeting, Handi-Transit driver service and vehicle safety, trip cancellations and no show problems became the issues of focus for the Transportation Committee to deal with in the short term.

Ross Eadie (current representative), Laurie Helgason (current representative) and Joe Hearn have represented MLPD on the Handi-Transit Policy Advisory Committee (HT-PAC) at various times last year. Meetings of the HT-PAC have focused on a survey of the Handi-Transit system and drafting a new trip cancellation and pick up window (ready window) policies.

Various MLPD Council members have attended and provided input at transportation related events and meetings. These include: A transit coalition meeting covering topics similar to the Transportation Committee meeting and potential human rights complaints related to issues such as allowing people with cognitive disabilities on Handi-Transit; the City of Winnipeg's budget meetings to express concerns about various items including the cut to sidewalk snow clearing budget; the rapid transit open house where the design was discussed for the first stage being built in the next couple of years; Winnipeg Forum on Making Road Transportation Safer for Manitobans with Disabilities put on by the Government of Manitoba; and various street intersection design meetings where the design of Chief Peguis Trail intersections and new sidewalk and curb ramp warning surfaces designs were reviewed by persons with disabilities and seniors.

At the forum on the possibility of a Manitobans with disabilities act, there was a break out session on transportation. Ideas generated at this session are being considered by the Transportation Committee. This year will end with a transportation system advocacy planning workshop for members and friends who attend the annual general meeting. Continued work will occur on the HT-PAC effort to develop a new cancellation policy with alternative methods of dealing with the issue being provided by MLPD's representatives.