looking good. this is a substantial GO station. not some rinky dink one

^ We're lucky to have Glen Murray as Transportation Minister at the time. He really helped to push for a modern GO Station instead of the original plan of a rinky-dinky glorified bus shelter.

Yeah I think it's a bit crazy how large of a project this is. Like, to redevelop a 3.5 block long portion of land into a station is crazy. I don't think that we'll really be able to comprehend how massive this project is until it's complete.

There was an article in the Spectator this morning complaining about the fact that the parking garage won’t be completed until next year. There was the usually Spectator type of stuff (one intellectual giant was quoted as saying that parking is the “biggest issue” in the City of Hamilton), but what was interesting was that they provided daily ridership figures for West Harbour, Aldershot, and Burlington. I’d never seen these before, and wonder if anyone knows where they can be found- it was my understanding that Go Transit did not publicize ridership of individual lines or stations.

The anticipated daily ridership of West Harbour, by the way, is a mere 200 riders. Which means the garage will hold more cars than riders are expected. Presumably that number is expected to increase in the future, though.

Can you give a list of those numbers for those of us without a Spec subsrciption? I'd be fascinated to see them.

Lack of parking at Hamilton's West Harbour GO station causing worry

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/57...causing-worry/

As the new West Harbour GO Station opens on Thursday, what many Hamilton residents may not know is that parking is not an option. Not until 2016.

The 300-car multilevel parking lot, currently being built on Stuart and Bay streets, was always part of the second construction phase for after the Pan Am Games, with a pedestrian bridge to Bay Street.

Yet for those who drive to the station, the spillover effect is a concern for both the north and central neighbourhood associations, who have had issues with parking during special events before.

"Parking is already the No. 1 issue in the city of Hamilton," said Shawn Selway, member of North End Neighbours.

In the July fireworks show, for example, the city of Hamilton gave out special events parking permits, which would be a tactic the city could use again said Selway.

"But whether it turns into a problem or not clearly depends on schedule," he said.

The current trains on a Pan Am Games schedule will run eight to 12 times per day, with more than 25 Pan Am Games shuttle buses going from James Street North to the stadium, July 11 to July 26.

After the Games, train service will go down to four times per day.

Metrolinx also added a Kiss-N-Ride at West Harbour station, which will be in operation for Thursday, with access from James Street North, one-way, exiting on to MacNab Street.

Spokesperson Kim Johnson said, "We don't expect it to have a negative effect in surrounding neighbourhoods," adding that there are a variety of options for getting to the CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium, including biking, walking and buses.

Any possible effects on neighbourhoods and concerns, however, are to be forwarded to the City of Hamilton.

The city department for planning and economic development could not be reached for comment on the lack of available parking.

Peter Hutton, previous member of Hamilton Transit Users Group, said he predicts the station will be a secondary option for local residents and regular commuters in Hamilton, despite no parking.

"Those who are regular commuters are going to continue to drive their cars to Aldershot or Burlington GO stations," he said.

Metrolinx projects a 200-person ridership per day for the West Harbour GO Station, a microscopic figure compared to Burlington and Aldershot GO stations, where the total daily ridership is 6,973 for Burlington and 5,444 for Aldershot, according to Metrolinx.

One bi-level GO coach can fit up to 162 passengers, according to the GO Transit website, which would be the majority of the total people expected to come into Hamilton by train.

According to Hutton, he assumes the lack of parking lot will significantly limit the stations usage in the first year after the Pan Am Games are over.

"Clearly some things get sacrificed. Why they could not have been building a parking lot that could have been finished at roughly the same time as station? I don't particularly understand that," he said.

The existing GO bus Route 18E and the HSR Route 20 and Bayfront Route 4 will be in service, with pickup locations on James Street North.

According to an online routing service, the walk from the West Harbour GO Station to the nearest HSR bus stop on James and Barton streets, then to the stadium, will take about 31 minutes.

The city confirmed there will be additional HSR buses for the Cannon Street route, but no additional changes or routes added for Pan Am Games or the West Harbour GO Station.

Well the Burlington numbers make sense based on the 60k daily riders for Lakeshore West, but considering the amount they're spending that 200 seems suspicious.

First commuters ride GO from Hamilton's new West Harbour station
(CBC Hamilton: Thursday, July 09, 2015)

Hamilton's new West Harbour GO Station officially opened for business Thursday morning, as commuters headed towards Toronto for the first time from the new station.

There were more construction workers there than passengers, as workers scramble to finish the new station in time for the Pan Am Games starting this week.

Though work is still ongoing, commuters Mark Turnbull and Amy Yang said they were very happy with what they saw.

"It's gorgeous. I'm very impressed that this is in Hamilton," Turnbull said. "We live around the corner, and one of the main reasons we moved here was this train station."

Metrolinx spokesperson Vanessa Barrasa estimated that about 20 people boarded each train Thursday morning.

"Like any new service, it builds over time," she said. Plus, people are set in their routines and not everyone knows about the new station, she added.

"But, as the community grows, so will ridership."

July 9 marks the first day of trains leaving Hamilton for Union in the morning, at 6:16 a.m. and 6:46 a.m., and headed back at night, leaving Toronto at 4:47 and 5:23 p.m.

More trains will leave to get GTA commuters to Hamilton for Pan Am soccer games.

Will the parking garage actually ever get built? as promised. They have trees still in their planter boxes, not planted... they will be dead before PanAm is done. Crushed stone for walkways. I love this station and location, but let's hope they make it a diamond.

Its 3/4 built.

Go West Harbour Station Schedule

Effective July 11

Stopping at all stations from West Harbour to Union Station

06:16 Regular Service
06:16 Regular Service
14:32 PanAm Service
17:02 PanAm Service
17:32 PanAm Service
21:32 PanAm Service
00:02 PanAm Service
00:32 PanAm Service

Stopping at all stations from Union Station to West Harbour

08:50 PanAm Service
09:20 PanAm Service
12:20 PanAm Service
15:50 PanAm Service
16:20 PanAm Service
17:59 Regular Service
18:35 Regular Service
19:20 PanAm Service

Whoa, so we're getting more regular trips already?

I took the 5:23PM home from Union last night. Will be my go to train now as it's about 10-15 mins faster than it would typically take me on the 5:00PM.

I see 4 daily regular trips. Isn't that has always been the plan to start?

Maybe I'm just confused. I guess the times listed there are the arrival times at West Harbour instead of the departure times from Union, which is a weird way of listing it.

That service is also just for the Pan Am games events. Once that's over, it's going back to the regular 4 trains a day.

Right, I just saw
17:59 Regular Service
18:35 Regular Service
and assumed those were Union departure times, not Hamilton arrival times. My bad.

I've gotta to to Toronto this weekend, but leaving West Harbour at 6:16 is way too early, and 2:32 is way too late. Looks like I'm taking the bus to Aldershot from Hunter St again...

Or you could take an express bus from Hunter Street to Union

Going to Exhibition. I guess I could go to Union and backtrack, though... Might be faster with the HOV lanes.

It'll 100% be faster. The express bus flies down there, and to get to exhibition from union isn't a big trek at all