Trail linking Iron Horse to transit hub to open in July

Work expected to start in November; total cost of trail is $3.32 million

KITCHENER — Waterloo Region is moving ahead with plans to complete a trail linking the Iron Horse Trail to the future transit hub at King and Victoria streets in downtown Kitchener.

“This trail not only provides an essential link to the future multimodal transit hub, it provides an essential link to local businesses, residents and students,” said project manager Steve Yonemitsu in an email.

“Additionally, this trail adds to the Iron Horse Trail and Trans Canada Trail network.”

Regional council awarded the contract this week to complete the trail, which will give cyclists and pedestrians a link from the Iron Horse Trail on Gage Avenue to the planned transit hub.

The transit hub will be a central location to catch the LRT, Grand River Transit, intercity buses and trains. Construction on the hub is planned to start later this year, if funding is approved.

The first section of the trail opened in 2019. It runs from the Iron Horse Trail through Cherry Park, but ends at Park Street and Stewart Street, near the Home Hardware store.

Capital Paving of Guelph will build the three-metre wide paved, lit trail between Joseph Street and King Street West.

Work is expected to start in November and wrap up next July.

When complete, the trail will have a total length of 1.3 kilometres. Total cost of the trail is $3.32 million, just over half of which is covered by provincial and federal grants of $1.76 million.

The trail is a collaboration between the City of Kitchener, the region, developer Perimeter Developments and the University of Waterloo, Yonemitsu said.

It will encourage cycling and walking, provide an easy way for cyclists and walkers to get to the hub and catch trains to other cities, and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, the region said.