03-13-2017, 03:04 AM
(03-12-2017, 11:17 PM)taylortbb Wrote:(03-12-2017, 07:25 PM)KevinL Wrote: Well, there are a lot of established businesses there which I'm sure will keep things hopping. But THROUGH traffic, yes, that will all but disappear.
I wonder if this might finally let them improve that road a bit - the lack of sidewalks and otherwise worn-out feel is doing it no favours.
Yes, thanks, I definitely meant to write through traffic in my original post. I think the established businesses may suddenly discover just how much of their business is from from drive by visitors though, and I won't be surprised if we see a significant retail decline along Victoria.
This retail decline is why the Region has mused they want Victoria St as Stage 3 of ION. Same idea as Hespeler Rd and Stage 2, except the retail is dead and the cost of expropriation (if at all needed) is cheap. If I remember correctly, the Victoria St bridge over Conestoga Parkway is being designed with an LRT retrofit in mind. This is getting off-topic, but I'd argue that there's better value in adding RER service along this same corridor between Baden and Guelph if the objective is to get folks into Downtown Kitchener quickly.