Waterloo Region Transit Developments (ION LRT, new terminal, GRT buses)

[KevinT]

The (I assume is finished) University of Waterloo bus terminal looks quite nice at night, already seeing some use.

Mostly finished, apparently. This CTV News post details a staged opening with only some of the platforms currently operating:

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/buses-roll-into-grt-s-new-university-of-waterloo-transit-hub-1.5726802

Thanks for the photos. I live here and had totally missed this...

 

[Streety McCarface]

Mostly finished, apparently. This CTV News post details a staged opening with only some of the platforms currently operating:

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/buses-roll-into-grt-s-new-university-of-waterloo-transit-hub-1.5726802

Thanks for the photos. I live here and had totally missed this...

Still didn't think it was possible for the region to botch a bus terminal this badly since Central station...nope. Still botched as all hell.

 

[Streety McCarface]

It's hard to judge based of these pictures, but the least they couldve done is provide more shelter space from the elements. As far as im concerned this just looks like a glorified bus stop.

That's pretty much all it needs to be, at least for GRT. It's a transfer point between semi-frequent buses and the frequent iON. Generally, worst case scenario, you won't be waiting more than 8 minutes for a frequent bus.

If you're a 31 rider, or transferring after 7 pm, you're SOL.

For GO? I'm surprised a full building wasn't considered, but this is what we got.

 

[sacred]

That's pretty much all it needs to be, at least for GRT. It's a transfer point between semi-frequent buses and the frequent iON. Generally, worst case scenario, you won't be waiting more than 8 minutes for a frequent bus.

If you're a 31 rider, or transferring after 7 pm, you're SOL.

For GO? I'm surprised a full building wasn't considered, but this is what we got.

Can you elaborate on why you think the terminal is “botched”?

 

[Streety McCarface]

Can you elaborate on why you think the terminal is “botched”?

Few reasons:
1. This station is 3 years late (It was supposed to open when iON opened originally)
2. This terminal does not serve the University Avenue Bus routes (the 8, 12, 29, 202, in fact, those routes may not have direct transfers to iON anywhere except at terminal stations)
3. The terminal took years to complete, and the contractor had to be replaced a few times (reportedly)
4. No substantial GO waiting area
5. Poor stop design, with no defined stops for individual routes
6. Planned bus frequencies aren't as high as they need to be
7. No looping facilities for buses are included (buses have to loop around Ring Road or Philip Street, adding to the trip time)

 

[awaterwell]

UW Station will open fully on Monday, with most GRT routes moving to platforms 3 and 4 - not the 9 and 13, for some reason, although they are still closer to the train platforms (EDIT: It's occurred to me that platforms 3 and 4 may not be long enough to accommodate all the routes). No date for GO service yet (they did move the Ring Road stops 20 metres south though?) More info: https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/university-of-waterloo-station.aspx

Now that the station is FULLY open, look out for new routing on route... 200? Wait, that can't be right...

(from the 2017-18 system map, last pre-LRT edition)

 

[Streety McCarface]

UW Station will open fully on Monday, with most GRT routes moving to platforms 3 and 4 - not the 9 and 13, for some reason, although they are still closer to the train platforms (EDIT: It's occurred to me that platforms 3 and 4 may not be long enough to accommodate all the routes). No date for GO service yet (they did move the Ring Road stops 20 metres south though?) More info: https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/university-of-waterloo-station.aspx
View attachment 376245

Now that the station is FULLY open, look out for new routing on route... 200? Wait, that can't be right...
View attachment 376263
(from the 2017-18 system map, last pre-LRT edition)

I can't believe they even bothered putting that route in the map.

 

[Allandale25]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1496563761531940864

 

[CanadianNational]

Some photos from around the proposed King St. Kitchener terminal site.
1) Looking south, King St. W on the right.
2) Looking north, King St. W on the left, Google Headquarters.
3) From Google Headquarters' west side, looking across railway overpass south down King St. W
4) Looking roughly south from west side of site, with King St. W on the right.
5) Looking east across the site from King St. W
6) Also looking east across the site from King St. W
7) aerial view of the proposed transit terminal lot.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Some photos from around the proposed King St. Kitchener terminal site.
1) Looking south, King St. W on the right.
2) Looking north, King St. W on the left, Google Headquarters.
3) From Google Headquarters' west side, looking across railway overpass south down King St. W
4) Looking roughly south from west side of site, with King St. W on the right.
5) Looking east across the site from King St. W
6) Also looking east across the site from King St. W
7) aerial view of the proposed transit terminal lot.

View attachment 388231View attachment 388232View attachment 388233View attachment 388234View attachment 388235View attachment 388237View attachment 388238

Great shots, thanks for sharing. Now, let’s get the station funded and built! It will really help create a “centre” for Kitchener.

 

[CanadianNational]

Thanks!
It amazes me that the city shuttered the existing, perfectly fine Charles Street terminal, without this one ready to open up.

 

[timio]

Thanks!
It amazes me that the city shuttered the existing, perfectly fine Charles Street terminal, without this one ready to open up.

"Perfectly fine" is open to interpretation.

 

[E•MO•TION]

Thanks!
It amazes me that the city shuttered the existing, perfectly fine Charles Street terminal, without this one ready to open up.

It's not really needed.

Almost every single bus route, including the remaining intercity services travel through downtown Kitchener rather than terminating there.

 

[KevinT]

It's not really needed.

Almost every single bus route, including the remaining intercity services travel through downtown Kitchener rather than terminating there.

Exactly. The GRT routes changed from hub-and-spoke to spine-and-ribs with the opening of the ION LRT, essentially a rolling bus terminal.

 

[awaterwell]

Speaking of intercity services... GO buses moved into the new UW bus station two weeks ago yesterday, using platform 6 for departures and platform 7 for arrivals and layovers. Up to now I was surprised at how barebones platform 7 was (not even a bench!), but it makes more sense now.

Route 25C has apparently been spotted at the station, despite not appearing on schedules yet.

Edit: This has also ended the brief period where GRT route 30 and GO route 30 shared the same streets!