Rapid transit in Waterloo Region
Encyclopedia
Work has begun on the introduction of rapid transit service in the Region of Waterloo in Ontario
, as an enhancement to Grand River Transit
. As of 2009, an Environmental Assessment
(EA) was underway to create a proposal of light rail
though Kitchener
and Waterloo
, and adapted bus rapid transit
through Cambridge
. On June 24, 2009, Regional council voted to approve the project, subject to funding from higher levels of government. On June 15, 2011, council approved funding for the first phase, consisting of light rail and adapted bus rapid transit, with the eventual goal of extending light rail to Cambridge. The project is to begin construction in 2014 and open in 2017.
began an Individual Environmental Assessment to study the feasibility of constructing a rapid transit
line to provide higher-order public transit service to the Region and to encourage more compact urban growth along the corridor.
The EA took a broader approach to studying possible routes and stations for the rapid transit line, examining several options such as utilizing existing tracks/roads and constructing new facilities. In keeping with legislation, the Environmental Assessment also examined ten possible transport technologies, including monorails and subway
s.
The EA originally consisted of three phases:
Phase 1: Determine a preferred transportation strategy from options such as road expansion, improved conventional transit, and rapid transit. Phase 1 was completed in July 2006.
Phase 2:
Phase 3: Design an implementation plan for the rapid transit system.
In June 2008, the Province of Ontario announced a new expedited Transit Project Assessment Process, called Ontario Regulation 231/08. In August 2008, the Region notified the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to advise that the it would transition from the Individual EA to the expedited process. For that reason, Phase 3 of the Individual EA will not be completed. The Region expects to transition to the new Assessment Process in the Fall of 2009.
On June 24, 2009 Regional council approved the initiative and the Region is currently in discussions with Provincial and Federal governments to obtain funding for the $790 million project. Light Rail Transit (LRT) has been short-listed as the technology for the new rapid transit system. The Region has decided upon a staged approach for building Light Rail from Conestoga Mall
to Fairview Park Mall
, passing through Uptown Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener on the way. Adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) is to be built initially from Fairview Park Mall to Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge utilizing shoulder bypass lanes along highways 8 and 401 during heavy traffic where speeds are 40 km/h or less.
In summer of 2010, funding from higher levels of government was announced: $300 million from the province of Ontario, and $265 million (or up to 1/3 of the full cost) from the federal government. The provincial figure was disappointing to supporters, as they had previously promised 2/3 of the cost. The Region must now look into funding the remaining $200-300 million if the project is to go ahead as planned.
The light rail system was approved by Regional Council with a vote of 15-1. The dissenting vote was from Cambridge mayor Doug Craig. Other Cambridge-area representatives made dissenting votes alongside Craig on subsequent votes relating to the service's staging, feeling that initially running only buses to that city does them a disservice.
The Province of Ontario has promised it will fund up to two thirds of the cost of the construction of a light rail or bus rapid transit system in Waterloo Region.
During public consultation for the project, concerns related to the light rail proposal focussed on its relative service infrequency when compared with rapid transit systems in other cities (though it would still outperform the Region’s best bus services in its overall service capacity, and the frequency of many routes); the projected service frequency will be approximately 7.5 minutes. In addition, a light-rail line would be limited by the narrow main streets of key downtown areas. A feasible proposal raised by the Region for dealing with this challenge would be to have light rail vehicles share space with traffic within core areas, somewhat resembling the traditional streetcar networks of many European cities, and of nearby Toronto. A bus rapid transit line would also face the challenge of the cramped core areas, and thus would also likely share space with traffic in core areas.
As of late 2011, planning is well underway and preparations being made. In October, a property on Dutton Drive in Waterloo, bordering the rail-line corridor where the LRT is planned to be installed, was purchased to serve as a maintenance and storage yard for the system's trains.
From Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, the route follows King Street to Northfield Drive and
then Northfield Drive to the Region-owned rail spurline; it then follows the Region-owned rail spurline from Northfield Drive to Uptown Waterloo; In Uptown Waterloo, it would split into a one-way system going north on King Street and south on Caroline Street, and along Allen Street to rejoin as a two-way system along King Street; In Downtown Kitchener, the route would split into a one-way system going north on Duke Street and south on Charles Street, and back to a two-way system on Charles Street at Frederick Street; From downtown Kitchener, the route would follow Charles Street, Ottawa Street, the CN rail right-of-way, Hayward Avenue, Courtland Boulevard and Fairway Road (or an adjacent Hydro corridor) to Fairview Park Mall; and from Fairview Park Mall the route then takes the CPR rail line, Eagle Street, Hespeler Road and Water Street into Downtown Cambridge to the Ainslie Street transit terminal.
The Region approved a staged implementation plan for its Rapid Transit System:
Stage 1 – Implementation of LRT north of Fairview Park Mall and adapted Bus Rapid
Transit south of Fairview Park Mall, including:
Stage 2 – Completion of a light rail transit system from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie
Street transit terminal in downtown Cambridge. Commencement of Stage 2 to follow
completion of Stage 1 as closely as possible.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, as an enhancement to Grand River Transit
Grand River Transit
Grand River Transit, or GRT, is the public transport operator for the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It operates daily bus services in the region, primarily in the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge....
. As of 2009, an Environmental Assessment
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
(EA) was underway to create a proposal of light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
though Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
and Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, and adapted bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
through Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
. On June 24, 2009, Regional council voted to approve the project, subject to funding from higher levels of government. On June 15, 2011, council approved funding for the first phase, consisting of light rail and adapted bus rapid transit, with the eventual goal of extending light rail to Cambridge. The project is to begin construction in 2014 and open in 2017.
History
In 2004, the Regional Municipality of WaterlooRegional Municipality of Waterloo
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...
began an Individual Environmental Assessment to study the feasibility of constructing a rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line to provide higher-order public transit service to the Region and to encourage more compact urban growth along the corridor.
The EA took a broader approach to studying possible routes and stations for the rapid transit line, examining several options such as utilizing existing tracks/roads and constructing new facilities. In keeping with legislation, the Environmental Assessment also examined ten possible transport technologies, including monorails and subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
s.
The EA originally consisted of three phases:
Phase 1: Determine a preferred transportation strategy from options such as road expansion, improved conventional transit, and rapid transit. Phase 1 was completed in July 2006.
Phase 2:
- Step 1: Determine a preferred route design (grade separated, dedicated on-road, dedicated off-road, etc.) and technology. The EA examined ten different technologies including light rail, bus rapid transit, monorail, and subway. Step 1, completed in February 2007, determined that light rail transit and bus rapid transit were best suited to meet the needs of the Regional Growth Management Strategy.
- Step 2: Determined a short list of preferred routes and technologies for seven segments of a rapid transit system (completed in 2008).
- Step 3: Proposed an overall preferred rapid transit system (completed June 2009)
Phase 3: Design an implementation plan for the rapid transit system.
In June 2008, the Province of Ontario announced a new expedited Transit Project Assessment Process, called Ontario Regulation 231/08. In August 2008, the Region notified the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to advise that the it would transition from the Individual EA to the expedited process. For that reason, Phase 3 of the Individual EA will not be completed. The Region expects to transition to the new Assessment Process in the Fall of 2009.
On June 24, 2009 Regional council approved the initiative and the Region is currently in discussions with Provincial and Federal governments to obtain funding for the $790 million project. Light Rail Transit (LRT) has been short-listed as the technology for the new rapid transit system. The Region has decided upon a staged approach for building Light Rail from Conestoga Mall
Conestoga Mall
Conestoga Mall is a major shopping mall situated at 550 King Street North in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Located at King Street's interchange with Highway 85 , it is the largest shopping centre in Waterloo, and third-largest in Waterloo Region...
to Fairview Park Mall
Fairview Park Mall
Fairview Park, situated at 2960 Kingsway Drive, is the largest shopping mall in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada with of Gross leasable area and 120 stores. It is owned and operated by Cadillac Fairview....
, passing through Uptown Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener on the way. Adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) is to be built initially from Fairview Park Mall to Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge utilizing shoulder bypass lanes along highways 8 and 401 during heavy traffic where speeds are 40 km/h or less.
In summer of 2010, funding from higher levels of government was announced: $300 million from the province of Ontario, and $265 million (or up to 1/3 of the full cost) from the federal government. The provincial figure was disappointing to supporters, as they had previously promised 2/3 of the cost. The Region must now look into funding the remaining $200-300 million if the project is to go ahead as planned.
Approved light rail system
On June 24, 2009 Regional Council approved Light Rail Transit (LRT) as the approved technology for rapid transit in Waterloo Region. Regional Council also approved a recommendation to implement the system in stages because ridership, development potential and capital and operating costs vary along the route.The light rail system was approved by Regional Council with a vote of 15-1. The dissenting vote was from Cambridge mayor Doug Craig. Other Cambridge-area representatives made dissenting votes alongside Craig on subsequent votes relating to the service's staging, feeling that initially running only buses to that city does them a disservice.
The Province of Ontario has promised it will fund up to two thirds of the cost of the construction of a light rail or bus rapid transit system in Waterloo Region.
During public consultation for the project, concerns related to the light rail proposal focussed on its relative service infrequency when compared with rapid transit systems in other cities (though it would still outperform the Region’s best bus services in its overall service capacity, and the frequency of many routes); the projected service frequency will be approximately 7.5 minutes. In addition, a light-rail line would be limited by the narrow main streets of key downtown areas. A feasible proposal raised by the Region for dealing with this challenge would be to have light rail vehicles share space with traffic within core areas, somewhat resembling the traditional streetcar networks of many European cities, and of nearby Toronto. A bus rapid transit line would also face the challenge of the cramped core areas, and thus would also likely share space with traffic in core areas.
As of late 2011, planning is well underway and preparations being made. In October, a property on Dutton Drive in Waterloo, bordering the rail-line corridor where the LRT is planned to be installed, was purchased to serve as a maintenance and storage yard for the system's trains.
Route
The route approved by Regional Council is:From Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, the route follows King Street to Northfield Drive and
then Northfield Drive to the Region-owned rail spurline; it then follows the Region-owned rail spurline from Northfield Drive to Uptown Waterloo; In Uptown Waterloo, it would split into a one-way system going north on King Street and south on Caroline Street, and along Allen Street to rejoin as a two-way system along King Street; In Downtown Kitchener, the route would split into a one-way system going north on Duke Street and south on Charles Street, and back to a two-way system on Charles Street at Frederick Street; From downtown Kitchener, the route would follow Charles Street, Ottawa Street, the CN rail right-of-way, Hayward Avenue, Courtland Boulevard and Fairway Road (or an adjacent Hydro corridor) to Fairview Park Mall; and from Fairview Park Mall the route then takes the CPR rail line, Eagle Street, Hespeler Road and Water Street into Downtown Cambridge to the Ainslie Street transit terminal.
The Region approved a staged implementation plan for its Rapid Transit System:
Stage 1 – Implementation of LRT north of Fairview Park Mall and adapted Bus Rapid
Transit south of Fairview Park Mall, including:
- LRT from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener;
- Adapted Bus Rapid Transit (aBRT) from Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener to Ainslie Street Terminal in downtown Cambridge
- Re-aligned Grand River Transit (GRT) bus service to provide an expanded level of service to the rapid transit stations along primary feeder corridors;
- Express bus service, modeled after the current iXpress service, to high ridership centres throughout the Region (i.e. Wilfrid Laurier, Conestoga College etc.);
- Connections to intercity transit such as GO Bus, GO Train, Greyhound and VIA.
Stage 2 – Completion of a light rail transit system from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie
Street transit terminal in downtown Cambridge. Commencement of Stage 2 to follow
completion of Stage 1 as closely as possible.