From today’s The Record, news that Cambridge is reviewing the Rapid Transit plan that was released last week.
Jeff Outhit, RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
Cambridge will hire a consultant to review a $790-million rapid transit system that could open by 2014.
Mayor Doug Craig, a critic, wants to know if ridership projections are realistic. “I think there’s some wishful thinking,” he said.
The review will consider financial implications if ridership falls short, and will look at how the proposal would affect Cambridge. It will cost taxpayers up to $25,000.
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“It’s not for me to tell the city of Cambridge how to spend their money,” Regional Chair Ken Seiling said. “But I think these numbers will stand up.”
Regional planners have proposed electric trains in Kitchener and Waterloo for $710 million, and fast buses in Cambridge for $80 million. It’s a reurbanization scheme meant to draw homes and jobs to neighbourhoods around transit stations.
Trains are ruled out in Cambridge because they would cost $639 million but Cambridge lacks passengers and reurbanization potential, according to the proposal.
“They’ve sent a very, very negative message to Cambridge that this is a second-class community,” Craig said.
Craig figures it’s better to launch rapid buses across all three cities. “I think it’s more evolutionary,” he said.
Seiling says rapid transit always launches in phases and Cambridge is getting more than originally planned. “This should be a good news story for Cambridge,” he said.
Cambridge plans to complete its review before regional council votes on rapid transit June 24.
The public got its first close look at the rapid transit proposal yesterday in Kitchener, in the first of three planned consultation centres.
“I think it’s something that’s needed,” Wynne Dawson said, after looking over routes. “We need to get people out of their cars.”
She worries about how trains will mix with cars and pedestrians at intersections, and wonders if seniors will find it a challenge to use stations.
“I’m in favour of it,” said Darren Mahon, a Grand River Transit driver. He figures rapid transit will help prepare for growth, will be cheaper to build now than later, and will create jobs.
But Chris Delong, who never uses public transit, is uncertain. “What if it’s a big white elephant?” he said.
He worries the region might not grow as projected, or rapid transit might not attract enough passengers. “A little caution right now may be wise,” Delong said.
Rapid transit needs federal and provincial funding to proceed. Both governments have expressed interest.
I was just at a Political Affairs Committee meeting at the Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Board, and Rapid Transit was one of our hot button topics. I’ll be discussing it more here in the days to come.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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The LRT system will be a termendous assest to Kitchener- Waterloo, and ultimately it will expand to Cambridge too. We are probably in the last generation where the average person will be able to afford to drive everywhere. Within 30 years, petroleum will be so expensive only the well-off will be able to afford it. It’s going to be a shock around the world, but especially to those cities and regions that haven’t already built a robust transit infrastructure.
This is not a time to be timid. The CPR, the Panama Canal, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Paris-Lyon TGV, the Chunnel: these would never have been built by those who wanted a guarenteed return before they made an investment.