News roundup: April 27, 2026

By Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

We missed the last roundup, so here’s the latest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region for the last month. And there’s a lot of news happening, sorry.

What's happening

• BILL 98: TTCriders is asking people to send a message against the transit provisions of Ontario Bill 98. Currently the changes wouldn’t apply to GRT, but changing that would be a matter of regulation, not legislation.
• PRESTON: Cambridge has updated its draft secondary plan for Preston, which will guide growth in part of the ION Stage 2 corridor. (EngageWR)
  • Open house Monday, April 27 6:30-8pm at Preston Auditorium
  • Statutory Public Meeting on May 5th at 6:30PM, at Cambridge City Council
  • Survey open on EngageWR
• HESPELER RD: Similarly, Cambridge has shared its Hespeler Road Corridor Secondary Plan along the part of the ION Stage 2 route most likely to be transformed. (EngageWR)
  • Statutory Public Meeting on May 5th at 6:30PM, at Cambridge City Council
  • Q&A feedback on EngageWR
• FRANKLIN BLVD: The City of Cambridge has a survey open on EngageWR until May 8 for the reconstruction design for Franklin Blvd in its northern terminus in Hespeler.
• WELLESLEY: Wellesley Township’s draft Official Plan is now available for review on EngageWR. A public workshop will be held on the evening of May 13, and the planning team will hold office hours on May 12. (EngageWR)
• TREES: The Region of Waterloo is developing an Urban Forestry Management Plan and has a survey open on EngageWR.
• TRANSIT DATA: For undergraduate and graduate students across the Region and across Canada, the TransitData Symposium is hosting a Transit Data Challenge.
• JANE’S WALKS: Jane’s Walks are being held across Waterloo Region this coming weekend, May 1–3. See part of the city from another perspective and connect with other engaged citizens. (Jane’s Walk WR)
• PEDESTRIAN SUMMIT: Cycle Toronto is running Toronto's first community-organized Pedestrian Summit, this Sunday, May 3rd from 5–8:30PM at the Cecil Community Centre. (Cycle Toronto)

Walking, biking, and streets

• Ontario is proposing to update the definitions of e-bikes to have insurance and license requirements for moped-style vehicles (Ontario Regulatory Registry via Kevin McLaughlin)
• Region adding two pedestrian crossovers as part of a number of traffic controls - one in Cambridge at Concession St / Cameron St, and one at Iron Horse Trail at Queen St in Kitchener (Region of Waterloo agenda, Cambridge Today)
• The City of Kitchener is continuing actions towards its Vision Zero strategy, including targeted hot-spot traffic calming, safer street designs in road reconstruction, working with WRPS on data-driven enforcement, and educational campaigns. They are also working with the University of Waterloo and nearby municipalities on lidar-based analysis of driving behaviour at intersections. (CityNews, Kitchener agenda)
• CBC: Kitchener man dies after collision between pickup truck and e-bike. Police say the collision happened Friday night at the intersection of Lancaster Street and Guelph Street
• The Record: Does ‘accessible’ mean usable? Concerns raised over Cambridge trail plan. A key part of Phase 3 of Dunbar Road multi-use trail project is a new pedestrian crossing near International Village Dr., which is close to a school, a mosque and the Cambridge Centre mall. 
• CKWR: No cameras, new plan: Cambridge developing added traffic calming measures
• A number of stretches of Regional Road will be getting multi-use paths in reconstruction or as infill (Region of Waterloo agenda, CityNews)
• Region moving forward with new bridge for the Guelph to Goderich rail trail (The Record, Guelph Today)
• Cambridge Today: Cambridge parking frustrations lead residents to seek relief

Transit

• TriTAG: Why ION cost estimates went up (and what to do about it)
• The Record (covering our ION speed article): Ion trains are slower than buses. How can we speed them up?
• CityNews: Accessibility advocates, students concerned as GRT workers prepare to strike
• GRT: Spring service starts on Monday, April 27, with route frequency changes and stop removals. Updated schedules have been added to GRT’s Schedules page and trip planning tools.
• Region of Waterloo: GRT pilot helps community agencies reduce transportation barriers
• CP24: Ontario is cracking down on fare evasion on GO Transit. Here are the new steeper fines being proposed
• GO Transit
  • GO Transit has added a new weekday express train arriving in Kitchener at 10:26, and one departing 3:43pm. It has added stops for routes 17, 25, and 30, and additional Route 30 buses to address overcrowding. (GO Transit, CBC, CityNews)
  • Starting July 6, GO Transit will also be extended to Stratford, with a weekday round trip to Toronto extended from Kitchener, and a new weekend round trip from Toronto. There is no word on any GO bus service to Stratford. (Ontario)
  • Metrolinx: GO Expansion moving into next major construction phase
• Kitchener Central Station
  • Kitchener City Council approved a motion from Councillor Stephanie Stretch to direct staff to work with the Region and Metrolinx on near-term solutions to improve traffic congestion and sidewalk maintenance at the current Kitchener train station. (Kitchener agenda)
  • Council also approved a second motion from Councillor Stretch on working with the Region and Metrolinx on a proactive and ongoing communications approach around the Kitchener Central Transit Hub construction. (Kitchener agenda)
  • The Region of Waterloo has issued a notice of completion for the new design for Victoria Street North along the future Kitchener Central Station. This is part of the Environmental Assessment process that will enable necessary property expropriation. (Region of Waterloo, EngageWR)
  • CityNews: Judge reserves decision on encampment eviction bylaw 
• Metrolinx
  • The Trillium: Metrolinx ‘blocked’ key tasks, then fired partners for missing deadlines: report. Internal emails and minutes hint at what a source called 'pure chaos' behind the scenes.
  • The Star: Problems with UP Express tracks dating. back to 2015 defy repair attempts, confidential Metrolinx report reveals.
  • “Of the top 25 riskiest railway crossings in Canada, 14 are owned by Metrolinx, the provincial agency in charge of GO Transit” (Sean Marshall).
  • Global News: Number of VPs at Metrolinx grows again, some consultants come on board permanently.
  • The Star: Opinion | Upgrading GO train service should be a no-brainer. So why has it gone off the rails so badly?
  • The Star: Opinion | Why the Waterfront East LRT is a chance for Toronto to show Metrolinx the better way to build a transit project

The shape of our cities

• The provincial government intends to replace the elected regional chair of Waterloo Region (and other regional municipalities) with an appointed one granted “strong chair” powers (The Record, CBC)
• City of Cambridge releases Hespeler Road Corridor Secondary Plan, which would guide growth along the ION extension – towards an urban direction, away from the current big box commercial (EngageWR, The Record)
• A new development proposal would place Cambridge’s tallest building right at a future ION light rail station (Cambridge Today)
• Cambridge Today: LETTER: Citizens for Cambridge backs alternative heritage district concept
• The second draft of Kitchener’s new Official Plan was released, locating strategic growth areas within 800m of an ION station, within 400m of the planned GRT frequent service network, or within 400m of the Ottawa St corridor (a contender for ION stage 3) (EngageWR)
  • The Record: ‘Beginning of the end’: Westmount residents push back against Kitchener growth plan
• CKWR: 'They're not being truthful': Tensions as Kitchener adopts renoviction bylaw 
• The City of Waterloo has approved the upzoning of the Sugarbush South neighbourhood for mid-rise redevelopment (City of Waterloo, EngageWR)
• The Record: Move faster to turn the city core into a green showcase, Waterloo City council is told
• A zoning amendment is being proposed to build an industrial subdivision in Woolwich Township directly adjacent to the north boundary of the City of Waterloo. The lands are currently designated as Prime Agricultural in the official plan. The formal public meeting is on April 28. (EngageWR, Woolwich agenda)
• Wellesley Township has released its draft Official Plan for review. It encourages some infill, but also designates urban boundary expansion for Wellesley itself. It is planned for adoption by June. (Wellesley Township)
• The Record: Councillor wants Waterloo Region to consider a housing corporation. Setting up a separate, self-sustaining housing corporation could help the region provide more affordable homes and reduce the burden on taxpayers, says Coun. Joe Gowing.
• Citified: The Council Round-Up (Apr 2026): A snapshot of what's happening in council chambers around Waterloo Region
• TVO: ANALYSIS: Cities are for people, not planners. How urban planners have shaped our cities — and why it might be time to take back some control.

Elsewhere

• CP24: GTHA transit unions call on Ford government to halt expansion of fare integration program
• National Observer: Opinion | What Ontario can learn from Amsterdam’s cycling culture
• Kaifee Haque: Next Stop: Urban Decline — Carney's Public Transit Cuts and the Myth of "Responsible Spending". For every dollar invested in public transit, $7 is produced in economic and social benefits. So why is the Liberal government cutting the Canada Public Transit Fund?
• The National Farmers Union is fighting against the Alto High Speed Rail plan (NFU, NFU-Ontario)