Kitchener Market station

Kitchener Market is a stop on the Ion rapid transit system in the Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.[1] It is located in the Cedar Hill neighbourhood at the intersection of Charles and Cedar streets, about 100 metres (330 ft) south of its namesake, the Kitchener Farmer's Market. The station initially had a working name of Cedar, and it opened in 2019.

Kitchener Market
Station structurally complete, November 2017
LocationKitchener, Ontario
Canada
Coordinates43°26′47″N 80°29′01″W
PlatformsCentre platform
Tracks2
Bus routes1
Bus operatorsGrand River Transit
Connections 3  Ottawa South
Construction
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusOpen
History
OpenedJune 21, 2019 (2019-06-21)
Services
Preceding station Grand River Transit Following station
Frederick
One-way operation
 Ion Borden
toward Fairway
Queen
toward Conestoga

History

Before the launch of the Ion light rail service, the intersection was the location of the Charles / Cedar Grand River Transit stop, which was served by the 200 iXpress bus, Ion's direct predecessor.[2]

In the City of Kitchener's 2013 Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS) planning document, Kitchener Market (still referred to as Cedar) is grouped with other downtown stations as part of the "Central" area, and is referred to as a local station, noting the amenities in the area. This is in contrast with Central Station, intended to be the city's main intercity hub, and stations such as Frederick, which are connection points to crosstown iXpress services.[3]:49

Station layout

Kitchener Market is a bidirectional two-track light rail station with an island platform in the middle of Charles Street, immediately southeast of the intersection with Cedar Street. It has two flanking bus stops on either side of Charles Street, with connections available to local buses.[4]

The primary access to the platform is from the crosswalk at Cedar Street; secondary accesses at the east end of the platform, crossing either side of Charles Street, are marked as emergency exits only.

The station's feature wall consists of ceramic tiles in a pattern of red, orange and yellow.

Because Cats Can’t Fly

The station features the artwork Because Cats Can’t Fly by Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales about the hard work during the region's industrial past, and a reminder to find time to play.[5]

Urban environment

The Kitchener Farmer's Market is a major attraction in the area, as well as the station's namesake.

The Neruda Arts mural, created in 2017.

Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, a local public high school, is located nearby.

Though not part of the rapid transit project, visible from the station platform is a new mural erected in 2017 on a neighbouring retaining wall. Created by local arts collective Neruda Arts, it alludes to numerous First Nations themes.

References
  1. "Kitchener Market". About ION. GrandLinq Contractors. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  2. "Detour notice" (PDF). Grand River Transit. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. Sloan, Brandon; Stevenson, Garett; Holbrook, Heather; Gross, Natalie; Coutu, Sarah; Malone-Wright, Tina (December 2013). "Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS) – Phase 1, Volume 2" (PDF). City of Kitchener. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  4. "Kitchener Market Station Connections" (PDF). Grand River Transit. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  5. Beattie, Samantha (February 16, 2017). "Ion public art costs more than anticipated but will make region "friendlier"". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
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