[All] Regional staff preferred Rapid Transit approach released to day

[John Jackson]

TO: Chair Jim Wideman and Members of Planning and Works Committee
DATE: April 12, 2011 FILE CODE: A02-30/PW
SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY PREFERRED RAPID TRANSIT IMPLEMENTATION OPTION
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
SUMMARY:
The Region of Waterloo continues to pursue the development of a Rapid
Transit system. Through February and March 2011, staff undertook public
consultation that asked the public for their views on which rapid transit
option would provide the best value to our community. Well over 1,000 people
attended the public consultation centres and information booths, and over
700 submitted written comments. Of these, 78 per cent stated support for
rapid transit in general and 66 per cent stated support for light rail
transit (LRT) in particular. The most common comment pertained to lower
costs and lower taxes while maintaining value, regardless of the preferred
rapid transit technology. The most preferred LRT implementation options were
option L3 (LRT from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall and adapted bus
rapid transit (aBRT) from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Transit
Terminal) and option L9 (LRT from Conestoga Mall to the Ainslie Street
Transit Terminal).
In evaluating the rapid transit implementation options and considering the
recent public input, staff have identified that:
Rapid transit is preferred over business-as-usual;
An LRT system provides the best long-term environmentally and financially
sustainable solution to help manage our community?s future growth and
transportation needs;
It is realistic and achievable for the Region to consider building an LRT
system in affordable stages;
The long-term vision for rapid transit should be option L9 (LRT from
Conestoga Mall to the Ainslie Street Transit Terminal);
As a Stage 1 implementation option, staff have identified option L3 (LRT
from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall and aBRT from Fairview Park Mall
to the Ainslie Street Transit Terminal) as the preliminary
technically-preferred rapid transit implementation option;
Option L3 is basically the same implementation option that was approved by
Regional Council in June 2009.
Further analysis and public input have reinforced and confirmed that
original choice; 
Stage 2 would add LRT from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Transit
Terminal; 
If Council considers option L3 to be too costly, option L1 (LRT from
Conestoga Mall to Ottawa Street and aBRT from Ottawa Street to the Ainslie
Street Transit Terminal) has been identified as a second choice for LRT
implementation because it provides some of the benefits of option L3 with
lower tax impacts; Implementation of option L3 (or L1) needs to include
increases in conventional transit service as identified in the Region
Transportation Master Plan (RTMP).


For full report go to:
http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/news/region-releases-report-on-pre
liminary-preferred-rapid-transit-implementation-option.html

-----------------
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503


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