Waterloo Region's Transportation and Environmental Services department has released their final recommendations for the implementation of rapid transit.
And it seems to reflect very few changes from the report released prior to the public input sessions.
However, there does appear to be an increased commitment to Cambridge, with a recommendation to put aside $1 million each year to expand train system sooner rather than later.
Regional Councillor Jim Wideman says "That is my intention, that's the intention of any of the councillors that I have spoken to. The issue is we have to start somewhere. And it's more logical to start where the highest ridership exists, but it's a commitment to go all the way."
To keep costs down, staff recommends that LRT be built in stages, starting with the distance from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall, then continuing to the Ainslie Street Terminal in stage two.
The report finds that rapid transit is the preferred option to help deal with the population and employment growth that is expected in the region.
An environmental assessment initiated in 2006 found light rail transit (LRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) were the best option to help support redevelopment, make the best use of existing roads and railways and work with existing neighbourhoods.
While BRT was found to be cheaper per kilometre to install and operate, the reports finds the number of buses needed to meet demand will exceed road capacity within 20 years, requiring an expensive conversion to LRT at that time.
Funding from the provincial and federal governments was announced in 2010, but taxpayers are still facing an increase to pay for the rapid transit system and an increase in bus service from Grand River Transit.
Wideman has proposed an amendment to minimize the burden on taxpayers, which is expected to get wide support.
"Staff had recommended a tax increase of 1.5 per cent over seven years. What I'm recommending is a tax increase of 0.7 for the light rail and and another 0.3 for the rapid transit system, which we were going to spend irregardless of light rail. That's achieved through applying the savings that we will get from the fact that we have paid off the mortgage on our two main buildlings for the region, Regina Street and Frederick Street."
The final vote on the recommended plan and the amendments will take place on Wednesday, June 15 with the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
