News roundup: March 2, 2026

By Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

Here’s the latest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region for the last two weeks.

What's happening

• DUNDEE SECONDARY PLAN: Kitchener is hosting a final in-person public engagement meeting for how 450 hectares of greenfield land should be developed in southwest Kitchener. Thursday, March 5, 4:00 to 7:00 pm, at Huron Community Centre (80 Tartan Avenue). (EngageWR)
• RENTAL REPLACEMENT BYLAW: Provide your comments by March 20 to be considered in the report to Waterloo City Council. (EngageWR)
• GALT HERITAGE: Cambridge is working on a heritage conservation district for the Galt core - which could affect transit-oriented growth around the ION corridor (EngageWR)
  • Open house Monday, March 2, 4 to 7pm - Cambridge City Hall, Bowman Room
  • Survey on EngageWR open until March 13

Walking, biking, and streets

• A staff report to a City of Kitchener standing committee recommends designating an active transportation Route 2 between Stanley Park, downtown Kitchener, and uptown Waterloo. The work includes wayfinding signage, some paving of off-street paths, four new pedestrian crossovers, and designation of several low-speed street sections as neighbourhood bikeways. (City of Kitchener agenda)    
• Guelph Today: Funding moves Guelph closer to closing gap in the G2G Rail Trail
• CityNews: Fatal crashes in Waterloo region saw a sharp increase in 2025
• CBC: 'I just had enough': This Cambridge dad shovels accessible parking spots for his son. City says it clears parking spots within 24 hours of a snowfall

Transit

• TriTAG: On The Fast Track: How to Make ION Even Faster
• Regional Council supported Matt Rodrigues’ motion for a staff report on improving GRT bus stop snow clearing and better coordinating with local municipalities. (Regional agenda, Bluesky)
• The Region of Waterloo is replacing 34 end-of-life diesel buses with New Flyer diesel-hybrid buses at a cost of $1.55m per bus, largely through provincial (33%) and federal (40%) capital funds. In 2024, a similar order came out to $1.20m per hybrid Nova bus, so this year’s order reflects a 29% increase. (Region of Waterloo agenda)
• Global News: Cap on international students leading to drop in Ontario transit ridership
• Airways Transit ceasing operations, which offered direct shuttle service to and from airports in Waterloo Region, Toronto and Hamilton. (CP24, CityNews)
• Stratford Today: North Perth considers new PC Connect options. Councillors review four options for bus service, which on some routes would have access to Stratford

The shape of our cities

• The Record: The big farewell — Waterloo Region has lost 25,135 foreign students since 2023
• The Record: Developers ask OLT to rule on Cambridge 157-hectare urban plan. Builders appeals for approval of land development in northwest Hespeler, challenging city requirements and lack of response over the area that has water service from the Mannheim Service Area, where new building permits are on hold
• Cambridge Today: Galt Core heritage district expansion on hold for economic analysis and consultation
• Cambridge Today: Kitchener MPP calls for region-wide moratorium on water taking permits.
• Citified: Local News and Views (Feb 2026): An overview of local news and other happenings in and around Waterloo Region

Elsewhere

• Toronto Star: Opinion | Why it will take Toronto 13 years and more than $50 million to recover from Doug Ford’s hasty speed camera ban
• Toronto Star: Metrolinx and the city spent nearly $100M on SmartTrack stations that may never be built
• CBC News: High-speed rail must stop near Kingston, councillors demand. Some eastern Ontario communities openly opposing project.