Waterloo ION light-rail plan advances

The Waterloo region in Ontario, Canada, is closer to a Stage 2 ION light-rail line and a rail connection to Cambridge.

The Transit Project Assessment for ION has been approved by the province, and Waterloo can now begin the process of seeking funding from provincial and federal partners to advance the project toward construction, Waterloo regional officials said in a press release.

Stage 2 ION will complete the tri-city connection, linking Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge through 11 miles of light rail and eight stations ending at the future light-rail station in downtown Cambridge.

Stage 1 ION LRT opened to the public two years ago. Since then, millions of rides have been taken along nearly 12 miles of light rail and 19 stations between Conestoga Station in Waterloo to Fairway Station in Kitchener.