Waterloo Mayor comments on recent ION LRT collisions

Concerns around the safety of the Light-Rail Transit (LRT) system have been in the limelight after two pedestrians were struck by ION trains within a matter of a few days last week.

One of the incidents saw a Cameron Heights student survive life-threatening injuries last Wednesday, while on Saturday, a 49-year-old Waterloo man was struck while he was walking on the tracks. He was extracted from underneath a train, and was later pronounced dead. 

Mayor Dorothy McCabe called the incidents troubling and very sad, with her emotions amplified by the fact she has teenagers of her own. She said the Region will need to take a look at their road and transit safety campaigns.

“Grand River Transit will continue to refine their approach and their messaging around safety around the LRT. I think in light of what's happened, it's important to take a look at that again and I'm confident that regional staff will do so.”

McCabe also provided statistics in defence of the ION, saying there's been only one incident with pedestrians per one million passenger trip.

“12 million passenger trips versus 12 collisions. I mean, those are pretty good numbers. Obviously in the case of the two individuals that were hit in the last week, they're distressing when it occurs, but I think [the numbers] demonstrate how safe the ION is.”

She added that Waterloo wouldn't rule out any physical safety measures, but they believe that barriers or additional sensors guarding people from the track could actually cause additional problems like reducing accessibility and encouraging people to dangerously climb over the obstacles or toy with sensors.

McCabe reminded the public that the investigations are ongoing.

“I think it's important for us to wait to see what the investigations from the police and the operators of the train – the Keolis Canada people – conclude, so we understand why these incidents both happened, before we can decide or even make recommendations on potential solutions.”