News roundup: November 8, 2025

First of all, this week the Region’s Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee voted 15 to 1 to support extending ION as light rail all the way to downtown Cambridge! Once ratified, staff will begin preliminary work and pursue upper level government funding.

Now here’s the rest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region for the last few weeks. As always, you can subscribe to get updates delivered directly to your inbox, and you can also follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What’s happening

• ION STAGE 2:
  • On November 19 at 7pm, the ION stage 2 decision from committee needs to be ratified by Regional Council. This will be at Regional Council chambers at 150 Frederick St in Kitchener.
  • You can still send in your written support or even sign up to present, but most of all – help us support ION by showing up for this momentous occasion!
  • We’ll be there with IONizeWR buttons, and after the meeting we will walk over for a social gathering in downtown Kitchener.
• 2026 PLAN AND BUDGET: Region of Waterloo is currently undergoing engagement for next year’s plan and budget (EngageWR)
  • Budget Community Consultation: Cambridge (Kinbridge Community Centre)
    • Monday, November 10, 5-7 pm
  • Strategic Planning and Budget Committee - Public Input:
    • Tuesday, November 18, 6:00 pm
    • Wednesday, December 03, 6:00 pm
• BILL 60: “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 – Modern Transportation – Prohibiting Vehicle Lane Reduction for New Bicycle Lanes.” Submit a comment to the Province by November 22 to oppose regulation preventing more cycling infrastructure.

Walking, biking, and streets

• CTV News: Provincial government says they have reached ‘a huge milestone’ in Highway 7 expansion
• City of Cambridge: 2026 budget includes money for new active transportation infrastructure, streetscape studies, and a 1% infrastructure levy
• City of Kitchener: Update delivered on long-term parking strategy
• The Record: Preferred rail-trail crossing in Wallenstein uses existing pier
• CBC News: Speed cameras are controversial in Canada. So why does Europe love them?
• The Record: Waterloo Region speed cameras will be scrapped by Nov. 14, says Ford

Transit

• ION
  • The Regional committee meeting on November 4 has supported a full ION light rail extension to Cambridge in a 15 to 1 vote. We live posted about the meeting on Bluesky. This decision is to be fully ratified at Regional Council on November 19, at 7pm (The Record, CTV News)
  • CambridgeToday: Report shows how the ION has changed business, investment and people
  • Extend LRT all the way to downtown Cambridge, region staff say (Region of Waterloo, The Record, CambridgeToday)
  • LETTER: Downtown Cambridge is ready for LRT says the owner of Monigram Coffee Roasters in Downtown Galt (CambridgeToday)
  • CambridgeToday: LETTER: LRT support goes beyond door-knocking campaign
• GRT
  • Conestoga bus station has reopened October 31st with improvements (GRT)
  • CityNews: GRT improvements to close Fountain Street South in Cambridge
  • Evening, weekend bus service for Wilmot to start next fall (The Record, Wilmot Township committee, page 13)
  • A drop in international student enrollment at Conestoga College is being blamed for an $11 million budget shortfall at Grand River Transit (CTV News, City News)
• GO Transit
  • Metrolinx to buy 20.9 km stretch of track from CN Rail to pave the way for two-way all-day service on the Kitchener GO Line (Ontario Newsroom, UrbanToronto, CTV News, Metrolinx YouTube)
  • CityNews: ‘Construction market’ makes timelines for Kitchener GO expansion unclear: Metrolinx CEO
• Hearing for Waterloo Region bylaw to clear 100 Victoria encampment adjourned until February 2026. Mediation underway for resolution. (Region of Waterloo, The Record, CBC)
• Transit advocates across the country worry that federal budget could spell big cuts to public transit (TTCriders, CUTA)

Shape of our cities

• The Record: Mayor says housing density is coming to Cambridge despite resident pushback
• CityNews: City of Kitchener following up on decision to allow fourplexes
• Ontario Newsroom: Province Introducing Legislation to Build Homes and Infrastructure Faster

Elsewhere

• Urban Toronto: Construction, Planning Plodding Along For Hurontario LRT
• Mount Dennis train station is set to open on Nov. 16. It will service the Kitchener Line and UP Express (GO Transit, Metrolinx, City News)
• Marco Chitti via Substack: Why I’m still skeptical about ALTO’s HSR project
• CBC British Columbia: Right Turn of Death | Creator Network | A Film by The Greater Discussions