Waterloo Spur Line trail to get complete overhaul

Regional council has approved a re-vampof the crosstown Waterloo Spur Line trail, which will transform it from a well-trodden dirt path into a wide, pavedmulti-use trail with lighting, landscaping and safety measures.

The trail re-vamp was suggested by provincial transit agency Metrolinx as part of a provincial project to build better connections for cyclists and pedestrians to reach current and new GO stations. The Spur Line trail, which runs diagonally from AhrensSt. in Kitchener to King St. in Waterloo, passes by the Kitchener GO train station.

The trail construction will cost about $4.75 million and the cost will be split between Metrolinx, the region and the city of Waterloo.

Ted Parkinson says he uses the trailto walk between the two city cores.

"A lot of people walk along it all the time, but it is bumpy,"said Parkinson. "Sometimes walking in the middle of the tracks is better than walking on the muddy ground so,it's not really that convenient in terms of the actual terrain."

Plans include pedestrian-level lighting, thinnedunderbrush near the trail, landscaped features to separate the trail from the Spur Line railway tracks, and bollards and rumble strips to warn trail users of rail and road intersections.

Metrolinx previously promised $1.2 million dollars for the trail, the region is offering$2 million for the trail, and the city of Waterloo will pay $1.55 million.