No. H033/04 For release May 15, 2004 KITCHENER - The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo today announced joint funding of up to $2.5 million for technical studies and an environmental assessment for a Light Rail Transit project serving the Region of Waterloo. The studies will examine a proposed 14-kilometre light rail transit section along the central transit corridor, which will run north-south to connect the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. This line would be the first phase of a 30-kilometre line that will ultimately extend to Cambridge. Transport Canada and the Region of Waterloo will equally share the cost of the technical studies, to a maximum of $500,000. The environmental assessment will be funded jointly by the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo. The total cost of all the studies is estimated at up to $2.5 million. "The Government of Canada is committed to improving our transportation system, and public transit is an important priority," said Minister Responsible for Ontario and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, Joe Volpe, on behalf of Transport Minister Tony Valeri. "Projects such as the Light Rail Transit system demonstrate how we are working with our partners to address our common priorities. Completing the studies needed to advance the proposed Light Rail Transit project builds on the government¿s previous commitment to assist the Region of Waterloo with its central transit corridor express project expected to start in September 2005." "The way we plan for growth today will determine how we live tomorrow," said Ontario¿s Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, David Caplan. "We are giving municipalities tools to build strong communities that provide a better quality of life by limiting gridlock, controlling urban sprawl and protecting greenspace. This is a great example of how governments can work together to improve communities." "Light Rail Transit in Waterloo Region positions our community to improve our excellent quality of life and economic success as we transition to a large urban centre," said Regional Chair of the Region of Waterloo, Ken Seiling. "The Light Rail Transit initiative is a visionary, holistic approach to community planning that intrinsically links transportation infrastructure with the achievement of our land use objectives." The technical studies will: demonstrate how best to support anticipated urban growth through transit investment and land use planning; assess various transit options for the region and how they can be integrated with other transportation services; provide detailed ridership projections for the proposed new transit line; and provide detailed cost-benefit analyses. Today¿s announcement reinforces the commitments of the governments of Canada and Ontario towards sustainable communities through investments in public transit that provide a better quality of life by limiting gridlock, controlling urban sprawl and protecting greenspace. The federal and provincial governments are working together to deliver real, positive change in the Region of Waterloo and across the province. Federal funding for the technical studies will be provided through Transport Canada¿s $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which funds studies that examine better integration of transportation systems. As these studies are underway, the Government of Canada will continue to work with the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo to determine the best approach for transportation services in the area and to examine the potential for future federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure funding for these projects. A backgrounder on the Light Rail Transit project is attached. - 30 - Contacts: Christina Van Loon Office of the Minister of Transport Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Jacques Gravel Transport Canada Communications, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 Ross Parry Office of Minister Caplan (416) 325-1657 Bryan Stortz Office of Mr. Seiling (519) 575-4408 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. For information on Public Infrastructure Renewal please visit the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal's Web site at www.pir.gov.on.ca. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER REGION OF WATERLOO LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT Waterloo is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada and is responding to many of the same challenges being faced by mid-sized urban areas throughout North America. These challenges include outward pressure on urban boundaries and downtown areas in need of revitalization. The Regional Growth Strategy adopted by the Region of Waterloo on June 25, 2003, links the development of transportation infrastructure with the achievement of land use objectives, including higher densities along a planned 30-kilometre central transit corridor linking the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo and ultimately extending south to Cambridge. The Light Rail Transit project would be integrated with the express bus service to Cambridge, the municipal transit system, intercity bus services, GO Transit and VIA Rail. This project would support the redevelopment goals in the region as laid out in the Regional Growth Management Strategy. The federal and provincial governments believe that the proposed project has excellent potential to encourage a more sustainable urban environment and will work with the Region of Waterloo to further investigate the proposal. Technical Studies The technical studies to be completed will: further demonstrate how best to support anticipated urban growth through transit investment and land use planning; assess various transit options for the region and how they can be integrated with other transportation services; provide detailed ridership projections for the proposed new transit line; and provide detailed cost-benefit analyses. The information gathered through these studies will inform and could supplement the environmental assessment. Environmental Assessment The environmental assessment will be funded jointly by the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo. It will encompass a detailed design of the proposed light rail transit project. It is expected that completing the technical studies will accelerate the environmental assessment process. Funding Transport Canada and the Region of Waterloo will equally share the cost of the technical studies up to a maximum of $500,000. The environmental assessment will be funded jointly by the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo. The total cost for all the studies is estimated at up to $2.5 million. Federal funding for the technical studies will be provided for under Transport Canada¿s $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which funds work to examine better integration of transportation systems. Other Support for the Waterloo Region The Government of Canada is currently funding urban transit projects in the Region of Waterloo. The Central Transit Corridor Express Project will link Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo with cycle-friendly, express bus service along a clearly defined corridor. The service will incorporate innovative technologies such as information technology to provide real-time transit information and web-based trip planning opportunities. The service is expected to start in September 2005. The Province of Ontario has been assisting the Region of Waterloo in replacing and refurbishing their transit fleet (buses). The Province has also committed funding support to the Region of Waterloo for express bus services from Kitchener to Cambridge. The services will help build ridership along the Central Transit Corridor, bus and passenger facilities and advanced transit technologies. May 2004
