‘Cambridge has paid its dues’: Councillor advocating for swift LRT expansion

Billions of dollars could soon be invested in light rail through Cambridge, connecting the transportation system to the rest of Waterloo Region.

Regional councillors will be given options for the next phase of LRT expansion in August, with a final vote on which direction they will take coming up in November.

Regional Councillor Doug Craig is speaking out on behalf of Cambridge residents and joined the Mike Farwell Show to advocate for bringing the LRT to the city.

“I think Cambridge has paid its dues and I’ve made that very clear,” said Craig. “I think what’s important now is for the region, the whole region in terms of its politicians, its chambers of commerce, to get behind this and get this moving as quickly as possible.”

The price tag for Phase 2 of LRT expansion is $4.5 billion, which regional staff hope can be split between the three levels of government. But Craig wants the provincial government to step in and deliver significant investment to get the project moving.

“Cambridge residents have paid enough, and I don’t want them to pay any more,” said Craig. “I expect the province to be coming to us with regards to a full complement of fiscal arrangements.”

In 2021, the provincial government invested $3.4 billion into Hamilton when it came time for that city to advance its LRT system.

Craig added that as the LRT expands into Cambridge, it will transform and bring major investment to Hespeler Road, generating jobs and raising assessments across the board.