Kitchener approves buying land for crossing over LRT tracks near Fairview Mall

Kitchener council approved in principle buying land that would allow the city and region to create a pedestrian crossing over the LRT tracks near Fairview Mall.

The decision was made during Monday night's council meeting. No funding has been allocated yet, but city staff will bring a report looking at possible immediate funding options to a Sept. 10 committee meeting.

Residents in the Traynor/Vanier neighbourhood were cut off from quick trips to the mall and other stores along Fairway Road in 2016 when a fence along the LRT tracks went up.

• 2 years later, LRT tracks still divide Traynor-Vanier neighbourhood

In 2017, Paul Metzger, the founder of the K-W Tenant Group that represents people who live in the buildings near the Fairview Park Mall, said it can take people between 30 and 45 minutes to walk the length of the fence to get to where they want to go.

"A big inconvenience," he said.

• City of Kitchener looks to buy land for crossing over LRT at Fairview Mall
• South Kitchener residents say LRT work has cut off neighbourhood

Residents have been calling on the city and region to do something to improve walkability of the area. Someone has even gone so far as to cut a hole in the chain link fence.

The region is currently developing a design for the crossing.