Ontario transit station is ‘chaos’ when trains arrive but a fix is coming soon

For several years, commuters at the Kitchener GO Station have experienced what can only be described as “chaos,” between overcrowding after disembarking trains, long walks to other transit points, inadequate pick-up and drop-off spaces, and a lack of basic amenities.

However, a long-awaited fix, namely the Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH), aims to address many of the issues consistently faced by transit users in the Waterloo Region.

Rodney Chan, a member of TriTAG (Tri-Cities Transportation Action Group), a local advocacy group committed to improving walking, biking, and transit in the region, recently shared a video on X showing the commotion at Kitchener GO station during a typical rush hour.

“The planned future Kitchener Central Transit Hub is something we’re watching closely and in great support of,” Chan told blogTO, noting that the current station is not adequate in its capacity, lacks proper passenger pick-up and drop-off, and enough PRESTO card readers in convenient places.

The chaos that is Kitchener GO when trains arrive is something else.

The lack of a proper pick up area + no bus priority creates a mess of ppl unloading on the road blocking busses, & parking lots in businesses nearby.

Kitchener Central Transit Hub can’t come soon enough! https://t.co/GTPkIqUXXo pic.twitter.com/oRpYNybhQG

— Rodney🚧🚇 (@_ChanFace) December 6, 2024

Despite future plans to centralize transportation, Chan highlights multiple other issues that passengers will face in the meantime, including long walk times between the ION LRT Central Station and the Kitchener GO platform, and limited amenities such as washrooms, water fountains, and proper seating.

The transit advocate also notes that the region is in desperate need of better bus services, especially for students from local schools like the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College, who are often forced to commute on overcrowded buses.

GO transit really needs to bring back the 25F Express from Waterloo to Highway 407 Bus Terminal

The 25c is so full that it left Square One without 30-40 people. @GOtransit pic.twitter.com/4yFCXtjhxz

— Rodney🚧🚇 (@_ChanFace) September 26, 2022

Although the current station doesn’t do much to address the needs of the region’s growing population, some improvements have already been made to mitigate immediate issues. This includes a new multi-use trail that has been constructed from the corner of Weber and Victoria streets to the GO train platform. 

Update on the “multi-use” trail connection to the Kitchener GO Train station. https://t.co/19jMBG8eZP pic.twitter.com/2N3pcaBfOM

— Rodney🚧🚇 (@_ChanFace) October 13, 2024

Once complete, the KTCH is projected to become a game-changer for commuters in the region, connecting multiple modes of transit in one convenient place. The hub is set to connect ION, GRT, GO, VIA, pedestrians, and cyclists, and provide a designated bus loop for GRT buses, MobilityPLUS (paratransit), and GO buses. The transit hub will also include 22 pick-up and drop-off spaces.

Although the KCTH promises to alleviate much of the region’s transportation woes, Chan points out that it’s only a part of a longer-term solution. The transit advocate says that ongoing investments will be needed, including the expansion of GO Transit to provide two-way, all-day service to Kitchener.

“Kitchener was promised two-way all-day GO train service a decade ago, and yet our infrastructure is still like this,” Chan told blogTO. “This project was needed a decade ago.”