Dear Chair Redman and Councillors,
The Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR) is in full support of the staff recommended option for the LRT Phase II.
The proposed recommendation fulfills the promise and commitment of an LRT system from north Waterloo to south Cambridge.
The success of the LRT Phase I in terms of transit and building development along the LRT route is impressive and undeniable. This next phase will serve not only the residents of our fast-growing community but will also be an attraction and amenity that the many visitors to our community will enjoy. And we all know that transit projects like this are essential to achieving our climate and environmental sustainability goals as a Region.
As our community continues growing, the completion of the LRT route to Cambridge is an essential and foundational building block for the needs of our community on several levels, including housing, economic development and investment, job growth, and transportation connectivity.
Our respective organizations are all in full support of this Staff report. The time is now to move forward to ensure the expeditious completion of our LRT system. We encourage Council to approve the report and move forward with all due haste. Our organizations will continue to advocate for 100% funding of this phase of the project by the province and federal government.
As always, BESTWR is ready, willing and available to work with Council to ensure that this critical infrastructure project proceeds with speed and certainty.
We remain a partner for prosperity in the Waterloo region and look forward to assisting on this project to ensure it gets funded and built.
Respectfully,
Ian McLean
President and CEO – Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Chair – Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR)
The support team is comprised of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Explore Waterloo Region, Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and Communitech
| Tony LaMantia
President & CEO |
Greg Durocher
President & CEO |
Michele Saran
CEO |
Ian McLean
President & CEO Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
|
Sheldon McCormick
CEO |
