Judge dismisses challenge to Waterloo LRT
Written by Douglas John BowenA judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging plans to construct light rail transit in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario.
Ontario Superior Court Judge Ann Tucker rejected a challenge by a businessman to delay the project. Tucker’s ruling on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in part noted the plaintiff “is not a ratepayer of this region.” Jay Aissa’s challenge objected to the C$1.9 billion (US$1.7 billion) cost of the 11.8-mile LRT project, whose construction earlier this month was awarded to the Grand Linq consortium.
Aissa said the Waterloo Region was in violation of the Ontario Planning Act and failed to provide an environmental assessment for LRT’s implementation.
Attorneys for Waterloo Region told local media the suit against the LRT line, now dubbed Ion, was “frivolous.”
Last August Bombardier Transportation announced it would supply 14 FLEXITY Freedom light rail vehicles to serve the Ion system, initially serving the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, Ont.
l
