Light Rail Transit Update for Waterloo Region - May, 2014

ION Update  May 2014

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

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!