Region of Waterloo holds open house to talk about new transit hub

The public will have a chance to ask questions about the multi-mobile transportation hub project under construction in downtown Kitchener, and offer opinions on topics ranging fromthe building, pedestrian walkways, traffic flow and design.

Thursday, the Region of Waterloo will be holding an open house to talk about the plan.

• Regional transit hub expected to cost $43 million

Rob Horne, Commissioner of Planning, Housing and Community Services, says he's very excited about what the hub will offer in terms of community building.

"You know we talk about the two objectives in the community of moving people, especially through the new ION system, and shaping the community,"Horne said.

"And I think the multi-mobile hub literally defines how we can achieve those two goals at the same time."

The city of Kitchener will also be at the event to talk about what's going to happen to the area surrounding the hub.

The new transit hub will have connections to GO and VIA services, inter-city buses, and will be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

Plan and proposals

Horne says the plans for the building will depend on the proposals that are received, but he expects it to include industrial and commercial spaces, residential unitsas well as some off-street parking.

The final cost of the project is as yet undetermined and will depend on several factors, including what ends up being built and how much higher-level government funding is provided. In February, a report from regional staff put the projected cost at about $43 million.

Horne said they are waiting to hear what the federal government's new infrastructure programs will include, and added that it's difficult to know what financial implications will ultimately be.

Horne hopes to have a preferred design and a builder selected by 2017.

"That's really around the same time that the ION system will get going, so we can start mobilizing on this site as well,"he said.

The open house is taking place at 150FrederickStreet, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.