Public consultations on LRT into Cambridge set for coming weeks, no timeline for project yet

CBC

5 days ago

The Region of Waterloo continues to plan for Phase 2 of the LRT into Cambridge but actually getting shovels in the ground is still years away.
A report to regional councillors Tuesday during the sustainability, infrastructure and development committee meeting noted staff are continuing to work on an initial business case for the project.
Doug Spooner is the acting commissioner of transportation services for the region and told councillors there are currently three dates for his team that need to be confirmed.
"Procurement, which I've told you [will take] two and a half years, there is breaking ground, the first time we put a shovel in the ground, and there is the first ride on the new system," Spooner said.
"At this time, I wouldn't give you an estimate on when we break ground and when we take the first ride. I think that'd be inappropriate at the phase that I'm sitting in where I don't have a confirmed project, I do not have confirmed funding and I don't have a full business case that lays out that cost fully for ourselves or for our potential funders."
Councillors heard how there will be public consultation meetings and pop-up sessions in the coming weeks to get feedback from the public on the initial business case, which is needed before the region can go to upper levels of government for funding.
The LRT project was first approved in June 2011 to be completed in two phases. Review of a possible route and stations began in 2015 and since then there have been five rounds of public consultation.
In June 2019, regional council endorsed a final preferred route and station locations. Then in 2022 and 2023, the project cost estimates were updated and council asked staff to bring forward information on the option of bus rapid transit as part of the initial business case.
As it is now, the initial business case has five options:
Full LRT service into downtown Cambridge (Galt).
Partial LRT service from Fairway Station to Pinebush Station and then an express bus into downtown Cambridge.
Partial LRT service from Fairway Station to Delta Station and then an express bus.
Partial LRT service from the Preston Station to downtown Cambridge.
BRT (bus rapid transit) with dedicated and separated lanes from Fairway Station to downtown Cambridge.
WATCH | Cambridge councillor cites 'misinformation' as a reason for LRT opposition:
Cambridge councillor cites 'misinformation' as a reason for LRT opposition
6 days ago
As the Region of Waterloo finalizes its business case for phase two of the LRT project into Cambridge, residents have been expressing their opinions on whether the project is worth the expense and the trouble. Cambridge Coun. Ross Earnshaw says while most of the responses he's heard are positive, some are resisting the change with concern for the preservation of Cambridge's iconic downtown.
'It felt like freedom' to take LRT, rider says
Regional councillors heard from people in the community who would like to see the LRT become a reality, including Barry Green of Cambridge who says he lives with a disability and relies on transit to get to work and buy groceries.
"If I took transit to be here for this meeting today, I would have had to leave my house at 6:45 this morning. It would have taken three different bus routes," he said.
He said it's a quick drive to his job at Costco, but it takes him an hour on the bus and if the bus is late, he's left in the cold.
"It's unpredictable, it's stressful, it puts barriers to make it harder for me to live independently," he said. "I need a train that's reliable, that's frequent and more accessible."
Holden Sisak, 12, and his dad Devin Sisak also spoke to council. Holden, who uses a wheelchair and uses a communicator that reads what he writes, said he splits his time with his mom in Kitchener and his dad in Cambridge. He said last week, while in Kitchener, he was able to get on the LRT "to go on an adventure."
"No waiting for someone to help me, no calling ahead, no hoping the ramp would work or that there will be room for my wheelchair," he said. "I just rolled onto the platform, waited a minute, and then zoom, I was off. It felt like freedom, like real grown up freedom. The LRT was built in a way that already works for me."
Devin Sisak, who also started the advocacy group Barrier-free Cambridge, added: "The LRT doesn't just remove barriers, it doesn't build them in the first place."
Faster timeline?
It's expected to take two and a half years for the business case to be completed, which was frustrating for Cambridge regional Coun. Pam Wolf.
"I really don't understand why we would have to, after we all say yes, everybody says yes for the third or fourth time, that we have to wait two years to have all the Is and Ts crossed and then ask for the money," she said.
Cambridge regional Coun. Doug Craig, who is also the former mayor of the city, quipped, "My concern is that I'm running out of time to see this happen."
Kitchener Mayor Barry Vrbanovic asked if there was anything the region could do to fast track the project, but Spooner said they need to take their time.
"At this stage, I would say no. I think we have to be respectful of our wants to gather input from residents, from the business community and the development community," Spooner said, adding he hopes to bring a recommendation forward to council in November based on the public input.
In November, he also wants to have the next steps ready for councillors in November to understand whether the region might want to take "a little bit of financial risk up front" and start moving forward on the project.
"We'll put that in front of you on a plan to try and accelerate this as fast as we can," he said.
Public information sessions
A survey about the project is currently on the Engage Waterloo Region website. The survey will remain open until Oct. 24.
Three public information sessions are scheduled:
Tues., Aug. 19 virtual session from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 10 at the Queen's Square Library from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tues. Sept. 23 at the Old Post Office from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Pop-up sessions are scheduled to be held:
Thurs., Aug. 14 - Pinebush Station from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 17 at the KidsPark event in Kitchener's Victoria Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 18 at the Fairway Station from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 21 at Waterloo Public Square from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 26 at the Sportsworld Station from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 27 at the Cambridge Centre Station from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 3 at Waterloo Fest in uptown Waterloo from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 9 at the Cambridge Centre Station from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 15 at the Ainslie Terminal from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 18 at the Queen's Square Library from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 20 at the Kitchener Farmers' Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 26 at the Hespeler Village Farmers' Market from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 4 at the Cambridge Centre Station from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.