Comment 85962

By Noted (anonymous) | Posted February 07, 2013 at 11:46:18

While Hamilton's council chamber were going Pop-O-Matic, Waterloo's elected representatives were getting pragmatic.


WATERLOO REGION — Regional politicians approved the first large construction project related to rapid transit Wednesday, voting to spend $8.3 million on a Conestoga Parkway overpass to make way for light rail trains.

“This is very significant,” Coun. Jim Wideman said. “It’s sort of a signal that this is a go.”

The Region of Waterloo’s $818-million rapid transit plan includes light rail trains that will need to pass under Conestoga Parkway between Homer Watson Boulevard and Courtland Avenue.

An existing overpass carries expressway traffic over a Canadian National Railway track, but there isn’t enough room a second set of tracks for light rail trains. An additional overpass will be built as part of a Ministry of Transportation contract.

The ministry is now in the second year of a four-year project to fix up and widen Highway 7/8 between Fischer-Hallman Road and Courtland Avenue, offering the opportunity tie in the overpass work.

Officials said they can save money and reduce the risk of falling behind schedule on rapid transit by adding the work to the ministry’s construction contract.

A final design is expected by July for approval, with construction to be completed in 2014. Based on the design proposal from the province, councillors could change their minds and have another look at their options.

Light rail trains are planned to run from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener. From there, express buses will run to Ainslie Street terminal in Cambridge.

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/882386--region-approves-8-3-million-overpass-as-part-of-light-rail-plan

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