Regional councillor speaks out after learning updated cost of LRT expansion
Posted Apr 23, 2023 07:20:02 AM.
Grand River Transit rapid buses are a more cost effective solution than rapid trains.
That’s according to Doug Craig, regional councillor for the City of Cambridge.
He believes that an increase in buses can easily fill the gap of light rail transit.
“Buses have a lot of positive points,” Craig explained. “You can run them through neighbourhoods, and then run them on the designated pathways on the rapid transit system. There’s a lot of flexibility there.”
Councilor Craig’s proposal comes after Regional Council was told that the cost of expanding the light rail transit system to Cambridge would cost nearly $4.5 billion.
The update was provided to Council during a Planning and Works Committee in early April.
Craig said he was shocked when he first heard the cost.
“Right away, this said to me is this isn’t going to happen. No one is going to give the Region of Waterloo or the City of Cambridge $4.5 billion to expand the second leg of the ION.” Craig stated.
The staggering cost of extending the light rail transit system is a significant jump from the $1.52 billion initially proposed in 2021.
“I’m not prepared to just go ahead with the present plan to 2030, and sort of dump this off on a future council with an extreme bill that will never be paid.” Craig remarked.
Council will meet to discuss the proposed Cambridge expansion and potential alternatives on May 27th.
