Kitchener-Waterloo

UW researchers look at LRT impact on those who live near it

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are working on a study to look at the impact the LRT has on communities it runs through. They want to do interviews with people before the LRT starts running and are looking for volunteers.

Pre and post-LRT interviews will give researchers a sense of changes to communities

University of Waterloo researchers want to talk to people who live along the LRT line before it starts running as part of a study looking at the LRT's impact on communities. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

Researchers at the University of Waterloo want to hear from people who live along the LRT line, even before it starts operating this spring.

Brian Doucet is an associate professor with UW's school of planning and says the goal is to do interviews now, then re-connect with the study participants in two or three years to see how they've been affected by the LRT.

"We're looking for people who live along the LRT line who'd like to share some of their experiences about their neighbourhoods and about their communities and how they're changing … to understand, not just the impact on mobility that the LRT is going to have, but the impact on day-to-day life and communities," he said.

The initial interview takes about 45 minutes to one hour.

Doucet says they're hoping to interview about 40 people. So far, they've talked to about 15.

People who are willing to take part can contact Doucet via email at brian.doucet@uwaterloo.ca.