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ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit
Ask and ye shall receive! Big Grin

1/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

   
Final paving happened this week on Borden. Looks great, doesn't it?

   
I can't remember when we discussed it, but someone was asking about some of the building expropriations near the Huron Spur. I didn't have a shot at the time - so now I do. Here's that building that got "notched".

   
At Mill, the final concrete for the sidewalks is down, grass is in... things are looking great!

   
...except this one crossing arm that is on the wrong side of the sidewalk, and sandwiches pedestrians between the arm and the tracks. Oops! I notified the team a few weeks ago, and they've let the engineer responsible know. Let's see what happens.

   
Looking down the Huron Spur, at Mill station.
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2/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

   
On Hayward, I think I spotted something pretty neat - this is the only LBFoster track lubricator that isn't mounted in embedded track. As such, you can see all the components that make up the system. This is the inductive proximity switch (we just call them "proxies") that trigger the counter on the pump. After a certain number of impulses (settable), it squirts out a dose of grease (and the dose is settable, too).

   
The grease gets pumped out of these devices.

   
...from these pumps.

   
The platform-mounted electrical cabinet was open, since there are people all along the line today working on them.

   
Block Line anchor wall.
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3/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

   
I'm still baffled by this huge crossing arm that was retrofitted into the centre of the intersection at Block Line and Courtland.

   
Backside view of Block Line station.

   
I took at trip down the new "LRV Viewing" path that doesn't really go anywhere.

   
At the base end, it just stops, and that crossing arm actually comes right down on the centre of the path.

   
Willis Way (and the rest of the platforms along the Waterloo Spur) now have other platform touches being added - like the trash/recycle bins.
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4/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

   
Track matting installation continues along the Waterloo Spur stations.

   
Loving all the new signage.

   
Platform for Waterloo Park-Laurier.

   

   
The backside of the "To Conestoga" and "To Fairway" stops show the connections or street names when you're standing on the platform. This one is at University of Waterloo, so directs passengers toward the new bus terminal.
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5/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

   
Here's what I mean - if you're approaching the platform, it shows you which side you want.

   
More platform signage.

   
Research & Technology signage and trash bins are in, too.

   

   
The derailler on the Waterloo Spur beside the Spur Line Trail was cordoned off - presumably they're testing it now. This is what they've been doing with the gauntlet tracks as well when they test them moving.


That's it for now - hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!
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Great update as always!
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(06-18-2017, 09:10 AM)danbrotherston Wrote:
(06-18-2017, 09:01 AM)ijmorlan Wrote: Incredibly on point. My favourite bit is how so-called “libertarians” tend to be against public transit and in favour of road transportation. In other words, they are de facto socialists, which is almost the opposite of what the minimal-government libertarianism is supposed to be about.

To be fair, many libertarians have put some thought into how private ownership of roads would work. But at present, our road network is definitely socialized, and almost the exact opposite of a capitalist free-enterprise system.


The idea of private ownership of roads is hilarious.  There can be no more perfect definition of a natural monopoly than roads.

I agree about 95%. I only mentioned it because I didn’t want to mis-represent Libertarian views. As to local roads I don’t see how private ownership could be anything other than a massive opportunity for rent-seeking and corruption. I’m not quite so sure about expressways — conceivably you could have a bunch of them owned by various groups, but I’m skeptical it would actually work in practice. Probably they’d end up consolidating into one organization which would then engage in massive rent-seeking. Perhaps private ownership could work with strict regulation, similar to telecoms. But overall I’d say I’m happy with public ownership, I just think we should use a lot more use-based charges to fund them, especially for the luxury goods that expressways are.
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(06-18-2017, 01:31 PM)Canard Wrote: 4/5 - Sunday, June 18, 2017

[Image: attachment.php?aid=3864]
Loving all the new signage.

Oops - someone on Facebook just pointed out that this has been installed incorrectly! I've alerted the project team.
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Geez, clearview was such a good choice for that signage, it looks so good.
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Great pics Canard. Thanks for the keen eye picking up on the smaller details too.  Things really are looking good. I suspect soon one of your posts will show a gleaming new train running on the tracks!!
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(06-18-2017, 01:30 PM)Canard Wrote: I took at trip down the new "LRV Viewing" path that doesn't really go anywhere.

Thanks for the great photos. Also, I can’t help but making a snarky comment to the effect that: interesting, it seems massive fences are not required, after all, to separate pedestrian traffic from the LRT! In fact, not only is no fence at all needed, but the distance from the path to the track only needs to be about 1m.
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What's with the mat at the station on the tracks? Is it to make people safer should they fall off the platform? Or encouraging them to run up to a station from anywhere, rather than the ends?
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(06-16-2017, 12:52 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:
(06-16-2017, 11:39 AM)knlr Wrote: When I commuted from Cambridge to UW, to save the cost of on-campus parking, I parked at Conestoga Mall and took the iXpress to campus for free.  There were usually others doing the same thing.

Exactly, you were motivated by the inconvenience and expense of parking.  Out of curiosity, why Conestoga and not Fairway....or Sportsworld...or even somewhere in Cambridge....at Conestoga, seems like you've already driven past UW.

As for finding a spot downtown, studies have shown our parking tops out at 70% utilization.  There are always spots.  But hey, if people want to take transit because they have the perception that there's no parking, that's great.

I had driven past UW, but Conestoga is close to the highway, so even with back tracking, the trip was quicker than taking iXpress from Cambridge and it gave me the flexibility to stay on campus later at night.
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(06-17-2017, 09:59 PM)jeffster Wrote:
(06-17-2017, 02:31 PM)JoeKW Wrote: No offence guys, but this usage discussion is very off topic.

So on topic, I am wondering how many here are going to do the Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall thing. (or vice versa)

While I drive car, I think it will be fun to take the kids to chill in DTK for a bit, park at Charles/Benton garage then hop on the LRT to go to the Cineplex on Fairway.  Makes for a full afternoon and evening of fun.

Better yet, take them to Apollo Cinema in DTK. Probably the best movie theatre in the Region.
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(06-19-2017, 09:56 AM)urbd Wrote:
(06-17-2017, 09:59 PM)jeffster Wrote: So on topic, I am wondering how many here are going to do the Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall thing. (or vice versa)

While I drive car, I think it will be fun to take the kids to chill in DTK for a bit, park at Charles/Benton garage then hop on the LRT to go to the Cineplex on Fairway.  Makes for a full afternoon and evening of fun.

Better yet, take them to Apollo Cinema in DTK. Probably the best movie theatre in the Region.

Sorry for yet another off-topic, but I agree, although there is also the Princess.  I wonder how they (Apollo) are doing?
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