What is Rapid Transit?

Rapid transit is a public transportation system operating primarily on a dedicated right-of-way or transit lanes. By operating separately from traffic, rapid transit is a more efficient, reliable, comfortable, convenient, and effective way to travel. Experiences in other communities have proven that rapid transit encourages commuters to choose transit over private vehicles.

Project Status

Light Rail Transit (LRT) was approved by Regional Council on Wednesday, June 24, as the preferred technology for the Region of Waterloo’s rapid transit system.

Council approved a staged approach that will allow the Region to match transit technology with current and projected ridership, and development potential in a cost effective manner.

• Stage 1 of the approved rapid transit route consists of Light Rail Transit (LRT) running from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener and adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street transit terminal in Cambridge.
  
  
• Stage 2 consists of continuing LRT from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Transit Terminal in Cambridge.

The approved rapid transit system will cost an estimated $790 million and an additional $1 million annually has been allocated for an initial 10-year period to implement transit supportive strategies to help build transit ridership in Cambridge.

Why Light Rail Transit?

Bus service alone will not provide enough capacity for the projected increase in population and ridership. LRT can carry more passengers and provides a more convenient and reliable transportation choice. Furthermore, LRT can shape urban form through intensification and redevelopment and will impact land access, image, value and desirability.

Project Background

In June 2003, Regional Council unanimously adopted the Regional Growth Management Strategy (RGMS), a long-term strategic framework that identifies where, when and how future residential and employment growth will be accommodated. Planning studies conducted during the creation of the RGMS concluded that continuing with road expansions alone was not a realistic or affordable option to manage growth. Instead, it identified that aggressive efforts need to be made in order to pursue land use and transportation policies that will promote public transit, reurbanization and greater transportation choice.  As a result, rapid transit was identified in the RGMS, as well as the new Provincial Places to Grow Growth Plan, as one of the key catalysts to support downtown revitalization and control urban sprawl in the region.

On May 15, 2004, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo jointly announced funding of up to $2.5 million for the Region of Waterloo Growth Management Strategy and Transit Initiative Technical Studies and an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Rapid Transit Initiative. The Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment began January 2006.

Next Steps

The next step is for the Region to conduct a Transit Project Assessment that is expected to be released for public review in April 2010 and completed in June 2010.

Currently, negotiations regarding funding agreements are taking place with provincial and federal governments. When funding is secured, preliminary design will begin in 2010. Construction of LRT is scheduled to launch in 2012, with the system opening late in 2014. Adapted bus rapid transit in Cambridge could start as early as 2011.

To learn more about the rapid transit project, please read our Frequently Asked Questions.  

Project Team

The Rapid Transit Project Team is responsible for guiding: the Transit Project Assessment; developing and implementing a possible public-private partnership; guiding physical rapid transit infrastructure work; and developing an operational plan to integrate the operation of the rapid transit system with other Grand River Transit operations.

The members of the Rapid Transit Project Team are:

Regional Growth Managment Strategy/Rapid Transit Public Advisory Committee

The Regional Growth Management Strategy/Rapid Transit Public Advisory Committee was established in January 2005 to assist in the Regional Growth Management Strategy implementation process. This Committee includes representatives from various areas of expertise as well as members from the regional community at large and local post-secondary institutions. The committee was chosen based on expertise or experience in one or more of the areas of agriculture, heritage, business, development, education, health, environment, and social services. Four “at-large” members also represent the community. The Committee serves as a sounding board and provide advice to the Steering Committee, the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee and the Rapid Transit Project Team, where necessary.

The members of the RGMS/Rapid Transit Public Advisory Committee are:
Jean Haalboom, Councillor, Region of Waterloo (Chair)
Claudette Millar, Councillor, Region of Waterloo
Diane Ensing, Health Representative, Wilmot
Henrik Noesgaard, Business Representative, Waterloo
Mark Reusser, Agriculture Representative, Wilmot
Jeff Casello, Education Representative, Waterloo
Elizabeth Water Heinrichs, Heritage Representative, Waterloo
Linda Terry, Social Services Representative, Cambridge
John Jackson, Environmental Representative, Kitchener
Ian Rawlings, Development Representative, Waterloo
Sue Morgan, At large member, Kitchener
Jim Huebner, At large member, St. Clements
Jose Rivera, At large member, Baden
Tom Strickland, At large member, Cambridge
Danielle Tobey, University of Waterloo, Waterloo