A new transit center is coming to downtown Kitchener, after Waterloo Region spent nearly $6 million to buy land at King and Victoria Streets.
The location for the new transit hub, just across from the Kaufman Lofts, was chosen because it's both close to the railway and is a central location in the community.
The plans were officially announced at a council meeting Wednesday night.
The region has been buying the land through a third party over the last two years, and it includes the Rumpel Felt Factory, End of the Roll, Noble Trade and the Korean Grocery Store.
According to the region, property owners may have asked for more if it had not been a third party buying the buildings.
The transit hub will serve VIA Rail, Grand River Transit, Greyhound and GO Transit, which will have trains in the region by the end of 2011.
Waterloo Region says there is still work to be done with GO and VIA Rail, and local rapid transit plans have also yet to be finalized.
Ken Seiling, Waterloo regional chair, says "This multi-modal station will go regardless of whether the rapid transit system goes or not…it will have a central point where people can move from the transit system, the bus system, to rail services all at one central point."
Planners with the region say there will also be retail and commercial development opportunities at the site.
Mike Murray, CAO for the Region of Waterloo says "Lots of options to be considered, and that's the work that we need to do. Look at all the creative options, look at the best way to accommodate the transportation connections."
However, there are concerns about the impact of adding more traffic to the already busy intersection, which hosts the Kaufman Lofts, Pharmacy Building and many other nearby businesses.
Local taxpayers are also worried about the potential costs associated with the project, and the region has not yet set a specific budget.
Construction is expected to begin in about two years.
