Grand River Transit

[MidTowner]

That is a workaround, but I can't see anyone waiting to ride a bus for one stop for no other reason than to make sure GRT is getting the full fare.

[avernar]

That is a workaround, but I can't see anyone waiting to ride a bus for one stop for no other reason than to make sure GRT is getting the full fare.

I didn't say it was a practical workaround.

My coworker did it because he actually had to take the bus a few stops first.  But his kids got off the ION several stops before he did.  When the fare inspector scanned his card he gave him a puzzled look and asked "Are you riding alone?"  My friend replied "I tossed the other two off the train a few stops back."

[neonjoe]

There is an announcement at the Strasburg Facility by the Infrastructure Minister today at 11:00am
https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-new...ng-1613953

Maybe funding for the Northfield Facility?

[trainspotter139]

News Release on the Funding Announcement: https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2019/07/o...erloo.html

Backgrounder on the projects involved: https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2019/07/o...or-fu.html

[timio]

They really like instigating fights with the federal government as shown by the wording in the announcement. Just once I would like to see this government show a collaborative attitude rather than combative as has been their MO so far.

[Acitta]

Kitchener seniors concerned about change to bus route System revamp means bus no longer stops outside apartment buildings to go to nearby grocery, drug stores

[KevinL]

More reason to put better pedestrian crossings in more places on Weber and roads like it.

[Rainrider22]

There is an announcement at the Strasburg Facility by the Infrastructure Minister today at 11:00am
https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-new...ng-1613953

Maybe funding for the Northfield Facility?

I am surprised that they would put this facility at the North end of Waterloo instead of a middle point, like some where near the Regional Facility on Maplegrove.   Over time I would think it would save wear and tear plus fuel on the buses if their starting point and finishing point was't at the north end and more central.   I know they bought the former Waterloo North Hydro property but still.  Does this mean they will shuttle the Strasburg  facility ?....

[trainspotter139]

There is an announcement at the Strasburg Facility by the Infrastructure Minister today at 11:00am
https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-new...ng-1613953

Maybe funding for the Northfield Facility?

I am surprised that they would put this facility at the North end of Waterloo instead of a middle point, like some where near the Regional Facility on Maplegrove.   Over time I would think it would save wear and tear plus fuel on the buses if their starting point and finishing point was't at the north end and more central.   I know they bought the former Waterloo North Hydro property but still.  Does this mean they will shuttle the Strasburg  facility ?....

Strasburg will be the mid-point facility with Conestoga Blvd in Cambridge being the south-most facility

[megabytephreak]

Does anyone know where the $467M price tag for the Northfield facility in the below CBC article comes from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5230242

Almost half-a-billion dollars seems horrifically high for that kind of building. I suspect the number is just wrong.
I'd seem $76M for the Northfield facility in some articles from a couple years ago, which is more in-line with my expectations, although still a bit high.
Perhaps CBC dropped decimal point? $46.7M total with a $39.6M provincial contribution almost works, except the CBC says the region is contributing $126M, which even reading as $12.6M doesn't add up.

[ijmorlan]

Does anyone know where the $467M price tag for the Northfield facility in the below CBC article comes from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5230242

Almost half-a-billion dollars seems horrifically high for that kind of building. I suspect the number is just wrong.
I'd seem $76M for the Northfield facility in some articles from a couple years ago, which is more in-line with my expectations, although still a bit high.
Perhaps CBC  dropped decimal point? $46.7M total with a $39.6M provincial contribution almost works, except the CBC says the region is contributing $126M, which even reading as $12.6M doesn't add up.

The Quantum-Nano Centre at UW was about $100M, and it has an enormous amount of special equipment, unusual utilities needs, and special requirements for the building structure itself, not to mention being built 10m below ground and including attractive features as befits a showpiece building. I feel quite confident that a bus garage for a city the size of ours should be well under $100M. And of course the land cost can’t explain a huge cost either — there is a reason why they didn’t build it downtown.

[panamaniac]

Is it a normal feature of the federal Infrastructure Program that the Province makes a funding announcement for projects that still need the approval of the GofC? Seems rather convoluted.

[Bob_McBob]

Does anyone know where the $467M price tag for the Northfield facility in the below CBC article comes from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5230242

It comes from the reporter misreading an earlier CBC article that stated the entire pool of Canada Infrastructure Program funding. I tweeted her and emailed CBC this afternoon, but it hasn't been corrected yet. The actual cost of the facility is a bit of a mystery. The region budgeted $65m back in 2016, and the request for bids document says the entire cost should be under $90m, but CBC was reporting a cost as high as $120m in March.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5073923

[timio]

Is it a normal feature of the federal Infrastructure Program that the Province makes a funding announcement for projects that still need the approval of the GofC? Seems rather convoluted.

It's an attempt at politicizing the process. If the PC's can paint the federal Liberal's as the slow party here, they believe it will make their federal counterparts look better.

Reality is another thing.

[danbrotherston]

Does anyone know where the $467M price tag for the Northfield facility in the below CBC article comes from:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5230242

It comes from the reporter misreading an earlier CBC article that stated the entire pool of Canada Infrastructure Program funding. I tweeted her and emailed CBC this afternoon, but it hasn't been corrected yet. The actual cost of the facility is a bit of a mystery. The region budgeted $65m back in 2016, and the request for bids document says the entire cost should be under $90m, but CBC was reporting a cost as high as $120m in March.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.5073923

120MM still seems crazy high.