The future of Hamilton's public transit

[LikeHamilton]

Independent transit authority urged for Hamilton

TheSpec.com By Meredith MacLeod

Hamilton’s largest business group wants to see a transit commission govern the city’s bus system.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce asked city council two years ago to look into returning to a separate body overseeing transit. Currently, the system is managed by city staff within the public works department who report to council’s public works committee.
A report from staff in January argued that is the best model for the city. Don Hull, director of transit, says dozens of municipalities, including Hamilton, have abolished their transit commissions because they had no accountability to taxpayers who end up paying a good chunk of the operational costs.
The chamber isn’t satisfied and has asked city council to investigate establishing a commission that would include voices from business and transit users. They argue that good transit planning has been sacrificed for political gains and that the important portfolio doesn’t have a suitable profile among senior management.
“Whenever there are transit enhancements or changes made, they are politically motivated, rather than business-case oriented,” said Dan Rodrigues, chair of the chamber’s transportation committee.
Councillor Brian McHattie said he isn’t supportive of an autonomous transit commission but “the HSR used to have a seat at the table with corporate management. I think we need more focus on transit, especially as we try to reach target ridership numbers.”
Rodriques says the HSR should be run more as a business, something supported by Peter Hutton of the Hamilton Transit Users Group. He says the organization has discussed the idea of re-establishing a transit commission.

See the full story in tomorrow’s Spectator.