Apr 28, 2016 - construction updates, local business features, ... Visit our Facebook page to see an album with ... corri
Monthly ION Update April 28, 2016 ION construction highlights As construction for ION light rail transit (LRT) progresses, follow ION on social media for construction updates, local business features, unique progress photos and more.
Embedded LRT track work has started on King in Kitchener
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Concrete is poured into a section of embedded LRT track on Charles in Kitchener
Overhead catenary system (OCS) that powers the trains is installed along the Waterloo spur
The foundation is poured for the Borden LRT stop on Charles at Borden
ION LRT stop progress Construction for ION LRT includes many different stages of work. These stages include underground utility relocation and replacement, road reconstruction and LRT track and infrastructure installation. There are also 19 LRT stops along the ION corridor that will be constructed. Foundations have currently been poured for eight LRT stops. ION LRT stops are 65 metres long and each one features a unique anchor wall. Once the foundations are poured, the next step is adding the platform – the layer on top of the concrete foundation with all of the textured tiles. Crews then add the glass canopy and all of the finishing touches such as ticket vending machines, information displays, benches and waste receptacles. See the finished product in the renderings below.
Conestoga ION LRT stop rendering – the overhead canopies are made of glass and steel
Poured foundations
Block Line ION LRT stop rendering – the large colourful structure is the anchor wall
View all of the ION LRT stop renderings on our website.
Visit our Facebook page to see an album with aerial shots of all of the poured LRT stop foundations so far.
Constructive Communications workshop
ION and IABC Waterloo recently hosted the third installment of the Constructive Communications workshop series. The presentation was led by Dylan McConnell, a Customer Communications Manager at OpenText in Waterloo.
ION contests
Looking for another great reason to shop local during ION construction? Visit any business along Courtland, between Block Line and Manitou for your chance to win. More information on this contest is available on our website.
A wide range of community members and representatives of local businesses were in attendance and had the opportunity to take away the key techniques needed to effectively market their businesses on social media. Stay tuned for information on the next free session this fall.
A number of GRT buses throughout the region now feature advertisements that encourage riders to enter a contest for a chance to win a GRT monthly pass! More information and full contest rules are available on our website.
Did you know: The ION logo on the stop anchor walls will glow brighter according to how close an approaching LRT vehicle is
Promoting ION businesses When you visit your favourite business along the ION corridor, help promote them by using the #IONbiz hashtag. ION will retweet this content to help spread the message.
#IONbiz features We continue to feature your favourite businesses along the ION corridor. For a full list of #IONbiz features visit our website
Click above to view messages from businesses along the ION corridor
ION businesses on social media Do you know of a business along the ION corridor that could use some help setting up Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? Let us know. ION will assist any business along the ION corridor with getting started on social media. Marbles Restaurant in Waterloo was recently showcased on ION’s Instagram page
UpTown/Downtown parking
ION spotlight: Queen
Heading UpTown or Downtown and need a place to park? We’ve saved a spot for you! Click on the parking map below to start planning your trip. There are parking maps available for both UpTown Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener.
Located on Charles, between Queen and Benton, this stop will serve southbound passengers travelling in Downtown Kitchener.
Stay in touch with ION construction ION construction continues along all 19 km of the ION corridor. To stay up to date on everything ION, visit www.rideION.ca. The site features an interactive ION route map, information on ION stops as well as an opportunity to have bi-weekly construction updates sent directly to your inbox. There is also a page that includes current and upcoming night work.
The Queen LRT will act as a key destination along the ION route, providing a convenient link for those accessing services and businesses in Downtown Kitchener. These include the nearby Duke Street Food Block, Waterloo Regional Courthouse and the Kitchener Public Library. The Queen LRT stop also provides further transit options to major employers such as the Region of Waterloo and Manulife. Further transit connections are available at this stop as it serves as an important transfer point along the ION route with links to GRT. The area surrounding the Queen LRT stop presents a great potential for future development – a key priority for rapid transit in Waterloo Region. An interactive map with info on all ION stops can be found on the RideION.ca website.
About ION ION, the Region of Waterloo's rapid transit service, which was approved by Council in June 2011, is a visionary plan that will help shape the community for the future by bringing LRT to the region in two stages. Stage 1 includes a 19 kilometre LRT route from the Conestoga Mall transit terminal in Waterloo to the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal in Kitchener. Construction of ION LRT is underway, with the service set to launch in 2017. Stage 1 also features a 17 kilometre route of BRT from the Ainslie Street transit terminal in Cambridge to the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal in Kitchener. The ION BRT service began operations in September 2015. Stage 2 ION will see the Region replace the BRT line with LRT, creating a seamless LRT route with 23 stops between Cambridge and Waterloo
