Trains preferred for rapid transit
Posted Apr 8, 2011 07:29:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The latest report on rapid transit is taking the region right back to square one.
According to a report to be tabled at a Planning and Works Committee meeting next Tuesday (April 12th), a survey of more than 1000 people during public consultations has identified a system of trains between Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Fairview Mall in Kitchener as the preferred rapid transit option. That option includes Adapted Bus Rapid Transit from Fairview Mall to the Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge.
That’s the same system first approved by regional council in June, 2009. It comes at a total cost (in 2014 dollars) of $818-million, with $300-million of that money coming from the provincial government and up to $265-million more being contributed by the federal government.
During the public consultation sessions attended by more than 1000 people, plus 700 written submissions, more than three quarters of the feedback (78%) expressed support for rapid transit in general and 66% stated support for light rail transit in particular.
The report states that “most common comment pertained to lower costs and lower taxes while maintaining value, regardless of the preferred rapid transit technology.” Long term, regional staff have identified the vision for rapid transit to be light rail technology from Waterloo to Cambridge, adding that “it is realistic and achievable for the Region to consider building an LRT system in affordable stages.”
Based on the preferred option identified from the feedback received to date, the region estimates the household impact will be 1.5%, or about $25 per year for seven years to fund construction of the first phase of the system.
The region now plans to move forward with another series of public consultations with the goal of bringing a final report back to council for approval on June 15th.
