Well, they’ve been talking about it for a long time, and now it looks like plans are starting to come together. Here is this weekend’s editorial in the Record, if you missed it.
In just over a month, Waterloo Region will make one of the most momentous decisions in its history. In late June, regional politicians will decide whether or not a $790-million rapid transit system of electric trains and fast buses should link Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge and reshape this community forever
…
Some critics argue there’s simply not enough demand for what could be the biggest and most expensive public works project ever undertaken here. They say the 31,000 people expected to ride the rapid transit system daily when it would open in 2014 represent too small a fraction of the overall population to justify the project’s enormous cost.
…But the advocates of a combination of light rail trains and buses say this project is not just about moving people around. It is about building the regional community. It is about planning for a 45 per cent population growth that would see 729,000 people living in the region in 2031. It is, in other words, not just about trains, tracks and buses. It is about the future.
These proponents of rapid transit have a strong case to make, one that deserves full and fair consideration. And they are right that this is not just a transportation issue.
The Ontario government has designated Waterloo Region as an area of growth. Unless that policy changes, unless people stop coming to southern Ontario from across Canada and around the world, Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge will grow and change in ways that will make them very different places in the coming decades. In the corridor that would be served by this rapid transit system, the population is expected to grow by 100,000 people in the next 22 years.
Where will all these people live? How will they get around? The provincial government has declared that the cities of Waterloo Region must build more densely populated urban cores. But regional officials warn that, without better public transit, they would have to build eight more lanes of road capacity through the cities to handle the population growth. And there is no room to do that.
This rapid transit system might not be needed in 2009. However, it might be absolutely crucial to having three vibrant, livable, thriving cities in Waterloo Region in 2031. It could mean that our highways are not jammed and that our air is not so heavily polluted. It could mean we are, at long last, controlling and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
For the people living here then, a rapid transit system, based heavily if not entirely on electric trains, could be as essential to the community as the Conestoga Parkway is to it today. And it’s worth remembering that there were many vocal opponents to that expressway when it was built 40 years ago.
What do you think about the proposed Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system proposed here? I know some real estate investors have been buying property along the proposed routes…
Leave your thoughts in the comments!
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People like to drive, make a car that does not require gas. Busses and transit are a thing of the past
Thanks Ryan!
I think thats a good point – what I wonder is, in 25 years, will it be an asset to the Region then ? Time will tell.
Having read everything there is to read about the plans for rapid transit in this region, I am truly sorry to say that I am strongly opposed. Please note that this is DESPITE the fact that UNTIL I moved to this region I always used public transit, but here I haven’t used it once. I am one of the greenest people I know – I believe that cars are the scourge of the earth – but this region is unfortunately NOT the place for such an initiative. I’m thinking back to last summer when gas was over $1.40, and my workplace of about 250 people still ran out of parking spaces in its lot. So much so that they had to rent another 100 spots from the University of Waterloo.
Here in KW, I ride my bicycle or I walk; I’m no athlete but I like the health and cost benefits – I’m 49 years old and my 6.5 km bike route to work takes me 25 minutes (from Victoria Park to the Techno-Park). I’ve lived in Montreal, Paris, Geneva; I’ve travelled to London, Amsterdam, Sao Paolo, and in ALL of those cities I was able to get around very nicely on public transit. The routes and schedules were easy to understand. Yet after moving here in 2007, I’ve studied the region’s transit system and I simply can’t understand the routes (why is there a 7A, 7B, … 7F???). The iXpress route is clear, but I still have no desire to use it because the 15 minute walk (or bus along Victoria + transfer) to the Charles Street terminal means that it’s no faster for me. Moreover, I’m even more inclined to boycott the iXpress in the hope that my helping to keep the usage low will kill the plan for light rail sooner rather than later.
Why not just continue on with a few more solid, UNDERSTANDABLE bus routes instead of spending all that money? Even if the iXpress gained ridership, they could simply add more busses rather than make such a drastic change in infrstructure. Frankly – once every 15 minutes at rush hour is laughable for THE main bus route in the region, and just adds further proof that the system here doesn’t work – and won’t work, no matter what they do, even if traffic worsens and gas prices rise. If money absolutely has to be spent on rail, I’m all for spending some on a high-speed connection from KW to (1) Pearson Airport; and then on to (2) Union Station, Toronto.
Also – the proposed light rail will cut through the region in what is basically a straight line along a business – not residential – corridor. How are people going to get to that line? It is not going to do anything at all for the majority of residents, as very few of us live within a couple of blocks of King Street.
Finally: isn’t the City of Kitchener spending millions on construction on King Street this summer to make it more pedestrian-friendly? Cars are bad enough – now we pedestrians and bikers are going to have to worry about getting hit by (almost noiseless) trains as well? This is in addition to the danger to bikers caused by the rail tracks themselves, should a wheel get caught. And if they absolutely must build a light rail line, why not build it on one of the (many) uglier streets in this region, such as Weber?
I am also stongly opposed to the rail system in the regioal plans for the following reasons:
1) The old trolly-rail service was taken out for several very good reasons
Everyone I noticed seemed very pleased with the Hybrid Bus for energy conservation, cleaner emissions, reliability and cost.
2) The hydro consumption program will not be in effect properly if this type of transportation returns
3) If there is a power outage during this opperation of electric powered transportation it will be useless
4) This new plan is very expensive
5) It will take up permanent road-space which can’t be changed without another massive cost
6) Some Bus Drivers may be out of a job driving
7) The rail on the streets will make it treacherous for cyclists, seniors with walkers, disabled with scooters, and regular scooters as well. People have died from getting small tires caught in railtracks.
What happened to the Hybrid as our Regions answer to reliable and affordable transportation?
The CNR and CPR are always struggling with problems and so are all the Subway systems in the Toronto area.
I am also stongly opposed to the rail system in the regioal plans for the following reasons:
1) The old trolly-rail service was taken out for several very good reasons
Everyone I noticed seemed very pleased with the Hybrid Bus for energy conservation, cleaner emissions, reliability and cost.
2) The hydro consumption program will not be in effect properly if this type of transportation returns
3) If there is a power outage during this opperation of electric powered transportation it will be useless
4) This new plan is very expensive
5) It will take up permanent road-space which can’t be changed without another massive cost
6) Some Bus Drivers may be out of a job driving
7) The rail on the streets will make it treacherous for seniors with walkers, disabled with scooters, and regular scooters as well. People have died from railtrack related accidents.
What happened to the Hybrid as our Regions answer to reliable and affordable transportation?
The CNR and CPR are always struggling with problems and so are all the Subway systems in the Toronto area.
I am also stongly opposed to the rail system in the regioal plans for the following reasons:
1) The old trolly-rail service was taken out for several very good reasons
2) The hydro consumption program will not be in effect properly if this type of transportation returns
3) If there is a power outage during this opperation of electric powered transportation it will be useless
4) It will take up permanent road-space which can’t be changed without another massive cost
Everyone I noticed seemed very pleased with the Hybrid Bus for energy conservation, cleaner emissions, reliability and cost.
5) Some Bus Drivers may be out of a job driving
6) The rail on the streets will make it treacherous for seniors with walkers, disabled with scooters, and regular scooters as well. People have died from railtrack related accidents.
What happened to the Hybrid as our Regions answer to reliable and affordable transportation?
The CNR and CPR are always struggling with problems and so are all the Subway systems in the Toronto area.
I am also stongly opposed to the rail system in the regioal plans for the following reasons:
1) The old trolly-rail service was taken out for several very good reasons
2) The hydro consumption program will not be in effect properly if this type of transportation returns
3) If there is a power outage during this opperation of electric powered transportation it will be useless
4) It will take up permanent road-space which can’t be changed without another massive cost
5) Some Bus Drivers may be out of a job driving
6) The rail on the streets will make it treacherous for seniors with walkers, disabled with scooters, and regular scooters as well. People have died from railtrack related accidents.
7) Everyone I noticed seemed very pleased with the Hybrid Bus for energy conservation, cleaner emissions, reliability and cost.
8)The CNR and CPR are always struggling with problems and so are all the Subway systems in the Toronto area.
I am strongly in favour of the plan. I am an engineer who moved here for school and am deciding if I will stay. I think that I will if transit improves and the city becomes more beautiful. I probably will not if it does not.