Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Region of Waterloo has issued a notice of commencement for the Stage 2 ION transit project assessment (TPA).
This is being called an important step forward in the plan to extend the ION LRT system an additional 18 kilometres from Fairway station in Kitchener to downtown Cambridge with eight new stations. The extension would create a continuous LRT service across the region’s three urban centres—Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge.
Regional council endorsed its preferred route in June 2019 and the preliminary design in April 2020 with a goal of “moving people.”
According to a project marketing brochure, “light rail provides a fast, reliable way to travel around our urban areas for work, shopping and entertainment. It provides people with more choice about how they move around the Region and increases their ability to travel without always needing a personal vehicle”
With more than 200,000 new residents expected to move to Waterloo Region over the next 20 years, “light rail is a sustainable solution to meet our community’s future transportation needs.”
For more information on the Transit Project Access Process check out the online presentation.
“Bringing LRT to Cambridge will be transformational. It will create a seamless LRT system that will connect the region’s three urban centres,” said Karen Redman, regional chair.
“Together with my Regional colleagues, I’m happy to launch the next big step in the process to bringing Stage 2 ION to Cambridge. I encourage residents to get involved and keep up with the project at, www.regionofwaterloo.ca/Stage2ION. Residents who would like to give input can do so at www.engagewr.ca/Stage2ION .”
The environmental impact of this transit project is being reviewed through the Ontario government’s transit project assessment (TPA) Regulation (O. Reg.) 231/08, Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings.
It is a streamlined process under the Environmental Assessment Act. It can be completed in less than six months because each step in the process has a defined time limit. The Transit Project Assessment Process focuses on issues of provincial importance.
The TPA Process has three main components:
- Preparation of the Environmental Project Report: The first phase is currently underway and starts with the Notice of Commencement. After the Notice of Commencement is issued, the Region has a maximum of 120 days to prepare, consult on, and revise the Environmental Project Report (EPR).
- Review of the EPR: The second phase starts when the Region publishes the Notice of Completion along with the revised, final EPR. This kicks off the 30-day final EPR review by the public, agencies, indigenous communities and others.
- The Minister’s Review: The third and final phase is the minister’s 35-day review period, during which the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks may give notice as to whether the project may proceed.
Stage 2 ION will replace ION bus service with 18 km of LRT and eight new stations, creating a continuous LRT system across the region’s three urban centres.
It will be the largest capital project in the Region’s history. Stage 1 ION has already seen $3.2 billion of investment in the central transit corridor. The regional government says in a statement it is committed to bringing the same benefits to Cambridge.