ION Update December 2014 ION partnership encourages support of businesses during construction ION and the UpTown Waterloo BIA have partnered on a five-week social media campaign to encourage guests to visit UpTown Waterloo during ION construction. The campaign also reminds residents that access to all businesses remains open during ION construction. Participants can get involved in the ION/UpTown Challenge by taking an ION item to any UpTown Waterloo business. To enter, snap a photograph with an ION-branded item and link it to one of the key UpTown Waterloo BIA words – live, work, learn, play or shop. The ION/UpTown Challenge runs through December 19. To participate, connect with the UpTown Waterloo BIA on Facebook at facebook.com/uptown.waterloo or Twitter at @UpTownWaterloo A similar partnership with the Downtown Kitchener BIA will be launched in 2015 to coincide with ION construction on Charles and Duke.

ION construction continues into December In Waterloo, construction to upgrade underground services (i.e., water and wastewater) and make way for ION continues on Caroline, between Allen to just past Father David Bauer. Although some portions of Caroline are closed to through traffic, access is being maintained for residents, businesses (both customers and deliveries) and fire, police and EMS. Construction is expected to continue through December, weather-permitting, at which point the road will open until next spring. In Kitchener, construction on Borden to upgrade existing underground services is also underway, with portions of the road closed to through traffic between Charles and Nyberg. Construction will cease once winter weather arrives, at which point Borden will open until next spring. Work on Borden, from Courtland to the Huron Spur railway tracks will begin in spring 2015. More information will be provided closer to the start date. The removal of vegetation along the Huron Spur railway tracks, from Northfield to King South, started this summer and is progressing well. GrandLinq Contractors crews are now accessing the CN railway tracks from Columbia to remove cleared vegetation. This access point is expected to be used until late December.

Above: ION construction on Caroline

ION construction is also underway along the Huron Spur in Kitchener and at the Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility on Dutton Drive in Waterloo. This facility will be home to the Region’s light rail vehicles when light rail transit service begins in 2017. Work at the Courtland Avenue underpass at Highway 7/8 is also underway and is expected to be complete in early 2015. ION adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT) construction continues along Hespeler and at the Ainslie Street transit terminal in Cambridge. Pending weather conditions, the majority of this construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

At least one lane of through traffic continues to be maintained in each direction at all times on Hespeler during construction. Local and Emergency Services as well as Grand River Transit (GRT) services are being maintained at all times along with access to businesses and residences.

Stay in touch: construction website

ION aBRT is the first step towards bringing LRT to Cambridge, with the aBRT service due to launch in 2015.

A website dedicated to ION construction is available for residents and visitors. The site features an interactive ION route map, information on ION stops as well as a sign-up for regular construction updates. A link to Grand River Transit (GRT) is also included in construction updates for areas where construction may affect GRT service. The website includes the most up-to-date information on all aspects of ION construction. Above: ION construction at Courtland Avenue underpass at Highway 7/8

Visit the website at: www.rideION.ca The latest ION Construction Updates are available at: http://bit.ly/1tpNcko Sign-up to have the latest Construction Updates emailed to you at: http://www.rideion.ca/sign-up-for-u