Gearing Up For LRT

The need of effective public transit and active transportation has been a prominent subject of discussion among policy makers, urban planners and environmental enthusiasts. While Waterloo Region gears up to welcome the LRT in December this year after many delays, let’s look at what it has in store for the city.

1. Answer to tackling sprawl? – Transit oriented development along the LRT is bound to happen due to easy of accessibility, which will amplify the demand for housing and facilities in the ‘transit station areas’. An additional 110,000 to 265,000 people and jobs are projected in the next 20 years for these areas if developed to the full potential. This will promote denser growth and effectively reduce sprawl. Let’s hope for the LRT to be the vehicle of transformation towards a more sustainable city!
2. Welcoming Change – The positives of dense developments are numerous, but are we ready to accept the change that comes with them? As of December 2017, 10 Highrise condo units have been proposed in the University and Uptown areas, which has caused concerns in the residents of existing neighbourhoods about impacts of intensification, such as traffic and parking. While these concerns are valid, the city aims to synchronise planning of ‘station areas’ with the character and function of the existing neighbourhoods, making this change easier to accept.
3. The Money Magnet – The LRT has generated interest among investors and an investment of 2.1 billion dollars has already been reported along the LRT corridor. With private investors looking at Waterloo as a potential region for major money making, the city’s overall economy will receive a boost as well. This also means additional funds with the city in the form of building permit fees, which will ultimately be invested in new projects in the city.
4. The case of Affordable Housing – As the demand for housing around the LRT corridors increases, the prices skyrocket as well, meaning lack of affordable housing. It is essential for an inclusive development to ensure that low income households are not pushed away from these services. Accessibility to social services and support is necessary to lift these sections of the society.

Sure, the project has pros and cons. When weighed against each other, proactive planning and policies to mitigate the negative impacts will put LRT in a positive light. There has been huge support for this project during the extensive public consultation meetings that were undertaken to involve the citizens in the process. There is hope that LRT will pave way for a sustainable future we all want!

By: Gursimran K. Saini

Sources:

• http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/lrt-kitchener-waterloo-affordable-housing-amsterdam-gentrification-1.4369342
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ion-build-lrt-corridor-1.4431670
• https://www.therecord.com/news-story/4628637-lrt-means-intensification-transformation-in-waterloo-core/
• https://www.therecord.com/news-story/5214078-impact-of-lrt-construction-on-businesses-needs-to-be-addressed-waterloo/
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/lrt-kitchener-waterloo-affordable-housing-amsterdam-gentrification-1.4369342
• http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/lrt-on-track-to-benefit-waterloo