Raise the Hammer

As a Waterloo region resident and big supporter of the LRT project, I do want to say that it's not all sunshine and roses in WR. I think we're mostly going in the right direction, but LRT was a long and protracted cat fight that culminated in the 2014 municipal election. It was exhausting. And now, a lot is riding on the region's (and private partner's) ability to execute.

So what made this happen? Our regional council and staff has been (largely) on board with a good plan, of which LRT is just a part. Those candidates who don't support intensification or investment in transit have largely failed to gain office, usually because they've been too extreme or polarizing. The people of WR are hardly in agreement about this plan (and the LRT issue has been worsening the Cambridge/KW divide), but a lot of folks are willing to take a "wait and see" approach. And some tireless effort from community groups to try and bolster the message.

On the other hand, regional staff failed to make the most of communication. Consultation happened and involved thousands of people, but still there were too many myths and misconceptions being spread without an active response from official sources. That meant a 2009 decision ended up being revisited in 2011, and even more worrying, in 2014 candidates sprang up hell-bent on cancelling a project in progress no matter what the cost. In a way, this project required the approval of 3 successive councils to happen (active approval of the 2006 council and 2010 council, and tacit approval to continue by the 2014 council.)

Let's not forget the failed court challenge brought against this project as a delaying tactic by special interests.

On top of all this, there are signs that the rapid transit team has been too siloed and not coordinating well with the goals of other parts of regional government. What they've produced is a good plan, but not a great plan. It's full of compromises and missed opportunities, as is the over-arching transportation master plan where the region has been lagging in the creation of a proper rapid bus network that will support the LRT.

Still, I'm very positive about the direction WR is taking. And I think that opening a modern, dedicated-guideway LRT in Wateroo will do wonders for Hamilton and other cities in Ontario as people can finally look at a real example go "Oh, I get it now." Assuming, of course, that we can pull it off on time and on budget.