Politicians, media members and other onlookers congregated at an empty lot in Waterloo on Thursday to toast the symbolic start of rapid transit construction.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Ion system was held at the Dutton Drive site which will become the maintenance and storage hub for the region’s light rail vehicles.
Darshpreet Bhatti, Waterloo Region’s direct of rapid transit, said the site was chosen because, with the vehicles parked their during overnight hours, it would be the “root of the entire system” by the time the system starts running in 2017.
“This is where everything’s going to start and end on a daily basis,” he said.
Municipal, provincial and federal politicians spoke at the groundbreaking, including Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid, who told CTV News he sees economic and environmental pluses in the project.
“I am absolutely certain that this will have positive, transformative impacts and benefits for our region,” he said.
As the ceremonial start to construction fades into the past, work will ramp up on the actual construction in preparation for the Ion line.
Highlights of the construction schedule for the remainder of 2014 include:
Construction of the maintenance and storage facility on Dutton Drive, primarily involving excavating, grading and clearing vegetation before winter.
Work beginning this month to clear vegetation along the existing CN Rail track through Waterloo, from Northfield Drive south into uptown.
Utility work on Caroline Street in uptown Waterloo, closing the road between Erb and Allen streets for up to four months. Work here will begin Sept. 8.
Utility relocations above and below Borden Avenue in Kitchener starting Sept. 15. Borden will be closed between Charles Street and the CN Rail tracks for up to four months.
