Waterloo Region breaks ground on LRT project
Posted Aug 21, 2014 02:34:28 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a milestone day for the Region of Waterloo as officials broke ground on the region’s Light Rail Transit project – ION.
Construction for the first phase of the project is set to begin in the coming weeks. The first phase of the project is fully funded, including $300 million from the province of Ontario.
At this point, they’re still working to get funding for the second phase of the project that would see a BRT converted to the LRT in Cambridge.
“My door is always open, and I’m happy to engage in conversations with the Region and with residents from this area” says Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca. “It is important today to remember that we have all three levels of government at the table here today to make this a reality. I want to make sure that our conversations continue with our federal counterparts, and I’m sure in due course we’ll have an opportunity to speak about phase two.”
The project is still expected to be on time and on budget, with ION service starting in 2017. Bus Rapid Transit service is slated to be underway starting early 2015.
“I was immediately supportive” says Kitchener-Waterloo MP, Peter Braid. “For me, the case is clear, that it will have positive effects for our local community, for our economy, and effects that will be long-lasting. It will really be a legacy.”
