Waterloo LRT

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It’s taken years of planning and millions of dollars in government funding, but this month, construction on Waterloo region’s multi-million dollar LRT system got underway. The project is often cited by LRT advocates in Hamilton as an example of what light rail transit could be like here but from funding to geography, there are glaring differences between the two projects prompting the question: is a comparison realistic?

The idea of rapid transit in Waterloo region isn’t new, in fact it dates back 40 years when council identified the need for a rapid transit corridor linking the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. That idea became policy in 2003 when rapid transit was included in the region’s growth strategy. For the next 12 years the region focussed on improving it’s transit system, it invested time and money tripling ridership.

In Hamilton LRT will rely on 100% funding from the province but the Waterloo model is different. The province has committed $300 million, the feds $265 million and local taxpayers are on the hook for $250 million.

It has had it’s share of glitches and critics along the way but 40 years after identifying the need construction has begun on a rapid transit corridor in Waterloo region.