When light rail transit arrives in Kitchener-Waterloo in 2017, it won’t have sprung up overnight.
Utility relocation work for the $818-million project is already underway, and construction is expected to ramp up next year along the route.
On King Street South in Waterloo, between William Street and Willis Way, business owners have been told to expect four months’ worth of disruption in the spring of 2015.
That doesn’t sit well with some of them, including Words Worth Books co-owner David Worsley.
“What do we do if four months turns into six, or turns into eight?” he says.
“We’re talking about a lot of money that isn’t through our tills.”
Worsley says he’s been told walkways will be maintained for him to keep his business open, but he expects the road closure will mean a dip in business regardless.
“Telling our banker or our supplier that we’ve got this thing happening with the train – that’s not going to cut it,” he says.
Attempting to assuage business owners’ concerns, the Region of Waterloo hosted the first of four free workshops on Monday.
The workshops are designed to help businesses prepare for LRT construction, the region says, including “tools and strategies on how to forecast for changes in operations.”
Tips on social media and mass marketing will also be provided in the workshops, but Worsley questions whether they’ll be able to address his main concern.
“All the social media in the world and all the ace marketing in the world is not going to bring the world to your door when they cannot get to you,” he says.
Dates have not been set for the final three workshops, but they are expected to take place over the next year.
