IONize Waterloo Region

ION Stage 1: A Proven Success

ION Stage 1 delivered strong results for Kitchener-Waterloo:

• Economic Growth: Sparked nearly $5 billion in development along the line.
• Steady Ridership: In 2023, ION LRT carried approximately 4.3 million annual rides, translating to roughly 11,780 daily boardings.
• Land Use: Since its approval in 2009, nearly 19,000 residential units were built along the corridor.

ION Stage 2: Shaping the Future of Waterloo Region

Extending the LRT to Cambridge will complete a reliable high-quality foundation for the entire Waterloo Region central transit corridor.

• Unlock Economic Opportunities for Cambridge: Like Stage 1, Stage 2 will unlock major growth along Hespeler Road and in Preston and Galt, bringing new homes, jobs, investment, and placemaking.
• Transit-Oriented Growth: As the Region gains population, ION will support more of that growth being in compact, walkable developments with easier car-free access to jobs and amenities.
• Three Cities, one ION: Cambridge’s leaders supported ION Stage 1 in part because of the promise of Stage 2. Fulfilling that promise is important for a strong Waterloo Region that sees Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo working together for a shared future.

What Could Stage 3 and Beyond Look Like?

A number of ideas have shown up in Region of Waterloo planning concepts:

• Erb-University-King Corridor: Connecting the Boardwalk, the Erb Street corridor, the university district, and King Street.
• Victoria–Highland–Queen Corridor: A central cross-town route in Kitchener.
• Ottawa Street Corridor: A cross-town route in Kitchener, connecting over a new Grand River crossing to the Regional Airport.

A growing community needs more than just one rapid transit corridor, and extending the ION line with additional higher-order lines will help guide more of the Region’s growth to be in the form of transit-oriented, walkable development, and provide a better connected overall transit network for all of us.

1. In-House Project Team

Create and maintain a public transit infrastructure team responsible for managing and delivering transit projects efficiently and consistently. This enables less reliance on consultants for core project management and more cost- and schedule-effective procurement.

Building in-house capacity would help get ION stage 2 built, and we would be able to leverage the expertise to continue efficient transit expansion.

2. Build Incrementally

Secure funding for the entire route, but build in tighter increments to create momentum and iterate on project delivery. For example:

• Fairway → Sportsworld
• Sportsworld → Preston
• Preston → Pinebush

Different segments can be delivered in smaller, more manageable contracts by multiple firms, creating opportunities for local contractors to grow their transit expertise, providing a more competitive bidding environment, and allowing more options for the Region if a contractor isn’t getting it done.

3. Keep Going

Once ION light rail reaches Downtown Cambridge, we shouldn’t stop.

With the momentum and expertise from Stage 2, Waterloo Region should continue transit expansion

• Build more lines to maximize access.
• Extend lines and add stations on existing sections where warranted.
• Prepare for future intercity rail connections, or even build some ourselves.

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