Research and Technology station
Research and Technology is a stop on the Region of Waterloo's Ion rapid transit system.[1] It is located on the Waterloo Spur rail line in Waterloo, between Bearinger Road and Columbia Street, near a prominent bend in Wes Graham Way. It opened in 2019.
Research and Technology | |||||||||||
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 A complete Research and Technology station in March 2019 | |||||||||||
| Location | Waterloo, Ontario Canada | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 43.48136°N 80.54527°W | ||||||||||
| Platforms | Centre platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Connections |  | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Status | Complete | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | June 21, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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It serves its namesake, the David Johnston Research and Technology Park, to the west, and the industrial lands along Philip Street to the east (via a pedestrian pathway).
Access to the platform from the south is only from the Wes Graham Way side; to the north, the only exit is the pathway to Philip Street.
The southbound track is also used by freight trains on the Waterloo Spur line, which serves industrial locations in Elmira. These trains only run in the overnight hours after LRT service has halted. To protect the station structure (and the trains themselves), a gauntlet track is in place alongside this station that offsets the freight track a small distance.
The station's feature wall consists of ceramic tiles in a solid red.
The station was to feature two artworks: Network by Ken Hall, a sculpture about connections supporting technological development, and The Passenger by Brandon Vickerd, a bronze figure to invite thoughtful reflection on the human relationship to nature.[2] Network was cancelled when the artist was unable to complete the work due to other commitments. [3]
References
- "Research & Technology". About ION. GrandLinq Contractors. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- Beattie, Samantha (February 16, 2017). "Ion public art costs more than anticipated but will make region "friendlier"". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
- ION on Twitter. "Ken Hall has advised the Region that he is no longer available to complete the project". Twitter. Retrieved 8 August 2018.