CAMBRIDGE - The region will soon unveil a preliminary route for a second stage of light rail from Kitchener to Cambridge.

"No doubt there will be some tweaking of that route regardless because there are, as we know, differences of opinion on the route it should take," Coun. Tom Galloway said.

In February, the Region of Waterloo will host three public sessions to present the initial preferred route and hear public feedback.

That feedback will be considered and a route will be prepared that will be presented to the public yet again in late 2017. A final preferred route will be presented to regional council for a vote.

Galloway said the route options differ from the discussion that happened in Kitchener and Waterloo because some of the Cambridge options require significant property taking.

"One route down Eagle Street is going to cause a fair bit of disruption and requirement to take properties," he said. "There's other routes that have less property impact, but ultimately you want to have the best route that's going to serve the objectives of the project."

Residents were presented with options for the proposed second stage of light rail from Kitchener to Cambridge about a year ago.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig said he doesn't have a preference yet for the route. He wants to see the results of an environmental assessment that will examine the options.

He hasn't heard much on the project from residents, but he doesn't expect that to last.

"It's a low-key exercise going on," he said. "It really hasn't caught the attention of a lot of people. . Once the preferred route's come out then I'm going to hear about it."

Citizens were asked to give feedback on four potential alternatives to the route approved for the project in 2011, which would travel from Fairway Road to the Canadian Pacific Waterloo Subdivision rail line, along the rail line to Eagle Street, on to Hespeler Road to Water Street, down to Bruce Street and then along Ainslie Street to the transit terminal.

Staff didn't propose changes for the central section along Hespeler Road from Eagle Street/Pinebush Road to the Delta intersection.

They did suggest alternatives to the Kitchener/North Cambridge section and South Cambridge.

The options are roughly mapped, but not all of the details have been worked out.

• For Kitchener/North Cambridge, trains would travel Fairway Road to Maple Grove Road, Speedsville Road to Eagle Street, and connect to Hespeler Road at Pinebush Road.

• For South Cambridge, trains would travel from the Ainslie terminal up Beverley Street, or in the vicinity of Beverley and along Dundas to Hespeler Road; alternatively, they would go up Ainslie Street, to Water, through the Delta and on to Hespeler Road.

Exactly when the Cambridge leg might be built remains a mystery.

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An environmental assessment for the project is still in the works and the region can't apply for any provincial or federal funding until that's completed.

Galloway said the federal and provincial governments seem committed to funding transit projects, which could bode well for Stage 2.

"You certainly can't count any chickens at this point but the trend is toward funding transit projects, so when the time comes hopefully we'll be in a good position to be able to move the project forward in a timely fashion, although people do have to be realistic."

The region approved the first phase in 2011 and construction is still underway.

Staff said in November that as of 2011 the estimated cost for Phase 2 was about the same as the $818 million construction cost for Phase 1. Due to inflation and other factors, the cost for Phase 2 is expected to be higher by the time of construction.

While the region expects to have light rail trains up and running between Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Fairview Park mall in Kitchener in 2018, Cambridge has express buses for now.

The existing bus express route runs between the Ainslie Street terminal and Fairview Park mall along Hespeler Road, Highway 401 and Highway 8. It continues from Fairview Park to Conestoga Mall as the 200 iXpress. Stops are at the Ainslie terminal, along Hespeler at the Delta, Can-Amera Parkway, Cambridge Centre, Pinebush Road, Sportsworld and Fairview Park mall.

Sessions will be held:

• Feb. 15 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Bowman Room at Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson St.

• Feb. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Preston Auditorium, 1458 Hamilton St.

• Feb. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Lions Arena, 20 Rittenhouse Rd. in Kitchener