The Region of Waterloo is still working on plans for Phase 2 of the LRT into Cambridge, but it’ll be quite a while before construction actually starts.
During Tuesday’s sustainability, infrastructure and development committee meeting, staff told regional councillors they’re busy putting together the initial business case for the project.
Doug Spooner, acting commissioner of transportation services for the region, mentioned there are three key dates his team needs to pin down.
“Procurement, which I’ve told you [will take] two and a half years, there is breaking ground, the first time we put a shovel in the ground, and there is the first ride on the new system,” Spooner said.
“At this time, I wouldn’t give you an estimate on when we break ground and when we take the first ride. I think that’d be inappropriate at the phase that I’m sitting in where I don’t have a confirmed project, I do not have confirmed funding and I don’t have a full business case that lays out that cost fully for ourselves or for our potential funders.”
Councillors also learned there will be public consultation meetings and pop-up events coming up soon to hear what people think about the initial business case. This input is needed before asking higher levels of government for funding.
The LRT project was first greenlit back in June 2011 with two phases planned. Route and station reviews started in 2015 and since then there have been five rounds of public consultations.
In June 2019, regional council approved a final preferred route along with station spots. Then in 2022 and 2023 updates were made to cost estimates. Council also asked staff to look into bus rapid transit options as part of this early business case.
Right now, there are five choices being considered in the business case:
Full LRT service running all the way into downtown Cambridge (Galt). Partial LRT from Fairway Station to Pinebush Station plus an express bus downtown. Partial LRT from Fairway Station to Delta Station with express bus after that. Partial LRT starting at Preston Station going downtown Cambridge. BRT (bus rapid transit) using dedicated lanes between Fairway Station and downtown Cambridge.
WATCH | Cambridge councillor cites ‘misinformation’ as a reason for LRT opposition:
Cambridge councillor cites ‘misinformation’ as a reason for LRT opposition
As Waterloo Region wraps up its business case for phase two of extending LRT into Cambridge, locals are sharing mixed feelings about whether it’s worth it or not. Cambridge Coun. Ross Earnshaw says most feedback he’s gotten is positive but some folks worry about keeping Cambridge’s historic downtown intact.
‘It felt like freedom’ to take LRT, rider says
Councillors heard from community members who really want this train project to move forward – including Barry Green from Cambridge who lives with a disability and depends on transit just to get around.
“If I took transit to be here for this meeting today, I would have had to leave my house at 6:45 this morning. It would have taken three different bus routes,” he explained.
He added it’s quick by car to his job at Costco but takes him an hour by bus-and if buses run late he ends up stuck outside in bad weather.
“It’s unpredictable, it’s stressful, it puts barriers to make it harder for me to live independently,” he said. “I need a train that’s reliable, that’s frequent and more accessible.”
Twelve-year-old Holden Sisak spoke too along with his dad Devin Sisak. Holden uses a wheelchair plus a device that speaks what he types; he splits time between his mom’s place in Kitchener and dad’s home in Cambridge. Last week while staying in Kitchener he hopped on the LRT “to go on an adventure.”
“No waiting for someone to help me, no calling ahead, no hoping the ramp would work or that there will be room for my wheelchair,” Holden said. “I just rolled onto the platform, waited a minute, and then zoom, I was off. It felt like freedom, like real grown up freedom. The LRT was built in a way that already works for me.”</پ
Devin Sisak also founded Barrier-free Cambridge advocacy group and added: “The LRT doesn’t just remove barriers; it doesn’t build them in the first place.”
Could things happen faster?</h2
The business case itself might take another two-and-a-half years which frustrated some councillors like Pam Wolf from Cambridge Regional Council.
“I really don’t understand why we would have to… after we all say yes-everybody says yes again-we then wait two years just crossing all our Ts before asking for money,” she said bluntly.
Doug Craig (also former mayor) joked: “My concern is that I’m running out of time to see this happen.”
Kitchener Mayor Barry Vrbanovic wondered if anything could speed things up but Spooner said they need patience right now.
“At this stage I’d say no,” Spooner replied. “We need respect our desire get input from residents plus local businesses & developers.” He hopes by November council will get recommendations based on public feedback.
Spooner also wants next steps ready by November so council can decide if taking some financial risk early makes sense-to push things forward quicker than usual.
“We’ll put together something trying hard accelerate this as much as possible,” he promised.
How you can learn more</h2
You can find a survey about all this over at Engage Waterloo Region website right now – open until Oct 24th so don’t miss your chance!
A few public info sessions are set too: Tues., Aug. 19 virtual session from 7 p. m.-8:30 p. m. Wed., Sept. 10 at Queen’s Square Library from 4:30 p. m.-7 p. m. Tues., Sept. 23 at Old Post Office from 4:30 p. m.-7 p. m.
Pop-up sessions will happen too: Thurs., Aug.14 – Pinebush Station – 2 p. m.-4 p. m. Sun., Aug.17 – Kids Park event @ Victoria Park Kitchener -11a. m.-5 p. m. Mon., Aug.18 – Fairway Station – 2 p. m.-4 p. m. Thurs., Aug.21 – Waterloo Public Square – 2 p. m.-4 p. m. Tues., Aug.26 – Sportsworld Station – 2 p. m.-4 p. m. Wed., Aug.27 – Cambridge Centre Station -2 pm-4 pm Wed., Sept.3 – Waterloo Fest Uptown Waterloo -4 pm-7 pm Tues., Sept.9 – Cambridge Centre Station -2 pm-4 pm Mon., Sept.15 – Ainslie Terminal -12 pm-4 pm Wed., Sept.18 – Queen’s Square Library -10 am-12 pm Sat., Sept.20 – Kitchener Farmers’ Market -8 am-2 pm Fri., Sept.26 – Hespeler Village Farmers’ Market -3pm-7pm Sat., Oct.4 –Cambridge Centre Station –12pm-4pm
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