News roundup: December 9, 2025

Here’s the latest in walking, biking, and transit news for Waterloo Region for the last month or so. Subscribe to get updates delivered directly to your inbox – note there’s a new option to get all our blog posts. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What’s happening

• ELMIRA: The Region of Waterloo is looking to rebuild Arthur Street through downtown Elmira, including protected bike lanes at the expense of some on-street parking.
  • Fill out the Region’s survey, open until December 19 at EngageWR.
  • Elmira residents and visitors should consider writing letters to the editor or engaging on social media
• PARKING: The City of Kitchener is putting together a long-term parking strategy for downtown Kitchener.
  • Register for a virtual open house December 10 from 6 to 7:30pm at EngageWR.
• PATHS: The City of Cambridge is planning to extend a multi-use path along Dunbar Road, and looking for input (EngageWR):
  • Public Information Centre December 9 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Islamic Centre of Cambridge - Hall B (Basement Level)
• GRT BUDGET: Write to your councillors to support expanding a frequent transit network, not cutting service. See our post for context.
  • Contact Regional Councillors here
• WELLESLEY: Wellesley Township is putting together a Transportation and Mobility Master Plan, with a survey open at EngageWR.
• KITCHENER: Share your feedback on the Kitchener draft Official Plan on EngageWR until December 12, 2025

Walking, biking, and streets

• An in-depth look at connecting Lester St and Philip St for pedestrians in Waterloo (Jackie Y)
• Arthur Street reconstruction in Elmira:
  • Region of Waterloo EngageWR project page and staff presentation
  • The Record: Region’s designs for Elmira’s Arthur Street would remove parking for cycling
  • The Record: Cycling lanes not wanted on Elmira’s main drag
  • CTV News: Major improvements coming to Arthur Street in downtown Elmira
• Bill 60:
  • The Record: Future bike lanes banned by provincial legislation
  • Guelph Today: Bill 60 is about a lot more than just bike lanes
• City of Waterloo Road Safety enhancements:
  • City of Waterloo: City staff identify locations for road safety enhancements
  • CityNews Kitchener: Waterloo sees over 2800 collisions over 5-year period
• Speed Cameras
  • CityNews Kitchener: Speed camera check-in: 7 days since programs were shut down
  • Region of Waterloo program update (Instagram)
  • The Record: Waterloo Region to receive piece of $42 million in funding for traffic calming measures in school zones as part of a provincial announcement with the removal of speed cameras.
• CBC: Coroner’s office calls for clearer definition of e-bikes in Ontario
• TVO: Analysis: I love my e-bike. But Ontario needs new rules

Transit

• 2025 Region of Waterloo Budget/Transit Cuts
  • The Record: Proposed GRT cuts are short-sighted, residents say
  • The Record: Residents oppose reduced frequency on GRT routes, pitch ideas to grow ridership
  • The Record: Opinion | Free transit for seniors long overdue
  • The Record: Opinion | Region of Waterloo having fun with budget numbers
  • CityNews: Region considering bus fare inspectors to recoup lost revenue
• Weekend GO Service Starts
  • CBC The Morning Edition K-W with Craig Norris: Transit users excited for new weekend GO train service
  • Toronto Star: ‘It’s about time’: GO transit launches Kitchener-Toronto weekend train service
  • The Record: Opinion | I thought taking the GO train to Toronto would be easy. These are all the reasons I was wrong
  • TriTAG: Waiting for the train: Why Kitchener still lacks all-day GO service
• ION Phase 2 Approved by Regional Council
  • IONizeWR (TriTAG): Onwards to Cambridge!
  • CTV News: Cambridge city councillor wants region to reimburse taxpayers for LRT
  • CambridgeToday: Fast-tracking LRT to Cambridge in 2026 to cost $12M
  • The Record: Region of Waterloo’s debt load could restrict future spending
• Expanded transit service coming to the Townships
  • The Record: Bus service to be expanded on Elmira, Breslau routes
  • The Record: Bus service between Ayr and Kitchener to start next fall
  • Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee Agenda: GRT Township Transit Strategy Submission to the Ontario Transit Investment Fund
• CambridgeToday: FlixBus adds Cambridge stop to expand Ontario network
• Metrolinx (via YouTube): Why service was paused along the Kitchener and Barrie lines
• Ontario Newsroom: Ontario extending One Fare to keep transit costs down for riders
• The Record: Hearing on Charter rights of encampment residents delayed until February
• Metrolinx: What’s in the GO bus fleet

The shape of our cities

• The Region of Waterloo has identified a water capacity issue for Kitchener and Waterloo that may affect development (Region of Waterloo)
• The Record: Opinion | News of a water shortage in Waterloo Region is a warning
• Galt Heritage Plan
  • Citizens for Cambridge: serious concerns regarding proposed galt core heritage conservation district
  • The Record: Long-running Galt heritage plan stalls amid council concerns
  • The Record: Cambridge brings back major plan to protect historic Galt
• The Record: A provincial conservation agency funded by municipalities is a ‘dangerous, slippery slope’
• The Record: There’s much chatter about Ford changing local government structure. What does it mean for Waterloo?

Elsewhere

• The Highway 413 draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is now available for comment until January 6, 2026. The new proposal includes a multi-use trail along the corridor due to public feedback.
• Alto HSR fast-tracked
  • iPolitics: Liberals’ budget implementation bill paves the way for expropriation of properties for high-speed rail line
  • BlogTO: 300km/h train through Ontario will happen years earlier than expected
• Montréal’s REM light metro opens next phase to Deux-Montagnes
  • Macleans: Montreal’s New Rail Line Is the Future: Canada has forgotten how to build fast, cheap transit. A new megaproject has the fix.
  • Globe and Mail: Why a transit megaproject in Montreal should be a model for Canada
• CTV News: Brampton councilor says speeding has increased since speed camera ticketing stopped
• Two-Wheeled Politics: Impact of Bill 60 on Toronto’s bike plans
• Global News: Ford government refuses to release completed work on Highway 401 tunnel idea
• Elora-Fergus Today: Wellington County Staff recommend paying to keep speed cameras running