Mixed signals on support for rapid transit in Kitchener-Waterloo

How do you feel about the Light Rail Transit issue?

This article from the May 4th Waterloo Record discusses a very important issue on which anyone who is following it has very strong opinions. There are many serious implications for the future of the Waterloo Region and I think it is important for everyone to understand all the issues and have an informed opinion.

By Philip Walker, Record...

WATERLOO REGION — Tim Mollison looks at 38-per-cent public support for trains — and sees victory for light rail transit.

Ruth Haworth looks at 38-per-cent public support for trains — and sees opposition to light rail transit.

They were reacting to a Record poll showing a community deeply divided over an $818-million plan to put electric trains on streets in Kitchener and Waterloo.

The opinion poll reveals 38 per cent of residents support trains, 32 per cent want rapid buses, and 30 per cent support road upgrades without rapid buses or trains.

“We’re very glad to see this, because what this says is light rail would win a referendum in this community,” said Mollison, spokesperson for the pro-rail Tri-Cities Transport Action Group.

Mollison argues the poll shows trains are supported by a plurality of residents. That’s how voters elect governments, he said. Whoever gets most votes wins.

Haworth argues the poll shows the majority of residents do not want trains, so politicians are on the wrong track.

“It shows that we need a referendum,” said Haworth, spokesperson for the anti-rail Taxpayers for Sensible Transit.

“We have a proposal before us to put trains on the streets. And it seems that people are against it.”

The poll of 1,036 adults is the first to gauge public sentiment about the rapid transit proposal in a scientific way. It was conducted by Metroline Research Group and is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Regional council must vote in June to confirm rail transit as an urban redevelopment scheme, meant to persuade investors to build homes and workplaces in central neighbourhoods.

Politicians parsed results to see support and opposition.

“It encourages me,” said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, who intends to vote for rail transit. “It strengthens the view that most people are looking into the future on this.”

Zehr interprets poll results to show that two out of three residents support rapid transit in some form. He believes trains are the better choice, more costly at first but cheaper in the long run.

Ridership “won’t be there right away, the way it needs to become,” Zehr said.

“But we’re building for people who haven’t yet been converted, and who have yet to move into this community, because we’re going to have another 200,000 people.”

Coun. Geoff Lorentz of Kitchener said poll results reflect growing opposition to trains. “People are starting to get worried,” he said.

Lorentz argues trains will cost a lot, are no faster than buses, will limit drivers to right-ins and right-outs, and will displace traffic into residential neighbourhoods. “We don’t have the critical mass to make this work,” he said.

Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran is not surprised by what the poll found.

“I think the poll really captured exactly how the community is feeling, and the division that is within the community,” she said.

Coun. Sean Strickland of Waterloo sees “pretty strong support for (light rail transit)” in the poll. He plans to vote for rapid transit in some form.

Strickland points to the “fairly high percentage” of residents who do not support rapid buses or trains. “It tells me we need to do some more education about what the future of our community is really going to look like,” he said.

Coun. Jim Wideman of Kitchener was surprised to see 30 per cent willing to go without rapid transit. He argues this will lead to high local costs and social disruptions, as roads are expanded through neighbourhoods, without senior government funding to help pay the bills.

“This is likely going to be one of the toughest decisions that I will be making as a politician,” said Wideman, who intends to vote for rapid transit in some form. “At the end of the day, I think this is the time to show leadership.”

Retired transportation professor John Shortreed figures the poll confirms public opposition to rail transit.

“That’s a very clear outcome, that 62 per cent of the people favour other solutions other than (light rail transit),” said Shortreed, a leading critic of the rail transit plan.

Metroline surveyed adults by telephone, on land lines and cellphones. The sample was controlled to reflect community demographics based on the 2006 census. Results reflect public opinion at the time residents were polled.

Public opinion on the rail transit proposal remained divided at a public consultation session held in Waterloo Wednesday evening.

“I really like the idea,” said Waterloo resident Louise McLaren. “I think it’s more cost-effective in the long run.”

Her children are already daily Grand River Transit users. “The buses are already filling up. They’re just clogging up our streets,” said Billy McLaren.

“It’s only going to get busier,” added his sister, Erin. “Light rail transit gives you that solid base.”

Some critical of the plan see the cost as too prohibitive, and too great a burden on taxpayers.

“Tax-wise, it’s too expensive,” said George Sommerstorfer of Waterloo. “People who are retired, on the Canada Pension Plan, can barely make ends meet as it is.”

But Mark Kompter said funding available from the federal and provincial governments should be taken advantage of while it’s being offered. “I’m sure it’s on a time limit,” he said. “I’d say now is the best time.”

Karen Hilling said the whole concept is based on an outdated belief that businesses need to be attracted to a downtown core.

“In pioneer days, the village was the centre of commerce and social activity. However, with the increase in global communication, business can happen any time and anywhere.”

In a letter Hilling sent to regional and municipal councils, she urged politicians to remember their mandate to represent their constituents.

“I think that some politicians have been blinded by the allure of shiny trains and new buildings,” she said. “Waterloo Region is not Toronto or Calgary. We do not have a strong sense of identity with the city core.”

Jim Huxted of Kitchener said he feels that planners are wearing light rail blinders. “They haven’t really shown us if buses could work.”

Huxted, like others, has concerns that the system would be underused. “I think they have to develop the ridership before they can be spending the money we’d be spending on light rail,” he said.

“We’ve got three downtowns, not just one,” Huxted said. “The population base in each downtown doesn’t even come close to other cities with a rapid transit system.”

A similar public session was also held Wednesday at regional headquarters in Kitchener.



The rail transit plan

A proposal approved in principle calls for electric trains on dedicated lanes in Kitchener and Waterloo, running between the Conestoga and Fairview Park malls. Buses driving in mixed traffic with features to speed past congestion would run to the Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge.

Total estimated travel time at over 72 minutes would roughly match today’s express buses.

Senior governments have committed up to $565 million. This leaves local taxpayers with a bill of up to $253 million for a system to launch in 2017.

Regional taxes could increase 10.5 per cent over seven years to launch trains and pay for partial bus upgrades. By 2018 an average home assessed at $254,000 today could be paying an extra $196 a year in property taxes.

Politicians hope to ease the local tax impact in part by seeking provincial approval to shift more transit costs onto development fees.

Have your say

More public consultation sessions are underway. You can drop in between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in townships.

Thursday May 5 at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson St., in Cambridge and at the First United Church, 16 William St. W., in Waterloo.

Tuesday May 10 at the United Kingdom Club, 35 International Village Dr., in Cambridge and at the Kitchener Gospel Temple, 9 Conway Dr., in Kitchener.

Thursday May 12 at the Ayr Fire Hall, 501 Scott St. in Ayr, North Dumfries Township and at St. Agatha Community Centre, 1791 Erb’s Rd., in St. Agatha, Wilmot Township.

Wednesday May 18 at St. Clements Community Centre, 1 Green St., in St. Clements, Wellesley Township.