10/11/2025
The ION Effect - Smart Transit, Sustainable Growth
10/11/2025In the heart of Ontario, the ION light rail transit system has become much more than a transportation project. It’s a key component of susta...
In the heart of Ontario, the ION light rail transit system has become much more than a transportation project. It’s a key component of sustainable urban growth. One of the core reasons behind building ION was to contain the region’s suburban sprawl and protect the surrounding farmland - some of the most fertile in Canada. Instead of expanding outward with low-density single-family homes, Kitchener-Waterloo has seen a dramatic rise in vertical development, with high-rise condominiums and apartment buildings reshaping its otherwise dull skyline. The LRT also triggered a major revitalization effort to modernize century-old utilities beneath the streets and laid the groundwork for a more connected, compact, and resilient urban future.