News roundup: September 8, 2026

By Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

Here's the latest in walking, biking, and transit news from the last week and change for Waterloo Region.

What's happening

• MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Elections for city, township, region, and school boards will be on October 26. Consider using your time or money to support the candidates who you would like to see represent you!
  • CAMBRIDGE ELECTS: Town Halls for Cambridge city council, mayor, and regional councillor races will be held this month; residents can vote for their topic priorities online at Cambridge Elects. The Ward 3 Town Hall will be tonight (September 8) at 7pm, Ward 7 Town Hall will be tomorrow (September 9), and Ward 2 Town Hall will be on Thursday, September 10.
  • CBC: Here's who's running for mayor and regional council in Waterloo region in October municipal election
• WOOLWICH PLAN: Woolwich Township is hosting a public open house regarding its draft new Official Plan, on Thursday, September 10, from 5 to 7pm at Breslau Community Centre. (EngageWR)
• CAMBRIDGE STRATEGY: The City of Cambridge is developing a new Strategic Plan, with an online survey open to residents. Staff will also be at community events this Saturday, September 12 at the Fire Services Open House and at the Newcomer Connections Picnic. (EngageWR)
• CAMBRIDGE PARKS: The City of Cambridge is planning targeted improvements in Churchill and Birkinshaw parks, potentially including the trail network, and has a survey open. They will also be at the Newcomer Connections Picnic on Saturday from 11am to 2pm. (EngageWR)
• WATERLOO TREES: The City of Waterloo is seeking feedback on its Draft Urban Forest Management Strategy. The last day for the survey is Sunday, September 13.

Walking, biking, and streets

• City of Kitchener: Help make back to school season safe in Kitchener
• CBC: Slow down and watch for students who are walking, biking and scootering to school today, police say. As students walk, cycle and scooter their way back to class on Tuesday, police and transportation officials are reminding drivers to slow down and be safe in and around school zones.
• EngageWR: Boulevard Trees. We will be planting almost 700 trees on boulevards that have not previously had trees. They will help provide shade, cool neighbourhoods and contribute to a healthier urban environment.
• CBC: Cambridge e-bike rider dies following Sunday collision, police say. A 64-year-old Cambridge man is dead after a collision involving an e-bike, a Ram pickup truck and a Nissan motor vehicle, according to Waterloo Regional Police.
• The Record: Driver who killed woman, 76, in Waterloo Region crash sentenced to 42 months. Kitchener driver was travelling 55 km/h over the speed limit in crash near Wellesley
• The Record: Opinion | Get e-scooters off our roads, sidewalks, trails — and highways, too. These dangerous devices are breaking our bones and our hearts. Get rid of them, Luisa D'Amato writes
• The Record: Can my child ride an e-scooter to school in Ontario? Here's what provincial rules say and why pediatricians are sounding the alarm. If you are one of those parents who are wondering if your child can skip the bus and ride an e-scooter to school instead, there are rules and warnings you need to know.

Transit

• The Region of Waterloo is planning to add more queue jump provisions to speed buses through key intersections. (CambridgeToday, Region of Waterloo agenda)
• GO trains will not be running to Kitchener 3 of the next 4 weekends due to construction (GO Transit)
• CityNews Toronto: Service cuts coming to multiple GO Transit train lines, Ontario minister says it’s ‘temporary’. Officials say GO Transit bus services will be boosted as the agency deals with crew staffing and construction-related issues.
• Infrastory: The Myth of Non-Stop High-Speed Rail. High speed doesn’t have to mean non-stop.
• CBC: Feds announce $4.7B for new Via Rail cars to be built in Ontario, Quebec. Move will shift production away from United States, prime minister says
• Toronto Star: Former Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster joins federal government’s Alto high-speed rail project. Once-embattled Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster is joining the federal government’s $90 billion Alto high-speed rail project.
• The Transit Brief: Why transit suddenly costs so much. The English-speaking world’s cost crisis.

The shape of our cities

• CambridgeToday: Cambridge high-rise proposal heads to Ontario Land Tribunal. Cambridge council’s decision to vote down a staff-proposed 16-storey height cap is now part of an OLT appeal related to a 40-storey tower application for King Street East

Elsewhere

• Global News: Hazel McCallion LRT struggled with liquidity, design and ‘quality of work performed’. Briefings obtained by Global News show that, throughout 2025, Metrolinx and the Ford government were worried the light rail build was 'experiencing a number of issues.'