ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[ijmorlan]

Right, tracks are complete except for the buffers Kevin mentioned (you can see the extensions in my photos from a few days ago).

Doom-and-Gloom UrbanToronto reports that Waterloo is "WAY BEHIND!" and "NOTHING IS READY!". They love to spread filth, like saying our signaling system is "nowhere near ready for testing" and the like.

...I think they're just jellous.

I’m pretty sure they’ve started testing our signal system — I’ve seen some of the signals showing a yellow. Bicycling home from UW I even saw the signal at Seagram change from yellow to red once. So I can’t say if we’re exactly on time according to the original schedule, but my guess is the rest of the system will at least be ready in time for the vehicles.

They’re jelly, all right — if Rob Ford and the Ontario government hadn’t screwed them over, the Sheppard LRT would have been operating for several years by now, maybe Finch as well, and the Scarborough RT would be getting a sensible LRT replacement and extension to Malvern instead of a useless one-stop subway extension.

[Markster]

Doom-and-Gloom UrbanToronto reports that Waterloo is "WAY BEHIND!" and "NOTHING IS READY!". They love to spread filth, like saying our signaling system is "nowhere near ready for testing" and the like.

To be fair, their comments are directed pretty directly at the lack of vehicles.

Which I would agree is way behind, and one of them are ready.

[timio]

There's always going to be people who like to talk doom and gloom without knowing or acknowledging all the facts (see a certain orange hued individual to the south). Everyone has a bias based on their experience. Acknowledge they have an opinion that differs from yours and move on.

[ijmorlan]

Doom-and-Gloom UrbanToronto reports that Waterloo is "WAY BEHIND!" and "NOTHING IS READY!". They love to spread filth, like saying our signaling system is "nowhere near ready for testing" and the like.

To be fair, their comments are directed pretty directly at the lack of vehicles.

Which I would agree is way behind, and one of them are ready.

I took a look at the link you provided and I don’t actually see any doom and gloom there — just a discussion mostly focussed on the delays in the LRV deliveries, which are at this point a year behind the original schedule (all vehicles were supposed to arrive in the second half of 2016). Perhaps Canard saw other discussions earlier in the thread or in a different thread.

[timio]

To be fair, their comments are directed pretty directly at the lack of vehicles.

Which I would agree is way behind, and one of them are ready.

I took a look at the link you provided and I don’t actually see any doom and gloom there — just a discussion mostly focussed on the delays in the LRV deliveries, which are at this point a year behind the original schedule (all vehicles were supposed to arrive in the second half of 2016). Perhaps Canard saw other discussions earlier in the thread or in a different thread.

To be fair to Canard, there are one or two posters there that drop in to KW every few months with no context, make up opinions about the state of construction without being aware of the regular updates provided by the project team, and then state them as fact, which provides source material for other unaware people to respond.

The pace of transit development in the GTA informs their opinions.

[ijmorlan]

I took a look at the link you provided and I don’t actually see any doom and gloom there — just a discussion mostly focussed on the delays in the LRV deliveries, which are at this point a year behind the original schedule (all vehicles were supposed to arrive in the second half of 2016). Perhaps Canard saw other discussions earlier in the thread or in a different thread.

To be fair to Canard, there are one or two posters there that drop in to KW every few months with no context, make up opinions about the state of construction without being aware of the regular updates provided by the project team, and then state them as fact, which provides source material for other unaware people to respond.

The pace of transit development in the GTA informs their opinions.

OK, thanks, that makes sense. I only read a page or two around the linked one and it seemed relatively reasonable.

I’m just glad construction is nearly done. Overall, it’s a big improvement, and I personally think that even with my various complaints it’s already a big improvement in many places even without service actually running (e.g., I think King St. is much nicer now than before). Looking forward to testing and then service beginning.

[danbrotherston]

OK, thanks, that makes sense. I only read a page or two around the linked one and it seemed relatively reasonable.

I’m just glad construction is nearly done. Overall, it’s a big improvement, and I personally think that even with my various complaints it’s already a big improvement in many places even without service actually running (e.g., I think King St. is much nicer now than before). Looking forward to testing and then service beginning.

This I entirely agree with. Despite the irrational doomsaying about it being two lanes, it makes the road far more pleasant to use as a pedestrian (or even a cyclist I would guess). The excessive lights near the hospital aside, I think the road probably functions better than it did. And uptown is of no comparison whatsoever.

I am anxious to get the rest of King improved similarly up to University...and hopefully one day, through on till the MUTs begin.

[Bob_McBob]

Northfield is completely open with all the lane markings painted as of today. They still have the "exit closed" sign up on the expressway approaching from the north. I noticed the bike lane by the southbound entrance is painted solid safety green now.

[danbrotherston]

Northfield is completely open with all the lane markings painted as of today. They still have the "exit closed" sign up on the expressway approaching from the north. I noticed the bike lane by the southbound entrance is painted solid safety green now.

While green is appreciated, a bike lane across an on/off ramp is still a deathtrap.

[Canard]

[Elmira Guy]

Went down through the grade separation today for the first time. Looks pretty sweet! Makes a nice entrance into DTK. Like passing through the city gates or something.

[panamaniac]

OK, now I can say it. I drove through on the weekend and thought it was staggeringly ugly. I'm hoping they'll be able to plant vines along the walls to hang down and soften things a a bit.

[Viewfromthe42]

It's certainly a heat island as a pedestrian. Walking this stretch is not pleasant in any kind of summer weather. Hopefully some potted trees might be able to make an appearance, or something else to create bits of shade/heat absorption.

[Canard]

OK, now I can say it.  I drove through on the weekend and thought it was staggeringly ugly.  I'm hoping they'll be able to plant vines along the walls to hang down and soften things a a bit.

Sure looks a lot better than the piece of crap it was before! Broken crumbling pavement, gross sidewalks, just generally looked like garbage. Way better now!

I think about that every time I am on Borden - Borden was such a cesspool before. It looks fantastic now!

[urbd]

It's certainly a heat island as a pedestrian. Walking this stretch is not pleasant in any kind of summer weather. Hopefully some potted trees might be able to make an appearance, or something else to create bits of shade/heat absorption.

This is an issue along the whole line. Street trees were planted mostly just to replace any that had to be removed for construction, almost no real additions. There was very limited thought about actually improving the quality of the streetscapes and enhancing the shade conditions along the rebuilt sidewalks. It's a shame and a wasted opportunity - the urban areas of the Region are all big heat islands, no urban tree canopy whatsoever.