ION aBRT service begins in early 2015 and will allow more convenient access to Cambridge's shopping, employment and recr
ION aBRT Update August 2014
were high enough to secure initial funding from the provincial and federal governments. This meant that capital costs to build the entire LRT system all at once were too high. To increase ridership south of the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal, Council approved the allocation of $1 million per year for 10 years to enhance ridership and encourage development along the aBRT corridor in Cambridge.
ION aBRT
About ION The Region of Waterloo’s goal is to implement a light rail transit (LRT) system that moves people in and around Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. In 2011, Council approved a staged approach to the implementation of LRT – similar to what other communities have done when building rapid transit systems. Stage 1 includes LRT from Kitchener to Waterloo as well as adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT) from Cambridge to Kitchener. Stage 2 will see the Region convert the aBRT route to LRT, creating a 37 kilometre LRT route across the region’s three urban centres. The staged approach was chosen in part because only the Kitchener to Waterloo ridership numbers
ION aBRT service begins in early 2015 and will allow more convenient access to Cambridge’s shopping, employment and recreational facilities. ION aBRT will link the Ainslie Street transit terminal in Cambridge with the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal in Kitchener through a 17 kilometre route. Stops will be located at the Ainslie Street transit terminal, along Hespeler at the Delta, Can-Amera, Cambridge Centre Mall, Pinebush/Eagle, and at Sportsworld and the Fairview Park Mall transit terminal (with a connection to ION LRT in 2017). ION aBRT will help build transit ridership along Cambridge’s busiest corridor by ensuring an efficient and reliable transit option. ION aBRT vehicles will take advantage of special service features such as limited stops, transit signal priority, queue jumps (a right turn and bus only lane that will allow buses to bypass traffic queued at busy intersections) and bus bypass shoulders along the 401 and Highway 8.
ION aBRT Construction ION aBRT construction begins in August 2014 and will conclude in December 2014. At least one lane of through traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times on Hespeler during construction. Local and Emergency Services as well as Grand River Transit (GRT) service will be maintained at all times during construction. Access to businesses and residences along the corridor will be maintained to the greatest extent possible, though short-term disruptions may occur.
ION aBRT Construction Timeline 1. Hespeler at Pinebush/Eagle a. Location: Southbound ION stop at Pinebush; Northbound ION stop at Eagle b. Construction Starts: August, completion scheduled for October c. Overview of Work: installation of ION aBRT stops; civil road works and infrastructure d. Community Impact: access to local businesses will be maintained 2. Hespeler at Can-Amera a. Location: Southbound and northbound ION stops at the Can-Amera intersection b. Construction Starts: September, completion scheduled for October c. Overview of Work: installation of ION aBRT stops; civil road works and infrastructure
d. Community Impact: access to local residences and businesses will be maintained
3. Ainslie Street transit terminal a. Location: Ainslie Street transit terminal platforms b. Construction Starts: September, completion scheduled for October c. Overview of Work: installation of ION aBRT stops; restoration works d. Community Impact: bus and pedestrian access to the transit terminal will be maintained 4. Hespeler at the Delta a. Location: Southbound and northbound ION stops at the Delta intersection b. Construction Starts: September, completion scheduled for December c. Overview of Work: installation of ION aBRT stops; civil road works and infrastructure d. Community Impact: access to local residences and businesses will be maintained 5. Hespeler at Munch a. Location: Munch and Hespeler intersection b. Construction Starts: October, completion scheduled for December c. Overview of Work: civil road works and infrastructure d. Community Impact: access to local residences and businesses will be maintained
