South Kitchener residents say LRT work has cut off neighbourhood

Residents in Kitchener's south end say the LRT is making it harder, not easier, for them to get around the city by cutting off easy access to Fairway Road.

In the past, peoplelivingin apartments onVanierDrive andTraynorAvenuewere able to use a community trail to walk to the back end of businesses on the north side of Fairway Road.

But the new LRT has been built where thetrail was, so nowresidents either precariously cross the tracks through a gap in the fenceor takelong detours along roads that aren't pedestrian friendly.

"Now for walking, we're looking at anywheres from 30 minutes to a 45 minute walk [or] two buses. Abig inconvenience," said Paul Metzger, the founder of the KW Tenant Group that represents people who live in the buildings.

"Something has to be done, they can't be cut off like that," said Ward 3 Coun. John Gazzola, who has been talking with residents.

The buildings at VanierDrive and Traynor Avenueinclude students, people living in subsidized apartments and new arrivals to Canada, including about 20 families of Nepalidescent. Between the four buildings, there are about 270 units.

Metzger, along withSaleemAhktarand Mike Homer who are part of the tenants group, want to see apedestrian bridge built over the LRT tracks for residents to regain foot access to Fairway Road.

Gazzola said he has asked city staff to look into a temporary solution for residents, so they don't have to cross the one section of track they're currently using.

"If there's no safe way for people to get from A to B, they're going to start doing unsafe things," he said.

"The city should've probably held some kind of a neighbourhood gathering prior to this stage, but that'sactually what's happening on Saturday," said Gazzola."When all the planning is going on sometimes there are some things you don't really stop to think about, you draw nice maps and you put in charts but until people therestart to walk and [go] 'Hey I can't walk here anymore,' that's when people start to bring things to the front."

The city of Kitchener is holding a public consultation meeting on Saturday, January 28 at the Kingsdale Community Centre starting at 1 p.m.