The city of London, Ontario, whose population is close to 375,000, is considering light rail transit (LRT). The City Council has recently endorsed a staff report recommending a combined LRT and bus rapid transit (BRT) system.
A final design awaits Council approval in May 2016, and a request for Government of Ontario funding will follow. An all-LRT operation had been considered, but was rejected for the time being, due to cost.
The estimated cost of the LRT-BRT plan is C$850-$900 million. Of this, London’s contribution is planned at C$125 million, which is expected could be recovered over a 20-year period from development charges levied on new construction projects. Canada’s federal government would also be requested to contribute to the remaining 85% of the cost.
The LRT route would serve the downtown, north, and east sectors of London. Two of the major traffic generators on-line include the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. The line would extend close to the northern city limits, terminating at Masonville Mall. Fanshawe College has been set as the eastern terminus, with a possible future extension eastward to London's municipal airport.
The route along Dundas Street in the center city would take the LRT within two blocks of the VIA Rail station on the Toronto-Sarnia-Windsor routes. Dundas was the locale of London’s last streetcar route, abandoned in November 1940.
Serious municipal interest in LRT is a comparatively recent phenomena in London, and was undoubtedly influence by the projects in Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton. It is hoped that the line could be built with the next 10 years.
London is located in Southwestern Ontario, approximately 125 miles west of Toronto, and midway between Toronto and Windsor (across from Detroit). In common with many mid-size cities, it has suffered an exodus from the manufacturing sector, including Caterpillar, and Kellogg’s Cereals in recent years. The downtown retail and entertainment area has also experienced a decline. It is hoped that LRT will help to rejuvenate the downtown core.