ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[goggolor]

They've dug small trenches around the tracks, preparing to pour concrete maybe? Hopefully whatever work they're doing will also include repaving the Laurel Trail between Seagram and University, which has been out of commission all summer.

A bit rough, perhaps, but certainly not out of commission. I don't know what it looked like prior to construction (I only became a cyclist in May), but I've used it a couple of times a week since then and it's never been closed. I haven't been over there since Sunday though so I'm not sure where things are at.

Yes, I've used it too... but it's officially out of commission, and there are bike detour signs directing cyclists through the adjacent parking lot. Even Google Maps has that span marked as "Laurel Trail (Planned)". It's just weird that it's been left unpaved all summer when it's such a key part of the cycling infrastructure.

[ijmorlan]

A bit rough, perhaps, but certainly not out of commission. I don't know what it looked like prior to construction (I only became a cyclist in May), but I've used it a couple of times a week since then and it's never been closed. I haven't been over there since Sunday though so I'm not sure where things are at.

Yes, I've used it too... but it's officially out of commission, and there are bike detour signs directing cyclists through the adjacent parking lot. Even Google Maps has that span marked as "Laurel Trail (Planned)". It's just weird that it's been left unpaved all summer when it's such a key part of the cycling infrastructure.

This is part of the problem with the way the project has been conducted. The Laurel trail was kept closed months longer than needed — after the main track work was done and nothing whatsoever was happening, the barriers were still up for months. Then eventually they were removed, so that now there is absolutely no indication that the trail is closed, if indeed it actually is (the existence of detour signs in a location does not indicate that not following the detour signs is entering on closed territory; the detour could be for anything). But of course it hasn’t been re-paved yet, as you note. I don’t find it particularly weird, however — the double standard that applies to active transportation infrastructure is well known.

Then the last few days the Seagram crossing has been closed, including the sidewalks, contrary to at least some of the information that has been sent out. So naturally they opened the crossing immediately south of Seagram station platform, right? Wrong! Although this morning it was open enough that people were taking it.

And while I’m complaining about that location, the park crossing should be moved about 10m further south so as not to be in the gauntlet track segment.

[danbrotherston]

I don’t find it particularly weird, however — the double standard that applies to active transportation infrastructure is well known.

This is on point. This is not an unusual situation, this is simply, "yet another example".

And while I’m complaining about that location, the park crossing should be moved about 10m further south so as not to be in the gauntlet track segment.

This is actually a good point! Gauntlet track is 2x at least as bumpy to cross.

[Canard]

Yesterday, Cincinnati opened their downtown tram line which runs CAF Urbos3 hardware (same as Kansas City).  These are great vehicles - very well built.

While I'm not fond of the last-minute sell-out to Cincinnati Bell for naming rights (and the hideous wraps), everything else this line did was right - on-time and under-budget.

Here's a great collection of images from yesterday.

http://cincinnatirefined.com/travel/cinc...ber-9-2016

   

(Why I'm posting this here: 1. Let's hope for no last-minute sponsorship deals that will make our trains ugly, and 2. Really hoping for a nice big opening ceremony here as well.)

[Pheidippides]

-cat poles getting brackets to attach the catenary support arms along Caroline yesterday
-TPSS site across from GRH has been scrubbed and graded
   

-are the recently installed curbs at Caroline and Erb in the proper alignment for the forthcoming changes at Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport realignment or will they have to come out again in 18 months? Those curbs along the north side of Erb do not look to be in the right place/angle

[tomh009]

The second switch has appeared at Cameron Heights (yes, it was early this morning ...):

   

[Markster]

-are the recently installed curbs at Caroline and Erb in the proper alignment for the forthcoming changes at Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport realignment or will they have to come out again in 18 months? Those curbs along the north side of Erb do not look to be in the right place/angle

The Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport realignment was ordered to work around the planned intersection designs for Caroline/Erb, so the curbs are almost certainly in the "correct" places.

Are they in the ideal places? No.

[Pheidippides]

-are the recently installed curbs at Caroline and Erb in the proper alignment for the forthcoming changes at Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport realignment or will they have to come out again in 18 months? Those curbs along the north side of Erb do not look to be in the right place/angle

The Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport realignment was ordered to work around the planned intersection designs for Caroline/Erb, so the curbs are almost certainly in the "correct" places.

Are they in the ideal places? No.

I just had a look at the final Caroline/Erb/Albert/Bridgeport drawings and from what I can recall everything looks correct; its that weird parking in front of knox and fake-non-lane that makes everything seem to be configured oddly. Thanks.

[Canard]

New signage on Borden; 3 signs in a row prior to hitting the IHT, warning of the trail interface. Very interesting! I assume these are for LRV drivers, which is why I think it's weird: they'll be trained to know this is here, and will know it's there after 2 or 3 runs... So signs are unnecessary. So maybe they're for motorists? I'll have to see if they're there too from the other direction. We were just passing by so I didn't get a good look.

[KevinL]

Forgot to post these from yesterday - the Cameron crossover hardware in full daylight:

[KevinL]

There's still no hardware delivered for the KCI crossover. That site is looking good in other ways, though, as I discovered today.



The upper landscaping is complete...




...and Mackenzie King has a new vantage point. Hope he likes watching trains!

[Canard]

Wow, they really went all-out on the landscaping there!

[Canard]

1/3 - Sunday, September 11, 2016


   
Crossover hardware detail, left side.

   
Crossover hardware detail, right side.

   
Detail markings in the location of the Northbound track crossover at Cameron.

   
Overview of the area where the Cameron crossover will be installed.

   
New signage along Borden - Westbound only, so I can only assume these are meant for the LRV operators.  A bit strange, since you think it'd be covered during training. Signage this prominent is usually reserved for situations where you might have someone who's not familiar with an area traveling through it.

[Canard]

2/3 - Sunday, September 11, 2016

   
Very pleased to see signage up on the Iron Horse Trail now - I had tweeted the need for this a few months ago.

   
Trackwork along Courtland.

   

   

   

[Canard]

3/3 - Sunday, September 11, 2016

   
Trackwork along Courtland, continued.

   

   
Looking down Hayward, toward the Huron Spur.

   
Huron Spur.

   
Huron Spur.