Comments on: Canada's Waterloo Region Plans for Light Rail by 2014

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:51:09 +0000

There is a lot of opposition to this including from the mayor of Waterloo who wanted a referendum. It seems like a crazy amount of money for future commuters who aren’t here yet and who are going to live in currently unbiult buildings. Does anyone remember rim park?

By: David Arthur

David Arthur — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:10:44 +0000

In addition to the densification goals that this project is explicitly designed to serve, it’s also worth noting that the Region of Waterloo is already the fourth densest census area in Canada, after the three biggest cities but denser than Calgary or Edmonton.

The mall termini are the most common reason that people give to ridicule the plan, but they are indeed enclosed and easy to serve. Apart from being destinations in their own right, and located in areas ripe for revitalisation, they’re also both already major bus exchanges, and so will be important for people wanting to travel beyond the tramway’s reach.

By: Nathanael

Nathanael — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:07:28 +0000

Looks like the LRT will connect properly to the VIA rail station. Good choice. A fair number of people may be able to go completely car-free, taking the LRT locally and the train for long-distance travel.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:20:58 +0000

I would also like to assuage those skeptical that a community of just 500,000 can support LRT. As was mentioned, Calgary and Edmonton started their networks when they were similar sizes, and K-W is unusual, in that all the major trip generators follow a single line with strong anchors at either side, that there is a high university population (U of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier), and Kitchener and Waterloo both have strong centres (downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo). I think it will work very well, especially when thought of in the long run.

By: Andrew Dawson

Andrew Dawson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:28:43 +0000

Why not just revive the Grand River Railway?

By: j

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:47:30 +0000

Yes, Andrew. In fact, a number of high-profile residential projects have just been completed in downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo, much of them being converted warehouses or factory buildings.

In addition, a factor in the region’s growth has been the high-tech sector. Waterloo is home to RIM, maker of the BlackBerry, and numerous smaller companies feeding off the expertise at the University of Waterloo. Add to that very little congestion, and relatively undervalued real estate, and you have a recipe for growth and intensification.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:37:16 +0000

Do people move to places like Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge to live in dense urban settings? I’m skeptical.

By: mdruker

mdruker — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:45:16 +0000

Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo are decently healthy and growing — particularly Uptown. LRT will certainly make both stronger.

By: jon

jon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:27:08 +0000

whats the health of the downtown? assuming they have a “downtown”

i always think this is a critical component of transit success

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:36:27 +0000

The Japanese definition of a suburb is a city with at least 1.5% of its over-15 population commuting to the central city or cities. The Western world draws its metro area boundaries somewhat more tightly, though. My guess is that if Canada had US-style combined statistical areas then Waterloo would probably be joined with Toronto (and Hamilton, and Barrie, and Oshawa, and Guelph). But I’m not sure.