News roundup: April 3, 2025

Here’s the latest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region for the last few weeks. Subscribe to get updates delivered directly to your inbox! You can also follow us on Bluesky and Instagram.

What’s happening

• SUPPORT: The ambitious new GRT Business Plan will have a special public input session on Wednesday, April 16 at 6 pm. Email your support or sign up to speak as a delegation.
• PLAN: Sign up to lead a Jane’s Walk or ride on May 2, 3, and/or 4. And plan to join some walks that weekend!

Walking, biking, and streets

• “New Highway 7 a ‘boondoggle from Day 1’ as Ontario spends $222M with no road in sight” (The Record)
• Speed cameras
  • Region’s rotating speed camera program for school zones had a net cost in 2024 of less than $500K. It is being expanded and operations being made more efficient. (The Record)
  • “Township mayors want case-by-case approach to speed enforcement” (CityNews)
• City of Waterloo councillor Julie Wright tabled a notice of motion on provincial action on road salt use, to be considered at Council on April 14 (City of Waterloo)
• “Tired of inaction, Cambridge’s accessibility committee chair resigns” (The Record)
• “Removing bike lanes will likely worsen gridlock, lead to more collisions: government documents” (Toronto Today)

Transit

• Grand River Transit has released its new business plan and will be holding a special public input session on April 16 before presenting the final version to committee on May 6. Highlights of the plan include introducing a robust frequent service network, overnight service, highway express service, new township service, and no fares for children 12 and under. (GRT, Region of Waterloo agenda)
• GRT is removing some stops “to improve travel times and make bus service more reliable” (GRT)
  • A relevant analysis from Adriana Ceric: Investigating Bus Stop Spacing in the Waterloo Region
• Ice storms disrupted LRT service twice in the last week (The Record, CTV News)
• What can we do to minimize collisions between drivers and Ion trains? (March 5th, 52:04 The Mike Farwell Show, CityNews)
• GRT launched GRT Pay to allow payments through an app. (CityNews, The Record)
• “Strike by Region of Waterloo outside workers officially over; Picketers caused transit delays” (City News, CTV News)
• A petition calls for transit service from Conestoga Mall to east Bridgeport to serve a local temple. Route 5 provides service to the area but does not run east of uptown Waterloo on Sundays. (Region of Waterloo agenda, Change.org)
• “Artist behind GRT logo proud of long-lived legacy” (Around the Region)
• GO transit summer increases (CBC News, CTV News)
  • Route 17B - weekend service until August 24 from Waterloo to Burlington GO, connecting to Lakeshore and Route 12 Niagara Falls. (New 17 GO schedule)
  • 25F GO Bus reintroduced as an extension of the 30 to Highway 407 Bus Terminal, improving connections from UW, WLU, Kitchener GO, and the TTC (New 30-31-33 GO Schedule)
  • More Kitchener trains will now be running express (Metrolinx)
• Metrolinx had a whopping 118 vice presidents on the 2024 Sunshine List, an increase in 36 from 2023 (Global News)
• “Via Rail hits new high for late arrivals between Quebec City and Windsor: Passenger trains are forced to slow at rail crossings in dispute with CN Rail” (CBC News)
• HSR
  • “Liberals’ high-speed rail: a fast track to privatization: Experts say Trudeau’s plan will sideline VIA Rail—and passengers will pay the price” (The Breach)
  • “Cadence consortium signs contract for development of Canadian high speed rail” (Trains)

The shape of our cities

• Wilmot Township has a public meeting on Monday, April 7 for an official plan amendment to change land designation from employment to township urban area for a subdivision of 677 residential units, largely detached houses and townhouses. This is no longer subject to Regional planning approvals. (The Record, Wilmot Township agenda)
• City of Kitchener growth management showed a drop in residential building permits issued, especially for high-rise buildings, but did have an increase in low- and mid-rise apartments. 57% of housing starts were in the built-up area. (Kitchener agenda)
• A city of Kitchener report summarizes housing initiatives and projects (Kitchener agenda)
• “Kitchener secures additional $4.2M in federal housing funds” (CTV News)
• “Lower rent is on its way in Waterloo Region after hard-hit tenants absorb a decade of increases” (The Record)
• Projects
  • Historic Kitchener tire factory at Glasgow/Strange is for sale as a huge reuse and redevelopment site (Storeys)
  • “Cambridge city councillor planning bylaw to protect rental housing market” (CityNews)
  • “Final phase of Kitchener development at Victoria Commons set to add three high-rise towers” (CityNews, The Record)
  • “Waterloo city hall settles planning dispute over three towers on Bridgeport Road” (The Record)
  • Preston resident trying to fight Preston Springs redevelopment at OLT (The Record)
  • “Heritage designation possible for pair of Preston properties on LRT route” (Cambridge Today)

Elsewhere

• “The Week The Bike Network Vanished” (YouTube - Oh! The Urbanity)
• “Court denies injunction to stop Ontario removing Toronto bike lanes before legal challenge” (CBC News)
• “Ottawa sets conditions for funding support of LRT in Brampton including implementation of an integrated regional transit plan and the building of more housing units” (INsauga)
• “Final work ‘well underway’ on LRT east end extension” (Ottawa Citizen)
• The London (UK) Ultra Low Emissions Zone has caused a drastic reduction in air pollution (Electrek)
• Provincially-funded bus service between Guelph and Owen Sound extended until 2026 (Bayshore Broadcasting)
• New GO bus to stop in Six Nations, Mississaugas of the Credit, 1st Metrolinx route to reach First Nations (Metrolinx, CBC News)
• “Transit Stations Aren’t Designed for Women and Caregivers. Here’s How To Change That.” (Next City)