A Winnipeg trolley bus from the 1960s. (Winnipeg Transit)

The notion of filling Winnipeg roads with electric streetcars instead of diesel-fuelled transit buses may hit a dead end following an unflattering report by city administration.

Winnipeg City Council sought an analysis of the trolley-style of public transportation earlier in the year, seeking alternatives to its costly fleet of diesel buses.

But the report, which did not make a specific recommendation, noted that the benefits of an electric-powered system were relatively small when all costs were considered.

"Replacing diesel buses with trolleys would result in a small overall reduction in GHGs [greenhouse gases] produced by Winnipeg Transit operations," the report said. "The impact of this reduction would be negligible in comparison to total GHGs produced by all urban transportation in Winnipeg."

The report said there were other problems with the idea, including increased operating costs and limits on where the trolleys could travel.

The report estimated that streetcars would cost the city as much as $12 more per kilometre to operate than diesel buses.

The topic is on the agenda for discussion at a meeting of the city's infrastructure renewal and public works committee on Tuesday.

Winnipeg operated some trolleys beginning in 1938 and ending in 1970.