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One of Canada’s fastest growing communities recently obtained local and federal commitments to help fund studies analyzing a proposed light-rail system.

The governments of Canada and Ontario will help the Region of Waterloo fund technical studies and an environmental assessment for a proposed 8.7-mile light-rail line connecting Kitchener and Waterloo. The project is the first phase of an 18.6-mile line that would extend to Cambridge.

Transport Canada and the Region of Waterloo will spend up to $500,000 for technical studies that will determine the best way to support anticipated urban growth through transit and land-use planning; assess various transit options for the region and how they can be integrated with other transportation services; provide ridership projections; and outline a cost-benefit analysis.

Ontario and Waterloo will fund the environmental assessment, which would detail the line’s design. Technical and environmental studies are estimated to cost $2.5 million.

The light-rail system would be integrated with GO Transit and VIA Rail services, as well as an express bus service, municipal transit system and intercity bus services.