The Spurline Trail is a multi-use urban rail with trail which connects the cities of

Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia * Waterloo, New South Wale ...

and Kitchener,

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. Its northern

trailhead A trailhead is the point where a trail begins or is accessed, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles. Modern trailheads often contain restrooms, maps, signposts, and distribution centers for ...

is at the point where the CN Waterloo Spur crosses Laurel Creek; it connects to the

Laurel Trail Laurel may refer to: Plants * Lauraceae, the laurel family * Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel People * Laurel (given name), people with the given name * Laurel (surname), people with the surname * Laurel (mus ...

there, and is close to Uptown Waterloo. Its southern trailhead is at Ahrens Street West near its intersection with Breithaupt Street, close to

Kitchener station Kitchener station is a railway station located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, slightly to the northeast of downtown Kitchener, at 126 Weber Street West, near the corner of Victoria Street. It is a heritage building containing a waiting room and t ...

and downtown Kitchener. The trail is long, the entirety of which is paved. For its whole length, the trail runs parallel and to the north of the CN Waterloo Spur, stopping just short of where the Waterloo Spur joins the

GO Transit GO Transit is a regional public transit system serving the Greater Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario, Canada. With its hub at Union Station in Toronto, GO Transit's green-and-white trains and buses serve a population of more than seven mil ...

Guelph Subdivision mainline at a junction just east of Kitchener station.

History

The Spurline Trail was established in 2016 through cooperation between regional and municipal governments, as well as

Metrolinx Metrolinx is a transportation agency in Ontario, Canada. It is a Crown agency that manages and integrates road and public transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). It was created as the Greater Toronto Transportation Au ...

, to formalize the existing, informal dirt trail running next to the Waterloo Spur, and to provide infrastructure upgrades such as lighting and a paved surface. In 2019, the City of Waterloo approved an additional trail improvement: a

refuge island A refuge island, also known as a pedestrian refuge or pedestrian island, is a small section of pavement (material), pavement or sidewalk, surrounded by Asphalt concrete, asphalt or other road materials, where pedestrians can stop before finis ...

to be constructed in the middle of Union Street, in order to improve safety at the trail crossing point. With a full reconstruction of Union Street looming, city staff proposed further improvements at the crossing in early 2021. This would create a new secondary route making it easier for trail users to cross at the signalized intersection as an alternative to using the refuge island. Included in the same plan was a proposed cycling corridor on Union Street from King Street to Moore Avenue, which would connect with the Spurline Trail.

References

{{coord missing, Ontario Transport in Kitchener, Ontario Transport in Waterloo, Ontario Bike paths in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Trails in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Rail trails in Ontario Rails with trails 2016 establishments in Ontario

History

See also

References