King-Victoria Transit Hub

[jwilliamson]

Did you read the whole article ?

The closure won’t affect bike traffic or walkers. Maintaining convenient pedestrian and cycling access between the Breithaupt neighbourhood and downtown is “critical,” officials say, and the transit hub’s design will include a bike and pedestrian corridor, with direct access to the train platforms.

I'll bet they block pedestrian access along Duke for more than a year between now and completion of the hub.

[danbrotherston]

Did you read the whole article ?

The closure won’t affect bike traffic or walkers. Maintaining convenient pedestrian and cycling access between the Breithaupt neighbourhood and downtown is “critical,” officials say, and the transit hub’s design will include a bike and pedestrian corridor, with direct access to the train platforms.

I'll bet they block pedestrian access along Duke for more than a year between now and completion of the hub.

Lol, should we start a pot?

[CP42]

This article indicates work could begin as soon as then fall, though unclear.

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...-fall.html

https://archive.ph/0LHy1

[westwardloo]

This article indicates work could begin as soon as then fall, though unclear.

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...-fall.html

https://archive.ph/0LHy1

I have heard rumblings of significant price increases since the project was originally proposed in 2020. Like we could have almost built 1.5 train stations if we started in 2020. I have a bad feeling like we may see a mediocre bare bones value engineered train station built, unless the region can somehow secure more funding. Should be interesting to see how this progresses. I don't love the current proposed station, but it is at least a unique structure.

[ac3r]

This article indicates work could begin as soon as then fall, though unclear.

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...-fall.html

https://archive.ph/0LHy1

I have heard rumblings of significant price increases since the project was originally proposed in 2020. Like we could have almost built 1.5 train stations if we started in 2020. I have a bad feeling like we may see a mediocre bare bones value engineered train station built, unless the region can somehow secure more funding. Should be interesting to see how this progresses. I don't love the current proposed station, but it is at least a unique structure.

Chances are you'll be correct. Prices have gone up significantly in the construction industry. It's dire and might start to slow down new construction across the board. Considering the region has already been worried about being able to afford this project, there could be a good chance this gets redesigned yet again and shrunken in size just to get something built. Or, maybe it'll end up being built in phases...hard to say. My hope is that they can start soon and build what they've proposed (though like the article says, it'll depend on Metrolinx...and we know how fast they work). It's going to be expensive, but we need a new train station and if we don't go all out now, we're just going to end up with mediocrity.

[danbrotherston]

I have heard rumblings of significant price increases since the project was originally proposed in 2020. Like we could have almost built 1.5 train stations if we started in 2020. I have a bad feeling like we may see a mediocre bare bones value engineered train station built, unless the region can somehow secure more funding. Should be interesting to see how this progresses. I don't love the current proposed station, but it is at least a unique structure.

Chances are you'll be correct. Prices have gone up significantly in the construction industry. It's dire and might start to slow down new construction across the board. Considering the region has already been worried about being able to afford this project, there could be a good chance this gets redesigned yet again and shrunken in size just to get something built. Or, maybe it'll end up being built in phases...hard to say. My hope is that they can start soon and build what they've proposed (though like the article says, it'll depend on Metrolinx...and we know how fast they work). It's going to be expensive, but we need a new train station and if we don't go all out now, we're just going to end up with mediocrity.

Of course, the airport is already been completed, and now we're begging the feds not to close the only airline frequently serving our airport because its' breaking the law.

FFS....our priorities are so messed up.

[Chris]

Construction fencing is up from Rumple Felt to the empty lot at King and Victoria.

[LesPio]

Construction fencing is up from Rumple Felt to the empty lot at King and Victoria.

Is this in anticipation of construction or is this to keep people off the property?

[CP42]

Construction fencing is up from Rumple Felt to the empty lot at King and Victoria.

Is this in anticipation of construction or is this to keep people off the property?

I saw this today and also had the same thought.

The fencing being right up to the existing buildings makes me believe construction?

[ac3r]

Could be to keep people off the property as they are forcing the homeless citizens off their other Victoria Street camp: https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...y-now.html

I think if construction was starting we would have heard news from the region an Metrolinx. As far as I know they don't even have enough of the money for this project yet.

[neonjoe]

Maybe Get Doug Ford It Done will make an announcement at the Kitchener Rally tonight?

[Chris]

Maybe Get Doug Ford It Done will make an announcement at the Kitchener Rally tonight?

I just saw a picture of his tour bus on The Record. That is a really bad design and now I totally understand your comment

[LesPio]

What's the status/next steps on this? They seem to be a decade behind schedule.

[ac3r]

What's the status/next steps on this? They seem to be a decade behind schedule.

A The Record article (linked on page 71) speculated that they hope to begin by autumn but we're basically there already. That article had more to do with evicting the homeless and had no details other than stating it'll all depend on Metrolinx's schedule on the Kitchener line improvements...and we all know they're about as fast and reliable as their train improvements.

I truly don't think we'll have a working train station for at least a decade and I think that's being optimistic in a best case scenario. I can see it being finished and open by 2032 if we're lucky - probably even 2035. There's little reason to rush the project if the train services between Waterloo Region (or London, but that's still just a pilot project I believe) and Toronto are still garbage. It would just become a very glorified bus station for the homeless to wreck until we have all day GO service because it wouldn't really serve any significant purpose. Even as a bus station it would be pretty minor since GRT no longer operates on a wheel and spoke model and intercity buses are awful. In fact it's a pretty awful place to stage intercity buses now because unlike in the GTA where you've got major highways downtown, the 401 is all the way in Cambridge.

[danbrotherston]

We do have a working train station right now.

It's ironic, the LRT's detractors constantly harangued it as a white elephant. But in reality it was a fiscally responsible (I'd argue TOO conservative--we should have done better with ped infra) project with good investment in service.

The train station is--to me--a quintessential white elephant. An overpriced and under serviced project with more vanity than sense. Missing much of what you'd want in a train station yet somehow still costing more than a 30 storey tower.

And yet, not a peep from the anti-LRT crowd.

I think--as I'm beginning to feel much more often--cost and expense is an excuse for people who are opposing something on ideological grounds. The LRT promised to change our city and how we get around...the train station is great for suburban drivers who want to commute to downtown Toronto...no lifestyle change needed. I mean...the reality is of course that few people will park at the train station, but what matters is the perception.