“It’s beneficial for everybody” – more trails and paths keep you moving
Regardless of how you get around, Grand River Transit (GRT) and the Region of Waterloo are making investments to make it easier and more sustainable for people to stay connected to their neighbourhoods, schools, amenities and beyond.
Anna Maste, a Kitchener resident for almost 18 years, remembers using an unofficial, pedestrian-created footpath to get to the Kitchener Train Station. “Even though you see that the path is beaten there, you’re always like, this is not the way I’m supposed to go up here. But everybody’s doing it.”
During other road work on Victoria Street North, the Region built a new multi-use path to safely connect people to the Kitchener Train Station. The project was completed in December 2024.
Maste recalls the first time she used it. “I was coming to catch the train to go into the city to have lunch with a friend of mine and low and behold there was a path. I was thrilled. At first, I was like, does it go where I need it to go? Is it going to go somewhere else? Of course, it went where I needed it to go.”
Maste was happy to see the new path complete. “It seems like such a simple thing, to make those choices that provide accessibility,” she said. “But it’s beneficial for everybody. It’s not just able-bodied people. Not just disabled people. It is actually providing great value for everybody.”
GRT and the Region of Waterloo are currently planning and completing other projects that help pedestrians and cyclists get around. Improving these connections for people is part of our Growing with Care Strategic Plan.
For example, residents can look forward to a GRT bus loop and multi-use trail at Chicopee Ski Hill in Kitchener. Construction is estimated to begin July 2025.
For more information about this and similar projects visit the GRT Plans and Projects webpage.
Did you know? National Accessibility Week is May 25 to May 31, 2025. Improving the Region of Waterloo’s network of trails and multi-use paths is one way we can provide better options for people with accessibility needs.
Check out the trails and paths we’ve recently completed:
- Myers Road – new connection to California Road with a pedestrian/cycling ramp with retaining walls, new lighting and handrails
- Central Station Trail – new multi-use path connecting the Trans Canada Trail and Kitchener’s downtown cycling network as well as the Iron Horse Trail to the Central Station and the future Kitchener Central Transit Hub. See the video below of this trail in action.
- GO/VIA Station – new multi-use path connecting the Victoria Street North and Weber Street West intersection to the station
Plus, these existing sites now have upgraded multi-use paths with new lighting:
- Kingsdale Park between Route 7 bus stop and Trinity Village
- Philip Street near the Research & Technology Park, also has a pedestrian/cycling counter
- Westchester Drive connecting to Lackner Boulevard