random ramblings on urban issues and politics

Jeff Casello has presented a thoughtful and convincing case for light rail in Kitchener-Waterloo in today’s Record. I have had the pleasure of taking a course taught by Prof. Casello and learned a very large amount in a short period of time.

K-W is an interesting case for light rail, as it is a mid-sized city by Canadian standards (~500 000) but to my knowledge would be one of the smallest to implement a light rail system. As Prof. Casello outlines in the article, K-W is also known for being comparitively lacking in congestion. However, with a growth boundary, a healthy and growing high-tech economy, an educated workforce, and two leading Ontario universities, K-W can expect to grow and should expect that it will need a light rail system so that it can grow efficiently.

Update: On Thursday, June 25, Waterloo’s Regional Council voted 15-1 in approval of the light rail system. The cost of the system  is expected to be $790M, with support already announced from the Province under their MoveOntario 2020 plan, and more money from the federal government was announced within hours of this announcement. You can expect that competitive electoral ridings has something to do with it.