Waterloo Region Transit Developments (ION LRT, new terminal, GRT buses)

[smably]

Great photos.

University of Waterloo station. Some kind of maintenance road is being built on the right.

Pretty sure that's the realigned Laurel Trail.

As for public realm improvements, in addition to rebuilding all the directly adjacent roads and sidewalks, the Region has a Central Transit Corridor Community Building Strategy to direct investment in the broader area. At the city level, Kitchener and Waterloo are both planning for changes around the new stations.

 

[timio]

There will be public art at some stations as well.

 

[BMO]

Great photos. Progress on the line seems to be going at a good pace. It'll be a good proof-of-concept for the entire GTHA of LRT when it's completed in 2017

 

[Markster]

Great photos. Progress on the line seems to be going at a good pace. It'll be a good proof-of-concept for the entire GTHA of LRT when it's completed in 2017

It's actually pretty crazy. There were several months of relatively boring sewer work, but now we're at the top layer stuff, which goes pretty quick in comparison.
There are several kilometres of road that have finished their sewer work, and it's just a matter of a few months of curbs, asphalt, and rail laying until it looks like we have a rapid transit system!
There are still many sections that haven't been started (hence heavy construction not finishing until late 2016/early 2017), but King St and Charles St have always been the biggies, the most visible. They're going to be some of the first completed roads.

 

[dowlingm]

Great photos. Progress on the line seems to be going at a good pace. It'll be a good proof-of-concept for the entire GTHA of LRT when it's completed in 2017

If you believe the Waterloo Record it's the biggest disaster since the Pacific Scandal.

 

[timio]

If you believe the Waterloo Record it's the biggest disaster since the Pacific Scandal.

You can ignore anything by Jeff Outhit. If it's not a car, it's not going to be successful in his view.

There's a parody Twitter account based of his columns, @HULKREPORTER.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Here are some pictures of the maintenance and storage building from the ION Facebook page. It blows my mind how fast they are moving on this project. I'm sure the warm weather this fall has helped them tremendously.

 

[cplchanb]

That's because it's not Ttc. So no interference from Toronto councilors

 

[W. K. Lis]

I'm sure that some TTC staff members have networked with the ION & Metrolinx staff members. Maybe some have even submitted their résumés back and forth.

 

[Markster]

I'm sure the warm weather this fall has helped them tremendously.

Every other day, I fear that we will get the snowfall that will end the construction season. They're working like mad, laying curbs, sidewalks and paving roads. There are many roads that are so close to being driveable again. And I know they won't be able to do that under a foot of snow. Last winter, Caroline St was basically out of commission all winter long.

 

[BMO]

Every other day, I fear that we will get the snowfall that will end the construction season. They're working like mad, laying curbs, sidewalks and paving roads. There are many roads that are so close to being driveable again. And I know they won't be able to do that under a foot of snow. Last winter, Caroline St was basically out of commission all winter long.

I think your solution is to simply plan a skiing trip. It'll effectively guarantee no snow will fall.

 

[Duck]

 

[Duck]

 

[P0per]

Nice - looks like second track installed to R&T Park station.

Also, love the ION-stamped manhole cover. Where is that?

 

[Duck]

Nice - looks like second track installed to R&T Park station.

Yes - the Northbound track starts at the OMSF, and heads South up to the top end of Research & Technology. The track can't progress any further until the gauntlet ties are installed here. Oops, that's wrong - of course there's no freight traffic on the NB track so no gauntlets on this side.

Also, love the ION-stamped manhole cover. Where is that?

Me too! That was my favourite discovery today. That particular one is at Northfield, but they're also along Caroline. I suspect they'll be everywhere along the line, soon. Every little detail that gets revealed as construction progresses reaffirms in my mind just how thoughtful the project team has been to even the most minute detail with this whole thing. It's maximum bang for the buck, on a shoestring budget, serving the most people possible - but with just enough care for the design details where it matters to really make it an attractive system.