Spur Line Trail

[Spokes]

Region, city agree to help fund completion of Waterloo Spur Line Trail
September 10, 2014 | Paige Desmond | Waterloo Region Record | Link

WATERLOO REGION — Local officials are hopeful Metrolinx will follow through on tentative commitments to help fund completion of the Waterloo Spur Line Trail.

Waterloo councillors voted Monday and Region of Waterloo councillors voted Tuesday to endorse the cost-sharing plan.

The City of Waterloo has committed about $1.54 million in new money, in addition to about $400,000 already approved to complete storm sewer work along the route.

"I can tell you this is a great initiative, and I've heard from a lot of uptown (residents), specifically in the Mary Allen area, how they have been waiting to see this trail coming to be, so this is great," Coun. Melissa Durrell.

The region will kick in about $2 million to complete the trail and Metrolinx up to $1.2 million.

"This kind of a project is a real no-brainer for us," regional Coun. Geoff Lorentz said.

An agreement has not yet been reached between Metrolinx and the region, but it was the Ontario government agency that approached local officials about the potential partnership.

If the deal goes ahead, the trail would be complete late in the summer of 2015. Regional staff are planning a public consultation centre to talk about the plan with residents and hear feedback.

Commissioner of planning, housing and community services Rob Horne said more than 20 emails about the project have been sent to regional councillors in just a few days.

Metrolinx is interested in the trail because of its potential to funnel pedestrians and cyclists to the Kitchener GO Transit station and potential multi-modal transit hub at King and Victoria streets.

The trail would run along the rail line from Regina Street in Waterloo to Victoria Street in Kitchener.

"When we talk about livable and sustainable communities, it's these types of projects that go a long way," regional Coun. Tom Galloway.

Lane Burman of the Mount Hope-Breithaupt Neighbourhood Association said the trail's completion is long-awaited.

"There is no doubt for the need of this project," Burman said.

Waterloo Coun. Diane Freeman said she was stopped on the University of Waterloo campus Monday by a resident excited about the trail.

Freeman said it's an important link to existing trails.

"This is a direct connection to the Hillside Trail connection and the Laurel Trail and the Trans Canada Trail," she said.

The 1.3-kilometre section would be lit and would be about three metres wide. It would also be paved. Waterloo would do maintenance at a cost of about $10,500 annually.

The region has also agreed to pay Waterloo's costs upfront with the city paying the money back in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The Metrolinx money would come from a new active transportation fund.