News roundup: September 14, 2026

By Tri-Cities Transport Action Group

Here's the latest in walking, biking, and transit news from the last week or so 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!
  • A CivicTechWR project called Waterloo Region Votes aggregates information for voters about local municipal elections.
  • Town Halls continue for Cambridge city council, mayor, and regional councillor races, with town halls for Ward 4 (Monday), Ward 8 (Wednesday), and Ward 1 (Thursday) this week. (Cambridge Elects)
  • The Record: Why you should vote in the municipal election, even if most people don't. Voter turnout in Waterloo Region has sunk over the years, and that's why Premier Doug Ford is able to take away our election rights, Luisa D'Amato writes.

Walking, biking, and streets

• CBC: MADD Canada has unveiled a roadside memorial honoring Leanne Holland Brown, a Wilfrid Laurier University dean who was killed by an impaired driver in 2019.
• CKWR: WRPS lay 14 impaired charges in 12-hour span across Waterloo Region
• A Regional standing committee supported a motion by Councillor Doug Craig to ask staff to review current and potential river crossings in Cambridge from a transportation network perspective. (Regional committee agenda)

Transit

• TriTAG: GOing from Kitchener to London. The case for GO regional rail service to London
• CBC: GO train disruption for track work on Kitchener line this weekend and next. Track closures required to make improvements 'that will support faster, more frequent GO service'
• CBC: Lack of 'available crew' after World Cup to blame for temporary GO service changes, cuts, Metrolinx CEO says. Paused vacations, training to increase World Cup service now causing operator shortage, CEO says
• Toronto Star: Metrolinx report pulls back curtain on what led to GO train derailment outside Union Station. Visual inspections, maintenance issues led to poor track conditions near Union Station where a GO train derailed and caused chaos across the GO network.
• Reports suggest a recent near miss between a runaway CN freight car and a Kitchener line GO train (Reddit, Trevor Heywood)
• MP John Nater (Perth—Wellington) is calling out VIA Rail in an open letter for 0% on-time performance over the summer. (The Ranch 100.1 FM)

The shape of our cities

• Two mid-rise towers with 244 homes are being proposed in Waterloo between Union St, Roger St, and the Spur Line Trail. The property could increase trail network connectivity, however despite it being adjacent to the trail, the developer's planning documents say railway fencing requirements prevent a direct connection to the Spur Line Trail. (EngageWR)
• The Record: Motion calls for equitable approach to homelessness in Cambridge. The gender gap and geographic divide are forcing women to travel outside the city for services.
  • CBC: Cambridge shelters 'scrambling' to fill need, as YWCA CEO calls for better distribution of funding. Motion for more inclusive funding model passed unanimously
• The Record: More transparency on water levels will be available, regional council told. Rural residents want information about groundwater levels to better understand the impact pumping by the Region of Waterloo has had on private wells.
• The Record: One of Kitchener's largest parks was built on a 300-foot hill of trash — and now the ground is sinking. As garbage continues to decompose, the park built on top of a dump is heading for a change.