A big party is in order when light rail starts

Finally!

After several years of dodging construction, with roads dug up and familiar routes disrupted, the light rail trains are being tested at last on the tracks.

We’ll be ready for a party and a half once they’re ready for passengers, sometime this spring.

The fact that the big launch will be coming about six months later than originally scheduled will barely be mentioned, lest it interfere with the spirit of celebration.

Will the first day, or week, or month of riding the Ion trains be free? Who will be on the very first train? Surely the maiden voyage should involve a bottle of champagne smashed against the side, accompanied by an oompah band. And there should be fireworks!

What’s the plan? No details are forthcoming from Waterloo Region’s staff, except that a plan is being developed for approval by regional councillors.

So I asked for suggestions from a Facebook group called: “I Support Light Rail in the Region of Waterloo.” The group is full of ideas.

“The launch event should happen somewhere where there can be a huge gathering,” maybe on King Street by Waterloo’s public square, or at King and Victoria streets in Kitchener, said Iain Hendry of Kitchener, a self-described “biggest fan” of this project. “I have dreamed of opening day for years,” he said.

He envisions two light rail vehicles approaching from both sides, “to great fanfare, breaking through ribbons with streamers and confetti cannons and so on,” he said.

“A band (preferably German, in Oktoberfest garb) should be playing, too!”

Lots of people thought that to

get people on board, and keep them there, rides on the bus and train transit system should be free. A month might be too long and lose too much money, some people thought.

But several people pointed out that Grand River Transit has had good experiences with offering free bus transit on Fridays when new routes have been introduced. It has helped to build ridership.

Dale Stuebing of Kitchener thought it would make most sense to have a “buy one, get one free’ scheme for riders.

“Do this for a set period of time and it creates some revenue and the rider has some “skin” in the game,” he said.

Rob Drimmie of Kitchener thought it should be free for the big festivals, like the blues, multicultural and busker festivals, that draw people to the cities’ core areas anyway.

Here are some other suggestions from the group:

• Have people with disabilities be the first to explore the trains;

• Have the elected officials of Kitchener, Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo all ride to their meetings on the Ion train;

• Let children ride for free so that trips are affordable for families;

• Figure out a way to connect the Ion train with frosh week at colleges and universities;

• Give away Ion-branded key chains, gloves, hats and bike lights. Lots of advertising celebrating the diverse people who live here and will ride the train. Free transit passes given out to random passengers on the train.

Detour details: In Tuesday’s column, I described a detour to get around the closed Victoria Street bridge and to businesses on the north side of Victoria Street. A reader suggests a more efficient route: Take Victoria to Edna, turn left on Frederick Street and left again on Bruce Street to get around the bridge.