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.
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