Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design

Project Overview

The Region is developing an Initial Business Case to explore passenger rail service between Cambridge and Guelph, connecting to Union Station via the Kitchener GO Line.

Providing an efficient, well designed transit service for Cambridge residents to take GO transit has been a long-standing priority for the Region and City of Cambridge. This builds on previous work completed in 2021 which also included a review and comparison of service between Cambridge and Guelph, and between Cambridge and Milton (Cambridge to Union GO Rail Feasibility Study Phase 2 Report, 2021). The outcome of the 2021 Study indicated a connection to Guelph was the preferred option.

The current work expands on the 2021 study, applying the Metrolinx Business Case methodology to include the requirements of an Initial Business Case and to develop conceptual designs for the integration of the service at a potential future ION Station South of Hespeler Road at Eagle Street/Pinebush Road, and at the Guelph Central Station in downtown Guelph. The service would run on the current CN-owned and -operated Fergus subdivision, which is currently in service for freight transportation.

Project Objectives

The project objectives include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Update the 2021 study findings to reflect recent developments in municipal and provincial planning policy, as well as investments in the Kitchener Line.
• Develop concept designs for the service between Cambridge and Guelph to demonstrate how the service would function in an urban context and align with the local municipal vision for growth around the stations.
• Take a fresh look at the various aspects of the Initial Business Case, including appraisal of the different options for service along the Fergus subdivision in terms of benefits and costs.
• Engage with the community and municipal and provincial agencies on input to the Initial Business Case and concept designs.

Initial Business Case Framework

As part of this study, a range of options for developing the service between Cambridge and Guelph are being explored. The Metrolinx Initial Business Case framework highlights the following four main categories of assessment for this study, as follows:

• Strategic Case: How does the investment achieve strategic goals and objectives?
  1. Detailed review of the strategic benefits of providing a GO Rail connection to and from Cambridge, with a proposed investment in connecting Cambridge to Guelph, and alignment with local planning priorities such as supporting transit-oriented development around the stations.
• Economic Case: What is the investment's overall value to society?
  1. The Economic Case tallies overall economic benefits, including both the hard, tangible components like construction costs or fuel costs, as well as elements like travel time savings. This captures economic impacts for the project, like operating the trains, as well as for users of the service and to the wider community and the environment.
• Financial Case: What are the financial implications of delivering the investment?
  1. The Financial Case looks at the costs of delivering the service as well as revenue made, and provides a projection of financing costs in order to determine how much funding is required. The financial impacts are limited to just the project itself, and do not include users and community.
• Deliverability and Operations Case: What risks and requirements must be considered for delivering and operating the investment?
  1. The final piece of the Initial Business Case analyzes risks and issues related to project delivery, service plans, operations and maintenance requirements, and the primary foreseeable technical constraints to implementing the options. This includes elements like upgrades to Guelph’s Central GO station; track improvements and additional infrastructure needed to operate the service; and overall feasibility of construction and operation.

How to provide input

Your input matters! Public and stakeholder engagement will support and inform the technical components of the study.

Public meetings and online survey

Public meetings (Public Consultation Centres) will be held as follows to share the project background, approach, options considered to provide GO Rail service to Cambridge, and outcomes of the Initial Business Case.

• In-Person Meeting (Cambridge): Join us for a short presentation followed by an open house where you can ask your questions and talk to the project team.
  Monday, March 18, 6–8 p.m.
  Bowman meeting room at Cambridge City Hall
• Virtual Public Meeting: Join us for a presentation and live Q&A with the project team
  Tuesday, March 19, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
  Please register here to receive the meeting link.
• In-Person Meeting (Guelph): Join us for a short presentation followed by an open house where you can ask your questions and talk to the project team and City of Guelph staff.
  Thursday, March 21, 6–8 p.m.
  Main meeting room at Guelph City Hall

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Project Update

August 2024

The project team will take a report to Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee on August 13, 2024 recommending the following:

1. Endorse the findings of the Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design study
2. Direct Regional staff to forward the Council report to Area Municipal partners to create a unified voice to support the project
3. Forward a request Metrolinx to:

1. include the project in the Regional Transit Plan;
2. continue the project under Metrolinx’ jurisdiction to further design and engineering to conduct a Preliminary Design Business Case, and to continue engagement with CN to establish a strategy for use of the Fergus Subdivision; and
3. provide GO bus service between Cambridge and Guelph to meet current needs prior to the proposed rail service being operational.

The project team will move forward with the above recommendations as next steps if they are approved by Regional Council.

You can view the staff report, the agenda with the appendices, and register to delegate at the August 13, 2024 Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting.

The final reports for the Initial Business Case and Public Engagement Summary can be found in Appendix B and Appendix D of the staff report. PDF copies of the reports can be found under Project Documents on the EngageWR project website and in the Region of Waterloo's website under Intercity Transit.