ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Viewfromthe42]

Multiple hashtags is far more common with Instagram, though the character limit change from 140 to 280 makes it less painful for Twitter.

[danbrotherston]

   

I'm curious as to what the intended method of access to the Frederick St. Station is?

[Viewfromthe42]

Up the tracks on the left, then to the right up the texture plate. But not if you have vision issues or mobility device, at that point you just use the King crossing. This and the split station at Willis both seem poorly thought out, especially when you see that it is a north-only exit (based on texture plate), even as the courthouse might represent the biggest draw here...off to the south.

[danbrotherston]

Up the tracks on the left, then to the right up the texture plate. But not if you have vision issues or mobility device, at that point you just use the King crossing. This and the split station at Willis both seem poorly thought out, especially when you see that it is a north-only exit (based on texture plate), even as the courthouse might represent the biggest draw here...off to the south.

I'm confused though, if this is a north exit only (definitely stupid), why is there an accessibility plate at the south end, and why is that plate directly in front of an inaccessible curb?

[Viewfromthe42]

In Kitchener, I often refer to directions according to King being N/S, not E/W, so to translate it, there is a North exit, pictured, which lets you go East across traffic to the East side of Frederick, but not West across traffic. The South end of the platform puts you at the intersection of Frederick with King.

[Bob_McBob]

LRT vehicle testing moves deeper into Kitchener

Galloway said the region still plans to launch regular LRT service this spring, noting that spring isn’t over until June 21. 

"Hopefully we’ll still be able to stick to that schedule," he said.

[danbrotherston]

In Kitchener, I often refer to directions according to King being N/S, not E/W, so to translate it, there is a North exit, pictured, which lets you go East across traffic to the East side of Frederick, but not West across traffic. The South end of the platform puts you at the intersection of Frederick with King.

Ahh, I see what you mean, but it still doesn't explain why you have an accessibility plate facing a curb, and a road with no crossing.

[Viewfromthe42]

Indeed it seems like poor planning to have the accessibility plate not align with where the high curb drops to a roll curb. I can somewhat understand them extending the wall to prevent East side lane crossing, given the protective wall there, and lack of visibility both pedestrian and vehicle have of each other, but it's not convenient at all. I similarly expect any Manulife employees to use Allen and do an awkward south/east end exit, rather than backtrack.

[ijmorlan]

Up the tracks on the left, then to the right up the texture plate. But not if you have vision issues or mobility device, at that point you just use the King crossing. This and the split station at Willis both seem poorly thought out, especially when you see that it is a north-only exit (based on texture plate), even as the courthouse might represent the biggest draw here...off to the south.

I'm confused though, if this is a north exit only (definitely stupid), why is there an accessibility plate at the south end, and why is that plate directly in front of an inaccessible curb?

There is a similar problem at Grand River Hospital, north end of the platform. What I find weird about these is that the design is contradictory — on one side of the road there is a texture plate, which implies that there is a crossing. But then on the other side there is none, and in some cases no curb cut. Or as here there is a two-sided curb.

By contrast, the design of Willis Way is definitely wrong in that there is no crossing of Caroline south of and near Willis Way (obvious place to put it is at the north end of the station, in line with the track crossing), but it’s consistent — no curb cut on either side of Caroline.

Incidentally there also should be a crossing of Caroline immediately south of Father David Bauer. It’s not a suburban major road location where omitting pedestrian crossings may be appropriate in the interest of smooth traffic flow. But that’s not really an LRT issue.

[Canard]

You’re not supposed to cross at that end. Only at King. It’s not a crossing.

[KevinL]

You’re not supposed to cross at that end. Only at King. It’s not a crossing.

Then why is there a tactile plate? A grade down to it from the platform? Platform signs indicating it's a way out?

[KevinL]

In a positive note, today's test run has just reached a milestone - 503 is now at Fairway station! The entire length of the route has now been traveled by LRV.

[danbrotherston]

You’re not supposed to cross at that end. Only at King. It’s not a crossing.

By why is there a curb cut and an accessibility plate.

More generally, why is there no access.

[urbd]

You’re not supposed to cross at that end. Only at King. It’s not a crossing.

Then why is there a tactile plate? A grade down to it from the platform? Platform signs indicating it's a way out?

hehehe i'm chuckling a bit :p

remember, bad design can be dangerous, even fatal... however, you can cross wherever you want as long as you are sure that you are safe, but some people will always stick to the rules and will never jaywalk for example, even if it's perfectly safe to do so.

[kps]

Galloway said the region still plans to launch regular LRT service this spring, noting that spring isn’t over until June 21. 

I could go for July 6 — the 25th anniversary of the last Preston & Berlin street run, on Caroline.