Converting rail lines into LRT

I was excited to read in the Saturday Sept 06/2014 edition of the Winnipeg Free Press that one on the mayoral candidates is suggesting that the city convert the old rail lines in the city into an LRT. How refreshing!
Several years ago I posted a blog (Maybe it  was a newsletter to the editor ? )  suggesting such a conversion .  Specifically my plans were to use the CNR and CPR railway stations as hubs and convert the various existing rail lines into LRT's. Since then the city in their wisdom have converted  the old Marconi trail in  north east Winnipeg into  a bicycle and walkway corridor (RENN project) with an overhead bridge at Chief Peguis trail (not a cheap item). In my plan this section of the LRT could have provided an excellent connection to the town of Birdshill . In north Winnipeg there is an existing  rail line which could easily be extended to Polar Park.
 I even suggested that at the corner of Portage and Main that  its  underground subway be extended west as far as the Bay under Portage Ave. and north under Main street  as far as the City Hall, the Concert Hall,Pantages , Access Centre or maybe even  to Higgens to join the second HUB  (old CPR railway station ). Alternatively these underground offices and subway malls  could possibly become "modified subways" like in Toronto and Montreal in the future if the population of Winnipeg merits it. It seems  that  Portage Place north has not been a success.
Also as the newspaper article points out the LRT  would "...remove the need for multimillion dollar projects such as the Waverley street underpass and the new Arlington bridge..." or even the development currently underway in Transcona.
I have not even discussed the benefits and convenience of an LRT to the U. of Manitoba campus or for the new football stadium.