Region reveals new proposed route for Cambridge's LRT

The region has released its newest proposed route for the second phase of the LRT, which will connect Kitchener to Cambridge.

The 2018 proposed route has some changes to the 2017 proposed route. The new route will be three minutes faster and will affect 60 fewer properties.

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However, the new 2018 proposed route will come with an estimated price tag of $1.36 billion.

Cambridge is currently served by bus service through the community, and the BRT, which began operations in 2015. Stage two will eventually replace the BRT with the LRT.

Proposed changes

The new proposal looks at several changes to the 2017 proposed route, most significantly, to continue the route parallel to Highway 8 and use less of Eagle Street.

In Kitchener, rather than going through Grand River Hospital on King Street East, the new proposal suggests to continue parallel to Highway 8. 

"LRT will run on an independent structure along the west side of Highway 8, and will fully span the river and be elevated through the valley to minimize environmental impact," the report said.

The new route also shifts slightly, a few streets up at Shantz Hill Road in Cambridge to meet at King Street and Eagle, rather than at Moore Street and Eagle Street.

Reducing property impacts between the Moore Street and William Street area was one of the main reasons staff explored alternatives routes, the report said.

A third significant change focuses on using less of Eagle Street. The 2018 route will use CP Rail line, no longer in use, parallel to Eagle Street instead before it turns on Hespeler Road.

"[The route] will require grade separation with the CN Rail corridor, then follows a railway spur to Eagle Street," the report said.

Public consultations

The region has a number of public consultation dates lined up to hear public input on the new proposed route. 

• May 8, 2018 4-8 p.m.at the  Holiday Inn. 30 Fairway Road South, Kitchener
• May 9, 2018 4-8 p.m.at the Preston Memorial Auditorium. 1458 Hamilton Street, Cambridge
• May 10, 2018 4-8 p.m. Hamilton Family Theatre. 46 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge