Waterloo Region's plans for light rail are stirring up more debate.
Today's Record reported that Waterloo council may withdraw its support for electric trains. What Waterloo council is actually doing, however, is asking for a strict cost analysis. While Waterloo council did endorse rapid transit, it did not endorse a specific technology. So, in essence, there are no electric trains from which support can be withdrawn.
According to council minutes dated April 6, 2009 Waterloo council was advised to "defer a recommendation on a preferred technology, pending determination of actual capital and operating costs for the two technologies." (see page 161 of the Minutes).
In the wake of less-than-expected funding from upper levels of government, those costs are currently being re-evaluated by regional staff. Still, regional chair Ken Seiling is encouraging Waterloo councillors to do their homework before making any pronouncements about light rail transit.
"I would hope that they would take a reasoned approach to it," Seiling urges. "This is a critical project for the City of Waterloo, a city that touts itself as being the most intelligent community. This is a decision for its future."
Despite Waterloo's reluctance right now, the final decision rests with regional council. Waterloo has three voices on that council -- the just re-elected city representatives Jane Mitchell and Sean Strickland, and Brenda Halloran who, as mayor of Waterloo, holds a seat at the regional council table.
On her website, Mitchell encourages a cautious approach to light rail, supporting two options.
1) Putting the Bus Rapid Transit project back on the table.
2) A staff report on LRT showing various ways we might build Light Rail Transit without raising property taxes for the $225 million capital portion.
But Strickland sides more with Seiling, suggesting that it's important for Waterloo's new council to gather the facts before rushing to judgment. In Strickland's mind, the future of the region's transit includes at least a component of rail.
"The possible, and what I hope to be a key component of our light rail transit plan, is the link with GO trains," Strickland explains. "We're going to have a piece of urban and transit infrastructure that we're going to need. We need to get cars off the road long term."
In light of the Federal government’s $265-million funding commitment in September and the Province of Ontario ’s commitment of $300 million, the Region is now moving forward with the planning of the project’s scope, design details, cost and Regional funding options. The goal is to identify the Phase 1 project that provides best value to the community and is affordable to Regional taxpayers given the available federal and provincial funding. Regional staff will evaluate various options for consideration and final decision by Regional Council.
That report is expected to come forward to the new regional council early in 2011.