ION Phase 2 - Cambridge's Light Rail Transit

[Bytor]

Some news today in the Record about Phase 2 and the upcoming business case - expected to be ready "end of 2025."

https://archive.is/VUc4R

The business case will now also consider several scenarios:

• the original full proposal to extend the Ion 18 kilometres from Fairway station in Kitchener to downtown Galt;
  
• a shorter route from Fairway to Pinebush Road for $2.9 billion,
  
• a mid-length route from Fairway to the Delta in Cambridge for $3.9 billion;
  
• a stand-alone Cambridge LRT from Preston to downtown Galt with a bus link to Fairway;
  
• bus rapid transit, where buses would travel from Fairway to downtown Galt on dedicated lanes and have traffic signal priority.
  

I've personally wondered about option 4 (assuming it still follows the original Hespeler Rd alignment) as a possible interim option, with a BRT link between Preston and Fairway. At this point, I'd be happy to even see a full BRT system. It would at least reserve the space for upgrading to rail in the future while also making Hespeler Rd a more livable space.

Given that the Region was willing to waste money researching Jan Liggett's ridiculous on the face of it southern terminus at Dundas & Main even though the conclusion surprised nobody but her, part of me is suspicious that including option 4 was done for a similar reason.

That is, as a sop to a certain type of Cambridge politician (Liggett, Doug Craig, others), and as a way of going "I told you so" when it turns out to be just as expensive as the Fairway to Pinebush option thanks needless duplications like the OMSF. Again, probably to the surprise of only Liggett, Craig, and the like.