WATERLOO REGION - Local residents will see light rail crews continue to work through the cold as they enter the final year of construction.

And while much of the construction is complete well in advance of the start of service in 2018, that doesn't mean the light rail line can be used for parking in the meantime.

A new bylaw went into effect Jan. 1 that prohibits parking or stopping on the light rail tracks at any point along the route.

"We don't want bad habits to start because they may be harder to break later on," said Coun. Tom Galloway, who chairs the committee overseeing light rail.

The region is warning residents that vehicles parked on the line will be towed at the owner's expense. There will also be a fine of $40.

The logic is simple, said Bob Henderson, the region's manager of transportation engineering.

"It's a pretty simple, self explanatory bylaw that you shouldn't park on the tracks for the possibility of getting hit by a train or slowing up a train or inhibiting a train," he said. "Some people at this point in time are taking advantage of some space they see as being their personal parking."

Henderson said the transportation and rapid transit departments have had a few complaints about people parking on the tracks.

King Street in the Waterloo core is one of the areas where there have been issues.

Kim Newhouse, manager of rapid transit community relations, said additional signage will be installed to keep parked vehicles off the tracks.

"While 'No Stopping' signs are in place along the LRT route, we'll also be adding additional awareness signs next week in areas where vehicles are currently parked illegally on the LRT tracks," she said. "Our expectation with these additional, short-term signs is that residents will create new habits quickly before towing begins."

Aside from safety concerns, parking along the route could obstruct ongoing work.

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That includes installation of the overhead system that feeds power to the trains.

Other work to be completed in 2017 includes final paving and landscaping.