ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[kwliving]

Accommodation should be provided where it reasonably can.

Accessibility should always be considered, but one cannot always expect full accessibility in all things at all times.
You are asking for a monumental reconfiguration of the school's historical front steps for a ramp that would be of limited functional use.

That's a very privileged attitude. I'm guessing you would have no trouble using stairs. It's clear that you are okay making people who aren't like you use alternate access no matter how it makes them feel. Your "where it reasonably can" isn't reasonable to a lot of people. It's ableism and it's no different than telling women or minorities they can't use the same things others can.

Also, I didn't say they should monumentally alter the entry. I said there should be a safe, dignified access to the space at the top of the new stairs. That is within the scope of the project. You say "limited functional use" like it's okay to tell a sector of society "too bad".

I challenge you to meet me at KCI and push a wheelchair while you sit in it from the bus stop to the entrance. Hopefully your perspective of what disables people and attitude towards needless barriers would gain new insight. I'll bring you a chair to push. Let me know if you want the realistic beat up rickety chair that people on ODSP are stuck using or if I should look for a smooth ride people may envy.

I'm serious.

@gomesjustin, you're welcome to try it out too.

[Canard]

Can we go back to talking about trains?

[rangersfan]

I am with Canard on this. Perhaps a separate thread should be created to discuss accessibility in Waterloo Region.

[Drake]

kwliving, I note the doors at the front of the building are between two levels of windows. I am curious if you know what is behind those doors. I am guessing it is more stairs. Does anyone know? If a ramp was put onto the front of the building, would it help? Sorry rangersfan. I am curious to know the answer and didn't think it would be worth a new thread asking specifically about the entrance of KCI.

[TMKM94]

I don't want to get into this disagreement, but yes there are more stairs inside that entrance, If a ramp were built it would rarely/never be used for it's attended purpose. I think they should level out the entrance near the staff parking lot (King St.) there is a step before the doors but flat floor inside (right now there is only one 100% wheelchair accessible entrance at the back of the building) they should also put a pathway from the driveway to the new set of stairs since the front yard is basically a mini park.

[nms]

Can we go back to talking about trains?

The City of Waterloo wants to peripherally talk about trains on Tuesday, April 7 in a LRT Station Area Planning Community Roundtable.  There is one caveat, "Please note, issues involving LRT construction and operation will not be on the agenda for the station area roundtable workshop."

This also brings up the grammar question, is it "round table" or "roundtable"?

[panamaniac]

Can we go back to talking about trains?

The City of Waterloo wants to peripherally talk about trains on Tuesday, April 7 in a LRT Station Area Planning Community Roundtable.  There is one caveat, "Please note, issues involving LRT construction and operation will not be on the agenda for the station area roundtable workshop."

This also brings up the grammar question, is it "round table" or "roundtable"?

Should be "round table". 

[Canard]

So wait, what's this discussion/talk supposed to be about if its not to talk about LRT? I'm confused...

[plam]

So wait, what's this discussion/talk supposed to be about if its not to talk about LRT? I'm confused...

Sounds like "what should go around the LRT stations" rather than "complain about the inconveniences caused by construction".

[Canard]

This is so unbelievably cool:

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/552960...struction/

[KevinL]

Full circle, 60 years later.

[DHLawrence]

They found the same thing in Preston when doing water main work. Amazingly the King Street line in Preston had been out of service even longer than the KW Railway has been gone!

Hope they end up saving some of them for future display after all. Windsor displayed some of their old streetcar track a few years ago. Sorry I missed the exhibit.

[rickhd]

This is so unbelievably cool:

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/552960...struction/

There was also some dug up a few years ago when they took the steps out along the boulevard on King Street in front of the Sun Life Building.    They may find some more as they continue down King. 

[kwliving]

As always, those comments below the article are quite entertaining.

Quite an argument over the new thought (mass transit) vs. the old thought (cars). I'll be happy to have the LRT debate over with 30 years from now.

[clasher]

Here's a picture of GRR coach 937 at the former Queen Street Kitchener Station, I think by the time the Queen Street station was in service the street running Grand River Railway wasn't really a thing anymore but that car was rebuilt from an older street-running car. There's a similar combine unit from the GRR's sister railway (essentially became one company when the CP bought 'em both) at the Halton County Radial Railway museum if you wanted a closer look at one.