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Questions and Answers
Needs & Benefits
Costs
Ridership
Route/Scheduling/Stations
Living with LRT
For a Printable Version of the Frequently Asked Questions please click here.
Needs & Benefits
Why does Waterloo Region need rapid transit?
Although a rapid transit corridor appeared in the 1976 Region Official Policies Plan, work on implementing it began only after the Region assumed responsibility for transit in 2000 and included it in the plans for a Growth Management Strategy which was adopted in 2003. Subsequently the Province of Ontario, through the Places to Grow legislation, mandated the Region to plan for major population growth that was to be accommodated in large part by cutting back greenfield development and redeveloping and intensifying urban areas. The Region continues to plan for significant population and employment growth over the next two decades. With little opportunity to add or expand the road networks in our core areas, and an expected increase in population of 100,000 in the central transit corridor, Regional Council chose rapid transit as the most sustainable transportation solution to meet our community’s future transportation needs.
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What are the benefits of rapid transit?
Rapid transit offers a means of managing urban growth to protect our countryside by preventing urban sprawl and promoting intensification in existing urban areas, while preserving the region’s precious agricultural lands, natural beauty, heritage and cultural characteristics that make this community unique. Rapid transit will increase transit ridership, reduce emissions, improve mobility, contribute to a prosperous community, and improve safety and security. Light Rail Transit (LRT) will shape development along the corridor. Developers are more willing to invest private money near a permanent public asset such as LRT.
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Is this the right time to be thinking of rapid transit?
Yes. Implementing rapid transit now will help us address the transportation and land use demands that will result as our economy grows and our population increases from more than 522,000 today to 729,000 by 2031.
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Can the Region support Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo are fortunate to have employment and population concentrated in a linear corridor connecting the three cities. These are not isolated cities; their multiple downtown areas each form one of many ridership generators along the Region’s central transit corridor. This makes operation of transit more efficient with balanced volumes of passengers in both directions throughout the route and avoids the typical inefficiency of running loaded vehicles in the peak direction with nearly empty return trips.
The intention is not to create a solely commuter rail system but also to achieve a good balance of residential, institutional, commercial, and employment transit uses in our core areas. Benefits of this balance include active and populated streets, a stronger sense of community and improved public safety. Note that iXpress passenger volumes have already achieved a successful distribution of trips throughout the day and in both directions.
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Is Waterloo Region's population enough to support Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
Yes. When Calgary first started building LRT in 1978, it had a population of 506,000. The population of Edmonton was just over 445,000 when the City started LRT construction in 1974. Currently, Waterloo Region has a population of 522,000. By 2031 and with the approved rapid transit staging option, it is expected that approximately 68,000 residents and 110,000 jobs will be concentrated within 600 metres of rapid transit stations.
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What do experts think about the Region's rapid transit plans?
An independent panel of North American transportation, transit and land-use experts reviewed the Region’s work and indicated that “the Region should be commended for the significant amount of solid technical review and work to date. This creates a strong foundation to understand the feasibility, range of alternatives and implications of the significant community-building investment in rapid transit for Waterloo Region.”
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Why can't more roads solve the congestion problem?
Building new or bigger roads won’t ease traffic congestion – it just attracts more cars. Road expansion is not a realistic or affordable option to manage future growth. We need to make forward-thinking and creative land use and transportation policies to promote public transit and reurbanization in the central transit corridor. As traffic congestion increases, rapid transit on dedicated lanes will provide more reliable travel times.
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Why can't we just keep using iXpress?
iXpress works well now, but is already experiencing traffic delays from road congestion. As ridership continues to grow, the capacity of iXpress will not be enough to meet travel demand. Light Rail Transit (LRT) provides a better quality of service (more convenient and comfortable) and will attract more riders than iXpress alone.
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Why is Light Rail Transit (LRT) the most appropriate technology for Waterloo Region?
Bus service alone will not provide enough capacity for the projected increase in population and ridership. LRT can carry more passengers. LRT provides a convenient and reliable transportation choice. LRT can shape urban form through intensification and redevelopment. LRT will impact land access, image, value and desirability.
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Costs
What is the capital cost to build the rapid transit system?
Current estimates are $790 million.
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What's the current state of funding support for the capital cost of the rapid transit project?
On June 28, 2010, the Province of Ontario committed $300 million towards the capital cost of constructing a rapid transit system in Waterloo Region. Discussions are currently underway with the federal government for a matching contribution.
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Who is going to pay the operating cost of rapid transit?
The operating cost for the rapid transit system, once farebox revenues have been counted, is estimated to be $10.5 million a year in the opening year of service. The cost recovery of rapid transit will be better than (double) that of GRT buses. Remaining operating cost will be covered by the Region. The property tax impact for rapid transit will be $40 to $50 per household, and will be phased in over a number of years.
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How many light rail vehicles will be purchased initially?
Ten vehicles will be purchased and used for the start of service in 2014.
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What is included in the $790 million capital cost estimate?
The capital cost estimate includes LRT and adapted BRT from Conestoga Mall to the Ainslie Street Bus Terminal in Cambridge, along with a maintenance yard facility. It also includes three park and ride stations to be located at Northfield Drive, Fairview Park Mall, and Sportsworld Drive.
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Is the higher up-front cost of Light Rail Transit (LRT) vehicles a good investment?
The normal life expectancy of an LRT vehicle is typically three times longer than BRT vehicles, therefore making the higher cost of LRT vehicles a sound investment. Average performance measures from the American Public Transit Association show that the average operating expense per passenger mile for bus is $0.08 while the same measure for light rail is $0.06.
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Will the cost of the rapid transit system go down if we wait for possible new technologies in the future?
The cost of building LRT now will be much less than in 15 or 20 years, due to inflation and the increased difficulty of designing the system through already built-up areas.
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Ridership
Transit ridership is expected to nearly triple in the transit corridor. Are these ridership projections reasonable?
The ridership projections are based on a sound transit model developed by the Region in cooperation with the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and transportation consultants.
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What is the projected ridership for rapid transit? How was the ridership determined?
Daily passenger boardings on opening day (2014) are expected to be around 27,000. This is expected to increase to about 56,000 by the year 2031. Ridership forecasts were developed by the consultant teams of TSi and Halcrow Consulting using a ridership forecasting model as part of the Environmental Assessment. The model was peer reviewed by Dr. Eric Miller of the University of Toronto and Dr. Jeff Casello of the University of Waterloo and was deemed to be a sound forecasting tool. Details of the modelling process can be found in the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment Phase 2 Summary Report.
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How will ridership be affected when schools are out for the summer?
The volume of overall trips within the Region typically goes down during the summer months when children are not attending school, and people of all ages take time out of their regular routine to enjoy summer weather. This reduction in trips can be observed on your regular routes of travel. Grand River Transit (GRT) ridership reflects a slight drop in ridership every summer.
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Route/Scheduling/Stations
Where will the route go? Where will the stations be?
The project includes Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall and adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) -- that will evolve to LRT -- from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Bus Terminal. Regional Council has approved the route, the technology, and the station locations.
Please click here to download a high-res version of the map below.
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What will Light Rail Transit (LRT) look like?
The LRT will be street-level rail technology, generally on either existing roads or rail corridors. Two-way traffic will remain on all roads that have LRT. See what rapid transit could look like in Waterloo Region here.
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How often will I be able to catch rapid transit?
Exact schedules will be established before rapid transit service begins, but the intention is for Light Rail Transit (LRT) to come every 7.5 minutes and for adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) to come every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak periods. Both LRT and aBRT will come every 15 minutes outside of peak periods.
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What will happen to the iXpress service after the implementation of rapid transit?
The new rapid transit system will essentially replace the current iXpress route, however new high frequency bus service like iXpress will be introduced on other routes. A public consultation process will be used to establish these new iXpress routes over the coming years.
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Are there going to be any park and ride facilities?
Three park and ride facilities are planned at the Northfield, Fairview Park Mall, and Sportsworld rapid transit stations to serve those who want to park their car and then ride the new rapid transit system. Additional park and ride facilities may be considered at a later time.
Will riders outside of rapid transit station areas have good transit service?
Our proposed rapid transit system is based on rapid transit and conventional bus service working together. There will be bus stops in between and at the rapid transit stops along the CTC. Conventional bus service will remain necessary along the CTC to provide frequent stops at intermediate locations, allowing rapid transit to stop only at key locations and offer a faster travel option. New iXpress-style routes and cross-town routes will create a comprehensive and integrated Regional transit system, both feeding to rapid transit and serving destinations outside of the CTC.
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What is the length of the new rapid transit system?
The approximate length is 35 kilometres, including 19 kilometres from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall and 16 kilometres from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Bus Terminal.
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What will rapid transit travel times be?
Approximately 39 minutes from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall for Light Rail Transit and approximately 33 minutes from Fairview Park mall to Ainslie Street terminal with adapted Bus Rapid Transit.
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Will LRT provide travel time savings over the existing iXpress?
LRT travel times will become more competitive as the Region continues to grow, density in the corridor increases, and congestion on general travel lanes worsens over time (this is already happening). LRT will operate on transit-only lanes so that LRT will remain reliable and on-time into the future.
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Living with LRT
What will happen to the businesses along the Light Rail Transit (LRT) route?
LRT will bring more people to the central transit corridor. Businesses will benefit from expanded amenities and increased visibility due to rapid transit. It will enable employees to access job opportunities previously inaccessible and provide access by employers to an expanded workforce, living within acceptable travel times and costs.
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How will rapid transit affect emergency services?
Emergency services staff have been and will continue to be involved in the planning process to ensure that appropriate action can be taken in a timely manner in an emergency along the rapid transit corridor. Staff tested the setup of a large fire truck on Duke Street in the curb lane (where light rail is proposed) and found that Fire/ EMS will be able to easily access properties next to light rail.
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What will happen to the street events like Oktoberfest and Buskers once Light Rail Transit (LRT) is built?
They will still happen! A parade can still go down King Street. Regional staff will work with organizing committees to accommodate parades along the LRT route.
During events, LRT service can short-turn to leave the parade area clear, but still provide LRT service to the crowds of people coming to the parade.
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How will traffic operate around the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line?
Left-turns and U-turns will be provided at specific signalized intersections. In the downtowns where there is a curbside rapid transit lane, traffic will be able to cross the LRT to get in and out of driveways.
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Pedestrians should use the same rules as always when crossing a street.
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How will Light Rail Transit (LRT) operate in the winter?
Typical winter conditions will not affect LRT operations. No de-icing or snow clearing will be required on the rail tracks. Other LRT systems in Calgary, Edmonton and Minneapolis, with similar or worse winter conditions, have not experienced any major delays.
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What happens if an Light Rail Transit (LRT) train breaks down?
Disabled trains will be removed from the main track to side tracks with minimal disruption to the service.
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What happens if the power goes off?
A back-up power system will be in place for short-term power disruptions.
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How fast will Light Rail Transit (LRT) vehicles travel in Waterloo Region?
LRT vehicles will travel at a speed appropriate to the environment in which they are traveling. For example, LRT vehicles will travel at a slower speed (as slow as 20-25 km/h) in areas with a lot of pedestrian activity, such as downtown areas. LRT vehicles operating within rail corridors, away from other traffic and pedestrians will travel at higher speeds.
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How will the construction of the rapid transit system impact roads, traffic and access to local businesses?
Construction will be completed in stages, to limit the impacts of construction on any one area to a short period of time. Every effort will be made to maintain the flow of traffic and access to businesses in construction areas. A communication plan will be put in place to inform the public, business owners, and property owners regarding timing for construction in each area, access options, alternate routes, etc.
What has the Region of Waterloo done to inform the public?
The Region has been working on the planning of rapid transit for more than five years. The Project Team has visited every business along the corridor – twice! The Region has hosted more than 30 public consultation centres, with more than 4,000 attendees. There were 63 additional different public outreach events such as community stakeholder meetings, public events, presentations to groups and educational displays. The Region sent a newsletter to more than 250,000 residential and business addresses – four times.
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As a result of the rapid transit project, where will new development occur?
Development will occur not only adjacent to stations but within walking distance of the stations – within approximately 800 metres or more.
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What are the health impacts of implementing Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
LRT is more permanent and can therefore attract and support the development of higher density, mixed-use communities. This will contribute to safer, healthier communities by facilitating more active streets and modes of transportation, reducing the use of cars for travel. Research has shown that those living in walkable communities with destinations and amenities nearby tend to walk more, experience a reduced incidence of obesity, and are generally healthier.
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How will the overhead wires required for Light Rail Transit (LRT) affect the streetscape?
Modern electrical wires used to power new LRT systems fit well into the streetscape and are quite unobtrusive.
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How can I find out more?
Join the conversation on Facebook or on our Discussion Board
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Call our InfoLine at 519-575-4757 ext. 3242
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