News roundup: May 24, 2026

By Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

Here’s the latest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region from the last week or so. We’re going to try to stay on top of what’s happening with shorter, more frequent news roundups.

What's happening

• TRANSIT: The provincial government is planning updates to the Ontario Transit-Supportive Guidelines, “a provincial resource that offers best practices, tools, and strategies to help communities of all sizes create transit-friendly environments and increase transit ridership”. Comments are open through June 14th (ERO)
• BIKE CHECK: BikeKitchener is seeking volunteers so cyclists can enjoy summer events without worrying about the security of their bikes (City of Kitchener)
• KITCHENER STRATEGY: The City of Kitchener is looking for volunteers to join its Resident Panel to help shape its next strategic plan. Applications close May 29. (EngageWR, The Record)

Walking, biking, and streets

• Seasonal pedestrian street sections return to Cambridge with part of Main Street in Galt closed to cars May 25 through October 5, and weekend closures of Queen St E in Hespeler from June through August. (City of Cambridge)
• Wellesley Township Council will vote on a new Transportation and Mobility Master Plan on May 26. The plan does not envision much reduction in the share of trips made by car, but does plan for multi-use paths within urban areas, pedestrian crossovers, and more paved shoulders along rural roads (Wellesley Council Agenda, EngageWR) 
• The Cycling Guide Foundation has released a major version of their locally developed Cycling Guide app for planning safe biking routes (Cycling Guide Foundation)
• WRPS is helping to promote Project 529, an initiative aimed at reducing bike theft (Facebook - WRPS)
• The Region launched a 2025 Yearbook highlighting issues focused on in 2025, including an update on the Roundabout Pedestrian Safety Pilot (ROW Instagram, ROW Yearbook, EngageWR)
• CityNews: Region looking for feedback on Trussler Road plan by Hwy. 7/8
• CTV News: Waterloo mother launches petition over speeding concerns near school zone
• Cambridge Today: 'Heading for a real disaster:' Council asks regional staff to investigate Cambridge traffic congestion. Regional councillor Doug Craig's motion asking staff to come up with options for Blair Road, King and Fountain streets, and Shantz Hill earns unanimous support
  • The Record: No new road through Blair, says rare. Organization aims to “head off” any impacts on protected habitat as the region develops its new integrated mobility plan.

Transit

• City News: Region launches overnight accessible taxi pilot project
• Kitchener Central Station
  • City News: Prolonged closure on Duke Street in preparation for transit hub, with daytime work continuing until May 29.
  • The Record: Waterloo Region can not relocate homeless people in Kitchener encampment, court rules
  • CBC: Premier Doug Ford slams judge's decision barring region from clearing Kitchener encampment
  • The Record: Premier, Kitchener mayor, councillors react to Victoria Street encampment ruling
  • Waterloo Region Community Legal Services has the full Superior Court decision available on their website

The shape of our cities

• Cambridge City Council had largely supportive comments about the Hespeler Road Corridor Secondary Plan, which would guide growth along a prime redevelopment stretch of ION Stage 2. Council did not approve the plan yet, which is slated to return with revisions this summer (The Record, CKWR/FM 985, Cambridge Today)
• Cambridge Today: City staff will recommend council reject 'premature' Northwest Hespeler housing plan. Cambridge planning staff are advising councillors to deny an application that would open the door to thousands of new homes near the intersection of Hespeler and Maple Grove roads
• Melissa Bowman writes about the current local journalism ecosystem in Waterloo Region (Citified)
• The Narwhal: Ontario clamps down on conservation authorities as consolidation planning continues

Elsewhere

• The City of Toronto will pedestrianize two blocks of Church Street for two months this summer, after an advocacy push spearheaded by TriTAG’s own Rodney Chan (CBC, Spacing)