Light rail transit (LRT) in Waterloo Region has been discussed since 2003, and while council is finally set to vote next week, it has not been a smooth development process.

The transit plans have been controversial since their inception, and it's been difficult to even determine who should make the decision to move forward.

That same issue was addressed last week, when a motion to hold a referendum on the issue put forward by Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran was defeated seven to three.

Halloran says she spoke to many of her constituents to give them a voice in the matter, and she was disappointed by the results of the vote.

"I don't think taxpayers are willing to shoulder it and they're very concerned about the level of taxes."

Meanwhile Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig has also expressed his concerns about the cost of the proposed plan, one that gives that city rapid bus transit first, instead of light rail.

In 2010, Craig said "I am the mayor of the second largest city in this region and I'm fed up at feeling this way and so are my citizens."

While Craig said he wouldn't give up the fight, in April he declared a conflict of interest due to the fact that his son owns property near the Ainslie Street Terminal.

That conflict will prevent him from voting when it comes time to decide whether or not to move forward with the rapid transit plan as it stands.

Thomas Schmidt is the Waterloo Region transportation commissioner. He says Cambridge plays a big part in the plans.

An additional $10 million over 10 years is being set aside to encourage bus ridership in the city, with the goal of eventually extending the LRT to Cambridge.

"It's really a question of when can we get that ridership up as high as we can and when can we get funding from the province and federal governments."

Craig won't comment on that proposal, and he's not the only one who won't be expressing an opinion. Four of the region's 16 councillors have declared a conflict of interest.

North Dumfries Mayor Robert Deutschmann was the first to do so. He works in and owns a building at 10 Duke Street West in Kitchener, which sits right next to the proposed LRT route.

But while he's frustrated he won't have a say, he has confidence in the other councillors.

He says "There's probably almost in excess or close to a couple hundred years of political experience when you look at the remaining 12."

Even if the motion to move forward passes, there are still a lot of additional decisions to be made, and Deutschmann says the four councillors will get legal advice on whether they can re-join the debate.

Coming up in part three: Where do the remaining councillors stand and how will your tax bill and your commute be affected by the decision.