ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[darts]

I don't think Canard was objecting to a fence in principle, but to the style and materials.

I agree that a high-traffic area like Waterloo Park should have a higher quality and better aesthetic of fence design. Hopefully that's what we'll get.

I agree, however in terms of keeping people out there isn't a lot that beats a standard chain link fence. Other types of fences can be used to mark off boundries but don't do as well keeping small people from getting through them. I am not a fence designer but nothing really comes to mind that can do the job and be practical. I guess plexiglass or something similar could be used but it wouldn't look that much better and be a lot more expensive, especially for on going repairs.

[Coke6pk]

Nobody cares about this for four-lane roads with sidewalks immediately next to them. Why can’t we put up fences along roads, but rely on the 6m gap including a large ditch for the LRT?

If the roads were only used by the Region (and their vehicles), and they had 100% liability for everything that happened on those roads, they would have a fence.

Coke

[jamincan]

There are all sorts of fence designs that would serve that purpose and be more presentable. For example:

I think, though, that even a black chain link fence would be more presentable than the standard galvanized steel. At a bare minimum, it doesn't look like it will be too high.

[panamaniac]

They say that the only stupid question is the one not ask, so here goes. Why are any fences required for the ION?

[Canard]

They aren't. I don't have them handy but I've posted lots of photos of other examples of LRT systems operating directly next to multi-use paths at speed with either a hedge or a knee-heigh fence as a demarcator.

Jane Mitchel brought this up on behalf of many of us about a year ago when we voiced our concerns, but I never heard anything back. Perhaps I'll reach out to her again. We can't screw this up. I need to be able to get good video of the trains blasting along the corridor at 70 km/h and I can't do that through a 2m chain link fence!!

[mpd618]

They say that the only stupid question is the one not ask, so here goes.  Why are any fences required for the ION?

Because arguing with legal departments is a pain, I'm guessing.

[BuildingScout]

They aren't. I don't have them handy but I've posted lots of photos of other examples of LRT systems operating directly next to multi-use paths at speed with either a hedge or a knee-heigh fence as a demarcator.

Have a look at pages 39 and 40 of this thread, with many pictures posted and linked showing LRTs with minimal or no fences around them.

[Smore]

There are a bunch of good LRT fencing examples on this page:

http://tinyurl.com/j35eacu

[JoeKW]

Thats a good one

[timio]

I know it's common for parallel streets in KW to cross, but do we really need to fabricate a new intersection for the LRT?


Based on the other intersection closures starting the same date, it's likely Francis and King closing.

[KevinL]

I know it's common for parallel streets in KW to cross, but do we really need to fabricate a new intersection for the LRT?


Based on the other intersection closures starting the same date, it's likely Francis and King closing.

Yeah, someone followed the Duke curve around and didn't realize it became Francis.

[darts]

There are all sorts of fence designs that would serve that purpose and be more presentable. For example:

I think, though, that even a black chain link fence would be more presentable than the standard galvanized steel. At a bare minimum, it doesn't look like it will be too high.

To me at least it seems more like a fence that goes with a house, I can't see it as a stand alone fence in the park. I dunno maybe it is more distracting than a standard fence that I can't help but look at it and notice it.

[Canard]

We don't need a big massive prison fence.

[BuildingScout]

We don't need a big massive prison fence.

And as I pointed out, a big chain link fence has the added disadvantage that it traps things in (such as wildlife, a stray dog or a drunken straggler) as much as out particularly if set up in a corridor fence-in-both-sides configuration.

[Canard]

I've tweeted a few local politicians about this - if I don't get anywhere I might contact the media for some help with this one. If enough people fight out against this, we might be able to at least get it changed to something more attractive, if they're dead-set on having it some ridiculous height.

This is so stupid and it makes me so angry.