Stage 2 ION

The environmental impact of this transit project is being reviewed through the Ontario government's transit project assessment (TPA) Regulation (O. Reg.) 231/08, Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings.

It is a streamlined process under the Environmental Assessment Act. It can be completed in less than six months because each step in the process has a defined time limit. The Transit Project Assessment Process focuses on issues of provincial importance.

The TPA Process has three main components:

1. Preparation of the Environmental Project Report:
   The first phase is currently underway and starts with the Notice of Commencement. After the Notice of Commencement is issued, the Region has a maximum of 120 days to prepare, consult on, and revise the Environmental Project Report (EPR).
   
   
2. Review of the EPR:
   The second phase starts when the Region publishes the Notice of Completion along with the revised, final EPR. This kicks off the 30-day final EPR review by the public, agencies, indigenous communities and others.
   
   
3. The Minister's Review:
   The third and final phase is the Minister's 35-day review period, during which the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks may give notice as to whether the project may proceed.

For more information on the Transit Project Access Process check out Part 1 of this online presentation.

Projects following the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPA) Process are required to thoroughly document the project and the process in a report. For transit projects the report is called an Environmental Project Report, or EPR.

The EPR is intended to provide enough information to understand what the project is and how it will affect the natural, social, cultural, transportation and economic environments. It is what regulatory agencies use to evaluate the project's potential environmental impacts. The EPR also demonstrates that the project has met its requirements for consultation by documenting when and how various parties have been notified, what comments were received, and how the project team responded.

The EPR contains recommendations to reduce environmental impacts and commitments to undertake additional work in the future. These become requirements that the project must follow in the future as a condition of approval.

The Region has posted the Draft EPR for review and comment. The Project Team will respond to comments received, and will finalize the EPR. Public may give feedback until February 12, 2021  at: engagewr.ca/Stage2ION

For more information about what’s in the Draft EPR, check out Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this online presentation.

The Draft EPR is available for review until February 12, 2021 online in the Supporting Documents section below, or in person Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: 

“Why ION?”

A 2-page pamphlet titled summarizes the timeline of LRT from 1976 to 2019, explains how it moves people and builds community, and has a transit line map of LRT stations, both existing and planned.

ION Story (2016) 

A comprehensive 26-page backgrounder that covers:

• the Region’s growth and planning context
• Why we need ION
• How ION will benefit residents in city centres, suburban areas and rural areas
• How rapid transit and LRT were planned
• A timeline of major milestones
• A description of the Stage 1 ION system, route, stations and vehicles
• The public-private partnership with GrandLinq
• How ION ties into the Region’s long-term transportation strategy (RTMP), GRT local bus service, Central station transit hub, the walking and cycling network, and roads, both existing and planned.

Consultation material (2015 to 2019)

www.stage2ION.ca  – Contains all of the public consultation material and Council report from the pre-planning phase, prior to the Transit Project Assessment Process.

Consultation material (2004 to 2013)

This is a chronological list of consultation material includes the Rapid Transit Individual Environmental Assessment, the transition to the Transit Project Assessment Process, and ION Stop (Station) design.

Reports and Updates (2005 to 2012)

In Reports and Updates you will find a chronological list of links to Council Reports, Environmental Assessment Reports and the Business Case. The Environmental Assessment reports include:

• Phase 1 and Phase 2 Summary Reports
• Environmental Project Report (EPR) Main Report
• EPR Appendices (consultation record and technical reports)
• Functional design plans
• Multiple Account Evaluation Report
• Rapid Transit Expert Panel Review: Summary Report
• Rapid Transit Business Case

Reports and Updates (2012 to 2019)

Chronological list of links to regular “ION Update” newsletters and other miscellaneous project updates.

Please provide your comments by February 12, 2021 through the Engage survey. Alternatively, you can submit comments by email to Stage2ION@regionofwaterloo.ca

Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in a submission will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person.

We are here to answer your questions.

Matthew O’Neil, Senior Engineer, Rapid Transit

Region of Waterloo

20 Weber St E, 4th Floor

Kitchener, ON N2H 1C3

Phone:  519-575-4400 | TTY:  519-575-4608

Email: Stage2ION@regionofwaterloo.ca

Keep up-to-date on the project by subscribing to this page and getting notified every time it's updated.

•  Notice of Commencement of Transit Project Assessment Process Stage 2 ION: LRT from Kitchener to Cambridge

 Draft Environmental Project Report, December 2020 

• Cover and Table of Contents
• Executive Summary and Glossary
• Sections 1 to 3 - Introduction, Environmental Assessment Process, Pre-Planning activities
• Section 4 - Consultation and Engagement
• Section 5 - Existing Conditions
• Section 6 - Project Description
• Section 7 - 9 - Impact Assessment, Monitoring Approvals, Future Work, References

Region of Waterloo will provide documents upon request in the most appropriate accessible format.
This may include electronic formats, large print formats, and/or audio formats, as examples.

Any document found on our website or that we provide can be available in a different format upon request. If you would like the Environmental Project Report Appendices in a accessible format please Stage2ION@regionofwaterloo.ca

Appendix A - Functional Design Plates

Appendix B - Consultation Record

Appendix C - Specialist Reports

Appendix C1 - Natural Heritage Report

Appendix C2 - Fluvial Geomorphology Report

Appendix C3 - Drainage and Stormwater Management (SWM) Report

Appendix C3 - Drainage and SWM_Exhibits (1 of 3) * Large file, may take some time to open

Appendix C3 - Drainage and SWM_Exhibits (2 of 3) *Large file, may take some time to open

Appendix C3 - Drainage and SWM_Exhibits (3 of 3) * Large file, may take some time to open

Appendix C3 - Drainage and SWM_Appendix

Appendix C4 - Contamination Overview Study

Appendix C5 - Cultural Heritage Report (CHER)

CHER - 1 Wellington St

CHER - 41 Kerr St

CHER - 63 Water St S

CHER - 69 Ainslie St S

CHER - 99 Beverly St

CHER - 105 Hespeler Rd

CHER - 127 Beverly St

CHER - 320 Shantz Hill Rd

CHER - 333-339 Hidden Valley Rd

CHER - 4336 King St E

CHER - Grantham Rail Bridge

CHER - Regional Road 8 Overpass

Appendix C6 - Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment

Appendix C7 - Air Quality Report

Appendix C8 - Noise and Vibration Report

Appendix C9 - Traffic Impact Assessment Report