Regional chair Karen Redman says it is time to stop procrastinating and move forward with extending LRT to Cambridge in order to capitalize on provincial and federal funding opportunities.
"We have seen the costs of that delay," Redman said in an emailed statement on Friday. "It is time to stop procrastinating and build the rest of the LRT."
Accounting for inflation, the cost of building Stage 2 of the LRT has been pegged at $4.5 billion. In May the region voted in favour of moving forward in creating a business case for the expansion.
"Stage 1 LRT has connected existing transit, post-secondary campuses, businesses and residences in an accessible, low-cost, climate-friendly way. Meanwhile, the costs of delivering Stage 2 through Kitchener and Cambridge have only increased without the commensurate investment along the corridor."
She said light rail is "essential to quality of life, to the ability to access services, and to our collective ability to manage growth," pointing out that many families have ditched a second car because of light rail.
Redman said both the federal and provincial governments have made "bold commitments" to advancing transportation networks, including light rail, and it's important the region compete for those available funds.
"We are competing for these federal and provincial funds. This community contributes these dollars – one of this country’s economic powerhouses across manufacturing, technology, agri-food, insurance and professional services. Why would we ever settle for less than our fair share?" she said.
"To compete nationally and globally, our post-secondary institutions, hospitals, municipalities and businesses require transportation infrastructure connecting housing, tourism destinations, campuses, and commercial and employment centres. To continue to compete, we need a connected region."
She said light rail is moving nearly three million passengers annually, resulting in about $5 billion of investment along the transit corridor.
"Of course, no one is immune from procrastination. But the problem with procrastination is that it results in embarrassment – the more significant the decision or action, the more serious the cost of delay."
