FAQs

The Victoria Street Modifications (King Street West to Weber Street West) study was identified as a need during the Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH) study. The KCTH study is being undertaken by the Region of Waterloo to plan and implement a new transit hub at the corner of King Street and Victoria Street in Kitchener, which will include the new location for the GO Transit and VIA Rail train platform, a bus loop and connection to the adjacent Light Rail station. 

The introduction of the KCTH project created an opportunity for the Region to plan for safe and sustainable roadway access that complements the KCTH and meets the objectives in the Regional Council Strategic Plan. The planning for Victoria Street is focused on high-quality multimodal connections to facilitate better first- and last-mile connections to the KCTH. This work will directly benefit the KCTH project by creating space for infrastructure for walking, cycling, and transit.

The work on this project aligns with the Region’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027. More specifically, the project aligns with the Climate Aligned Growth pillar which focuses on supporting a healthy environment where communities can thrive. The current preferred design would achieve the following:

• Pragmatic use of a climate adaptation lens to re-imagine infrastructure, land and services for growth by providing infrastructure to connect travellers to the transit hub using less carbon intensive modes of transportation like cycling, walking, and transit.
• Fostering of car alternative options through complete streets and extended alternative transportation networks as the project improves transit through the corridor and expands the active transportation network.
• Stewardship of our shared resources as we grow by enhancing the ability of the street to move more people using transit and providing street space to active transportation modes.

This study is being directed by a project team consisting of staff from the Region of Waterloo. A consulting engineering firm, WSP Canada Inc. (WSP), has been retained by the Region to assist with the project.

This MCEA Study will follow the planning and design process following the Municipal Engineers Association’s MCEA process for a Schedule ‘B’ undertaking (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023), which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. 

The Region recognizes the importance in completing a comprehensive study and in engaging stakeholders and the public during the study. As such, the study is generally following the study process of the MCEA process, which are as follows:  

1. Phase 1 - Problems and Opportunities – During this Phase, the existing and planned condition of the study area are reviewed and a Problems and Opportunities Statement is stated. These will be presented at this PCC. 
2. Phase 2 - Develop and Evaluate Alternatives – in other words, looking at functionally different solutions to the project that address the problems, and selecting a preliminary preferred solution. We are currently at the end of this phase. 
3. Phase 3 - Confirming the Preferred Alternative – Review the stakeholder and public feedback and comments on the study process and on the preliminary preferred design and confirm the preferred design. 
4. Phase 4 – Prepare Project File Report that documents the study and decision-making process.  

Once the study phases are completed, the study will go into the Detailed Design stage to further refine the design. Following detailed design will be the construction. 

Specific impacts and project needs will be confirmed during the study. The MCEA is a planning and decision-making process approved under the Environmental Assessment Act that is used by municipalities to plan public infrastructure projects so that potential environmental impacts are considered before a project is approved. The project may proceed to construction provided appropriate public consultation is undertaken, Regional Council approves it, and it is approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 

The planning for this project includes public and stakeholder consultation to determine the potential impacts of the roadway modifications that are being considered. Measures will be implemented where possible to limit adverse impacts to the area during and after construction. 

This study is considering reallocating two vehicular travel lanes to bus priority lanes, introducing active transportation facilities along the corridor, and improving or maintaining the sidewalks. Further, landscaping and streetscaping will be considered as part of the study.

Yes, cycling facilities(separated) and sidewalks are being considered as part of this study.

The Region’s Corridor Design Guidelines identify Victoria Street within the study area as a City Arterial Road. As such, the road corridor should have a strong focus on active transportation and transit modes of travel. Cycling facilities are being considered and sidewalks are proposed to be replaced.

Figure: 2041 WATERLOO REGION ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK (KITCHENER) Source: RTMP 2018

A separated cycling facility is a designated and protected travel lane for bicycles along a street that provides physical separation between people riding bicycles and motor vehicle traffic. Separated cycling facilities can be unidirectional or bi-directional and may be raised from the roadway. Separated cycling facilities can be on-road or placed within the boulevard space, outside of the portion of the roadway travelled by vehicles. In general, separated cycling facilities tend to get used more by cyclists as they feel more comfortable being physically separated from cars rather than cycling in mixed traffic on the road.

Interested but concerned cyclists are people who are willing to bicycle if high-quality cycling infrastructure is in place such as well-maintained separated cycle tracks.

A portion of the road that is dedicated or prioritized for transit vehicles.

Tools that modify traffic signal phasing and timing when a transit vehicle is present to ensure that the transit vehicle movements are prioritized over automobiles.

Transit-only lanes that allow transit vehicles to bypass vehicular queues at intersections. They can be used in combination with transit signal priority to allow buses to enter traffic flow.

It is expected that some trees and other landscaping will be impacted by the roadway modifications. The preliminary preferred alternative, along with the KCTH site plan, provides opportunity for landscaping improvements, including the planting of trees and shrubs, which will be refined during detailed design.

It is anticipated that partial private property acquisition will be required for this project and the project team will discuss this directly with the impacted owners.

Please see Property Acquisition Process Information Sheet under Project Documents.

The City of Kitchener is rich in history and is home to many built cultural heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes. The Rumpel Felt Co. building is identified as a property of cultural heritage value or interest and will be integrated into the corridor design. There is a portion of this building that situated directly adjacent to the roads’ right-of-way. As such, the Victoria Street Roadway Realignment and Reallocation Study will avoid permanent impacts to this property. There may be some temporary noise and vibration impacts to the property during construction, which will be mitigated. 

There may be minor natural environmental impacts as part of this study. However, the opportunity to increase vegetation and trees through streetscaping/landscaping helps to offset some local environmental impacts and improves the existing natural heritage conditions along the corridor. Further, the corridor is planned for redevelopment and intensification; at such time that a development application is submitted to the City of Kitchener, urban design will be considered as part of the site plan design process. 

This public consultation centre is part of the process to gather feedback on the impact of realigning and reallocating Victoria Street. The Project Team will review the feedback along with other information gathered before making a recommendation to Regional Council.

The cost of realigning Victoria Street is estimated to be $3.13M.

The planning component of the Victoria Street Modifications (King Street West to Weber Street West) is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Following Council and Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approvals of the recommendations from the study, the Region will proceed to detail design and construction of the roadway, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2025/2026 depending on the timing of property acquisition.

Prior to proceeding with the completion of the study, the project team will receive and consider public and stakeholder input regarding the changes being considered. The project team will use the comments obtained during this public consultation process, along with other technical data, to refine the alternative design concepts.

Once the study is complete, a report regarding the proposed changes will be presented to Regional Council for approval. If Regional Council approves the preferred alternative and recommendations of the study, the project will proceed to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for approval, and then to detail design and construction. 

Public consultation is required under the MCEA process and its purpose is to provide an opportunity to share project information with the public and receive public input to inform how the project is delivered. 

Members of the public, business owners and other stakeholders are invited to review the existing conditions, identified deficiencies and potential changes being considered and provide comments.

The public can forward their comments online at www.engagewr.ca/victoria-street-modifications. All comments received will be considered along with other technical information and study findings to assist the project team in completing this project.

In order to assist the project team in addressing any comments or concerns you might have regarding this project, we ask that you complete the online form on the Victoria Street Realignment Study project website at: www.engagewr.ca/victoria-street-modifications starting June 10, 2024, or email your comments to the project team member listed no later than July 5, 2024.

All of the Public Consultation Centre display materials and other relevant project information, notifications of upcoming meetings, and contact information are available for viewing on the Victoria Street Realignment Study project website at: www.engagewr.ca/victoria-street-modifications.