Ontario Construction News staff writer
WATERLOO REGION – The regional council has given the go-ahead to extend the ION light-rail service from Fairway Station to downtown Cambridge. This is a big step toward establishing a seamless rapid-transit link connecting Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge for the very first time.
This decision solidifies the region’s choice for Stage 2 of ION – a complete light-rail extension – and enables staff to start seeking provincial and federal funding for this multibillion-dollar initiative.
“Council’s decision represents a major step in delivering the original vision for rapid transit, which was a continuous connection from Waterloo to Kitchener to Cambridge,” Regional Chair Karen Redman said in a statement. “This will shape the future of Waterloo Region as a great place to live, work and play, and extend the benefits of light rail transit to residents of Cambridge.”
The first phase of ION runs from Waterloo to Fairway Station in Kitchener and has already made a significant economic impact. The region reports $5.25 billion in development and over 22,000 new homes along the Central Transit Corridor between 2011 and 2024.
The Stage 2 extension will cover about 18 kilometers and introduce eight new stations between Kitchener and downtown Cambridge. Initial design work includes elevated sections and bridge structures, plus new pedestrian and cycling paths. The extension has gone through a full Transit Project Assessment (TPA), which looks at environmental, social, and heritage impacts.
Public backing for the Cambridge extension was strong. More than 2,500 people took part in consultations via Engage Waterloo Region, with 78 percent choosing the full LRT extension as their top option.
The project is estimated at around $3.1 billion based on early-stage (five to ten percent) design work. A complete business case could take up to two-and-a-half years to finalize, with regional staff noting that procurement might start as early as 2028 once funding is secured.
With council’s approval now in place, the project transitions into detailed design and pre-construction phases. This next stage involves heritage assessments, environmental studies, engineering work, utility relocations, and refined station designs.
Regional planners believe that extending into Cambridge will promote long-term growth while helping control urban sprawl, protect farmland, and encourage denser development around future stations-similar to what has already occurred along the existing ION corridor.
Source link
Source link
