King-Victoria Transit Hub

[tomh009]

I would hope it would go up, but also most stations here have no station building (but will still have infrastructure like elevators and shelters)

Are the tracks elevated, hence the need for elevators? Or is that for subways?

[danbrotherston]

I would hope it would go up, but also most stations here have no station building (but will still have infrastructure like elevators and shelters)

Are the tracks elevated, hence the need for elevators? Or is that for subways?

It varies by station. Sometimes the tracks are a little higher than level ground but not on any structure just on a small berm, but the crossings are most often grade separated so the elevators are for platform access from the underpass.

[ac3r]

I agree the building is a bit about Civic Pride. It is almost an Art installation that will represent our city for decades to come. There will be some function to the space as well though. There is planned retail space (Only 1 space) which is better than the original idea to have no retail. There will be community meeting spaces, Offices for GRT & Metrolinx staff. The public Square will be slightly larger then Carl Zehr square so I could see it hosting Civic events as well. 

There is also the potential that a station like this could be a stop for a future southern route of the HSR. 

In terms of numbers, I don't know what they are like currently, but I could image they would start to pick up once we officially have 2-way all day go 7 days a week. Also if metrolinx buys the track between KW and London, make upgrades to the bring travel times down and extends 2-way all day go to london.

Oh so they will have retail? Good. Although 1 retail space in a train station is underwhelming. Around the world most stations have tons of retail. Back in Germany a lot of the major ones had so many shops they were like malls.

[plam]

I agree the building is a bit about Civic Pride. It is almost an Art installation that will represent our city for decades to come. There will be some function to the space as well though. There is planned retail space (Only 1 space) which is better than the original idea to have no retail. There will be community meeting spaces, Offices for GRT & Metrolinx staff. The public Square will be slightly larger then Carl Zehr square so I could see it hosting Civic events as well. 

There is also the potential that a station like this could be a stop for a future southern route of the HSR. 

In terms of numbers, I don't know what they are like currently, but I could image they would start to pick up once we officially have 2-way all day go 7 days a week. Also if metrolinx buys the track between KW and London, make upgrades to the bring travel times down and extends 2-way all day go to london.

Oh so they will have retail? Good. Although 1 retail space in a train station is underwhelming. Around the world most stations have tons of retail. Back in Germany a lot of the major ones had so many shops they were like malls.

Also because the only things that can be open on Sundays in Germany and Switzerland are in railway stations and airports. But yes, more than 1 retail space would be better.

[ac3r]

Their Ladenschlussgesetz laws play a part for sure, but it's not just in Germany and related nations. It's common in many countries. If I recall, the region just said they didn't want to have to manage retail priorities or something.

[westwardloo]

I do agree that a station this size with this much of our public funds invested there should be at least three retail spaces. In a perfect world there would be 1 fast-food, 1 coffee and 1 convenience store. We are lucky to get 1 retail space, Region staff can be visionaries with one hand and then avoid risks at all cost with the other hand. There was a major push from some staff to not even to include 1 space for retail.

[the_conestoga_guy]

Given the huge atrium proposed at the station, I've always thought that a coffee cart would be a nice option (similar to what we've had at the Kitchener library downtown). Then the permanent storefront could be some sort of convenience store. Certainly a minimalist setup, but functional!

Maybe a spot for a food truck could be provided outside, too.

[Kodra24]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-9.7208419

Isn't there another site the Region can provide to move the homeless to? Or would that be setting a precedent they're not willing to set?....

[Rainrider22]

I think the public square in front of the courthouse is perfect !! Put your money where your mouth is...

[Acitta]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-9.7208419

Isn't there another site the Region can provide to move the homeless to? Or would that be setting a precedent they're not willing to set?....

It is a shame that a small group of people can hold up a much-needed major project. They are not even the same group of people that were involved in the last court case.

[Bob_McBob]

It is a shame that a small group of people can hold up a much-needed major project. They are not even the same group of people that were involved in the last court case.

So what? I think it's a shame the region has had over three years to address the issue and has basically done jack shit. Shockingly enough, passing a new bylaw with the same provisions as an unconstitutional bylaw is not one weird trick to ignore a court ruling. And the situation is even worse now, given the region has offered next to nothing to the residents in terms of housing, let alone an alternative area to camp that would comply with the ruling. 

The Region has given assurances of alternate shelter to only those Cross-Applicants/Named Respondents (“Named Respondents”) who are among 40 persons it counted as present at the Encampment on April 16, 2025. However, this shelter is, for the most part, temporary motel or emergency shelter space, and the Region has made no provision for where persons may go if/when they lose these spaces. It has offered nothing to most of the Named Respondents, who are not among the counted 40, other than to “bring them within the Region’s housing stability system” - effectively, adding them to the waitlists they are already on.

[Bob_McBob]

I think the public square in front of the courthouse is perfect !! Put your money where your mouth is...

I thought you were better than this.

[Rainrider22]

I think the public square in front of the courthouse is perfect !!  Put your money where your mouth is...

I thought you were better than this.

How dare I differ in opinion, Tell me how I should think please.

[tomh009]

Oh so they will have retail? Good. Although 1 retail space in a train station is underwhelming. Around the world most stations have tons of retail. Back in Germany a lot of the major ones had so many shops they were like malls.

Also because the only things that can be open on Sundays in Germany and Switzerland are in railway stations and airports. But yes, more than 1 retail space would be better.

Also because their passenger volumes are 10x ours or more.

[Rainrider22]

Also because the only things that can be open on Sundays in Germany and Switzerland are in railway stations and airports. But yes, more than 1 retail space would be better.

Also because their passenger volumes are 10x ours or more.

Yes, but, this is why we need to work towards more frequency and quicker times.  I would much prefer to take a train to Toronto for event than the car.... Then we will get more buy in and more riders.