Cambridge-Guelph GO rail link a ‘viable investment’: Regional councillors

Regional councillors have made another step toward rail service expansion in the Waterloo-Toronto corridor, emphasizing their support for a rail link between Cambridge and Guelph to the province’s transport agency, Metrolinx.

The decision came during a meeting on Wednesday, as councillors were given the opportunity to review a report at the Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee, including a Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design Study.

That report proposes two-way all-day rail service between what would be a new station in Cambridge, located southwest of the Pinebush Road/Eagle Street North and Hespeler Road intersection, and Guelph Central Station.

It’s estimated that travel time on the proposed route between Cambridge and Guelph would be 14 to 17 minutes, with plans for service every 30 to 60 minutes.

Transit time on the proposed rail line between Cambridge and Union Station would be 87 minutes. If the line were to be completed, forecasted ridership shows that over 500,000 trips would use that passenger rail service by 2041 annually.

Furthermore, within the strategic case, findings show that any investment in improving the current, business-as-usual scenario of “no rail service” would be offset by benefits of implementation and operation.

It was also noted in presentation to the regional committee that the creation of a Cambridge stop would offer the opportunity to plan for a “Transit-Oriented Community” around the proposed Pinebush station, allowing a diverse range of housing options focused on higher density and mixed-use development around that station.

Receiving the recommendations, council agreed to direct staff to forward the report to municipal partners to create a “unified voice to support the project.”

The next steps will request Metrolinx adopt the project in the Regional Transit Plan, and that they work on implementing that service.

Also included in the direction to regional staff was a request to Metrolinx to provide GO bus service between Cambridge and Guelph “to meet current needs” prior to the proposed rail service coming into operation.