ION
Update
May
2014
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Region finalizes agreement
with GrandLinq;
costs lower than anticipated
The Region of Waterloo has finalized its agreement with
GrandLinq to design, build, finance, operate and maintain ION Stage 1 light
rail transit (LRT) between Kitchener and Waterloo. Due to the current
favourable interest rate environment, construction financing costs are now
$2.5 million lower than reported in March, and the 30-year financing costs
have dropped by $11.5 million.
GrandLinq, made up of leading international organizations such
as Plenary Group, Meridiam, Aecon, Kiewit, Aecom and Keolis, was approved by
Council after a comprehensive evaluation of the proposals submitted from
three short-listed teams. The agreement remains within the approved funding
for operations and maintenance.
In the agreement, the Region of Waterloo will own the ION LRT
system, including all infrastructure and vehicles; set the fares and the
frequency of the service; be responsible for customer service and system-wide
integration; collect all fare revenue, and monitor the performance of
GrandLinq to ensure all service requirements are met.
GrandLinq will take ION Stage 1 LRT to final design, build ION
Stage 1 LRT (including related public works), and operate and maintain the
system (including the Bombardier Flexity vehicles), all consistent with the
Region's performance requirements.
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aBRT tender closes
Adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT), which will link the Ainslie
Street Terminal in Cambridge with Fairview Park Mall Transit Terminal in
Kitchener, moved closer to implementation in May when the tendering process
for aBRT improvements closed.
When Regional Council meets in June, the contract for aBRT
improvements is expected to be awarded. The contract includes all
construction works related to aBRT stops and intersection improvements.
Construction is set to begin this summer with the service scheduled to
commence in early 2015.
The ION aBRT service is a 17 kilometre route featuring vehicles
running in mixed traffic with special features enabling faster, consistent
and more convenient service. These features include limited stops, transit
signal priority, queue jump lanes, bus bypass shoulders and passenger
information display systems.
ION aBRT stops will be located at Fairview Park Mall (where LRT
and aBRT meet), Sportsworld, Hespeler Road at Pinebush/Eagle Street,
Cambridge Centre Mall, Can-Amera Parkway, the Delta Intersection (Hespeler
Road at Coronation Boulevard) and the Ainslie Street Terminal.
ION Stage 2 will see the Region convert the aBRT service to LRT,
creating a seamless 37 kilometre system of 23 stops between Cambridge and Waterloo.
As part of this multi-phased plan to implement
rapid transit in Waterloo Region, Council approved an allocation of one
million dollars annually for ten years to implement transit-supportive strategies in Cambridge to increase ridership.
This month, Council approved the 2014
strategies, which include:
* the new Maple Grove iXpress * detailed design and construction of new landscaping at the Ainslie Street Transit Terminal (pictured) * a two-year marketing campaign for ION aBRT * a two-year pilot project to encourage Cambridge businesses to join the TravelWise Transportation Management Association by providing free memberships * the Groff Mill Creek Watershed Plan to establish floodplain policies that support new development between Groff Mill Creek and Hespeler Road  |
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ION in the community
A number of ION
community events are planned to take place throughout the summer.
On June 9, the Region of Waterloo welcomes Dr Vukan
R. Vuchic for a public presentation 12 noon at Regional Headquarters,
150 Frederick Street. Dr Vuchic is one of the world's foremost scholars
in transportation systems, engineering and planning and has been a Professor
at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 40 years. He visits Waterloo
Region to accept an Honorary Degree from the University of Waterloo on June
10.
His work on LRT is renowned throughout the world and his
nomination for an Honorary Degree from the University of Waterloo is timely.
Dr Vuchic's free presentation is a great opportunity to engage
with one of the world's most influential transit thinkers.
On Thursday, June 19, Taras Grescoe,
acclaimed author of Straphanger, will be the first speaker in the ION
Community and Transit Talk Series. Grescoe will address transportation
and sustainable transit for communities at Knox Presbyterian Church in
Waterloo at 7 p.m. Grescoe's presentation is a free community event that
will be followed by a short question and answer session.
Grescoe is a highly-respected non-fiction writer who has
developed a reputation as a thought-leader on sustainable transportation,
community building and transit.
Copies of Straphanger can be purchased at Words
Worth Books in Waterloo before the event as well as on-site on
June 19.
The
ION Community and Transit Talk Series will bring relevant speakers to
Waterloo Region to discuss timely, thought-provoking matters related to
transportation, community building, transit and urban design. A second
session in the series will take place in November.
For more, click here http://bit.ly/1is1slj
The LRT vehicle
will return to the Region July 4 to July 7. During two similar events
last year, more than 3,000 residents took the opportunity to climb on board
and tour the vehicle that will operate along the LRT corridor. Details of
this year's event are still being finalized and will be released shortly - but
mark your calendar now!
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