Why does Waterloo Region need rapid transit?
Although a rapid transit corridor appeared in the 1976 Region Official Policies Plan, work on implementing it began only after the Region assumed responsibility for transit in 2000 and included it in the plans for a Growth Management Strategy which was adopted in 2003. Subsequently the Province of Ontario, through the Places to Grow legislation, mandated the Region to plan for major population growth that was to be accommodated in large part by cutting back greenfield development and redeveloping and intensifying urban areas. The Region continues to plan for significant population and employment growth over the next two decades. With little opportunity to add or expand the road networks in our core areas, and an expected increase in population of 100,000 in the central transit corridor, Regional Council chose rapid transit as the most sustainable transportation solution to meet our communitys future transportation needs.
