Citizens’ Jury – Nov. 21 Field TripRiding the future LRT route in Hamilton&Visiting Kitchener/Waterloo to see LRT Construction

This was our LRT “prototype” for the day. We had to use our imaginations as we went through Hamilton along King St towards McMaster University.

Our faithful Jury, who gave up their Saturday to go on this trip through Hamilton, then Kitchener/Waterloo.

While the weather could have been nicer, we made our way through Hamilton from the Queenston traffic circle (above), all the way to

McMaster University.

As we had a chance to see the construction and inevitable road closures, our amazing Waterloo “tour guides” for the day, both working on this project, could not stress enough how important communication has been and continues to be in this project. Communicate early and often! There are dedicated websites, blogs and twitter feeds to announcing road closures and future construction areas in KW.

In Waterloo now, a road is being dug up to prepare for laying track for the LRT.

Machinery used to position the trains on the tracks. All the fancy toys KW has preparing for their LRT.

This site will be used for the maintenance, storage and cleaning of the LRT cars when they’re not in use.

An added benefit that was mentioned during our tour through KW is that LRT does not just mean improved transit, it means improved infrastructure. KW is currently replacing infrastructure that in some cases is nearly a hundred years old.

Waterloo swag for the jury members. Our own mini LRT!Thanks to the people of Waterloo who spent their Saturday afternoon guiding us around city!

After a tour around along the KW LRT route, we were brought into the LRT offices for pizza and to watch some short videos. We learned from Waterloo, that this project really is doable. The construction will be inconvenient, and there will be congestion, but as long as you work with the community, and the businesses, communicating ALL of the time, we can survive the inconvenience. As our tour guide TJ, said “It’s short term pain for long term gain.” Waterloo can see the finish line. And what’s more, we have the benefit of following and learning from their example.