The future of Hamilton's public transit - Page 38

DC83 · #**741** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 12:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Bratina

Within a few months I hope to be able to announce some significant projects that relate to your favourite topics on this site, if meetings taking place over the next few weeks go well.

Sweet! Can't wait!! Thanks, Bob!

I think this may answer your anonymity Q as well... some ppl on here get good 'leads', so when they reveal them on here they don't want people knowing who's leaking the info. Makes sense, kinda.

My name's David, and DC are indeed my innitials and yes, I actually do live in Corktown! haha Ooh, sorry, Olde Corktowne

hahaha

raisethehammer · #**742** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 1:46 PM**

sadly, I can't reveal my name...too many obvious links to some of my sources....but I DO live downtown in the Strathcona neighbourhood and LOVE IT!

the dude · #**743** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 2:38 PM**

i legally changed my name to 'the dude' years ago, so there you go.

i can't wait for more good news to start rolling in. it's almost more exciting when you're away because you know things will be different when you come home...kinda like christmas.

SteelTown · #**744** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 7:09 PM**

Here's the Rapid Transit Feasibility Study!!!

Start reading bitches!

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/5A27FE21-49F5-4AEE-AE7D-CD3F7B88B8BE/0/Apr14PW08043.pdf

raisethehammer · #**745** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 7:50 PM**

waahooo!!!! off we go.

more info:

http://raisethehammer.org/blog.asp?id=969#comment-21161

Jon Dalton · #**746** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 8:00 PM**

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I've been away for several weeks riding the rails heavy and light in other countries, and I'm excited at what's transpired back home. If there's anything I learned through seeing some of the great systems in action, its that LRT here is beyond a no-brainer. It would require a determined mind to keep LRT out of Hamilton.

Quote:

At the time that the HTMP was completed, it was envisioned that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines would be used in Hamilton, with the potential to move to Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the long term. The June 2007 MoveOntario 2020 announcement has allowed for accelerated rapid transit planning in Hamilton. The MoveOntario 2020 funding may also make LRT in the short term more feasible than it appeared in February 2007 when the HTMP was presented to Public Works Committee.

go_leafs_go02 · #**747** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 8:41 PM**

so 1.1 billion estimated for LRT on the B-Line and an A-Line, and a tunnel would have to be constructed, where the A-Line would descend down by Mohawk college and come out near James St. somewhere, as the grade can only be 5%, instead of the 10-11% grade James Mountain Rd. has now.

EDIT. just completed reading that document. Seeing an official plan somewhat on the city's website has got me excited.

Please let it be LRT. Please!!! And i hope with this is that most mountain buses can terminate somewhere and connect to the A-Line at Mohawk College or something. You would save alot of bus fuel by keeping mountain buses always on top, and having limited bus access from top to bottom. I know the 21, 33, 34, 35 all go within 1 km of Mohawk College, so those could be truncated there, and in result, a higher frequency would be given as the route distances would be a fair bit shorter.

mishap · #**748** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Please let it be LRT. Please!!! And i hope with this is that most mountain buses can terminate somewhere and connect to the A-Line at Mohawk College or something. You would save alot of bus fuel by keeping mountain buses always on top, and having limited bus access from top to bottom. I know the 21, 33, 34, 35 all go within 1 km of Mohawk College, so those could be truncated there, and in result, a higher frequency would be given as the route distances would be a fair bit shorter.

You know, the HSR is already considering truncating a couple routes at Mohawk College when the A-Line starts. That LRT would need to be a high-frequency service if most buses stopped there, but there wouldn't be much of a need to continue all of those trains down Upper James to the airport. I could see some of those trains being short-turned at the College, or maybe at Lime Ridge Mall, which leads to the next item...

Notice that Mohawk is mentioned as at least a partial corridor? That's great. I just didn't like the Linc idea, because it only connects with every second route.

If both LRT lines are built, I could see massive changes to the bus network. That's probably enough for a separate thread in itself.

SteelTown · #**749** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 9:59 PM**

Love how the report supports transit median along Main St W from Paradise to McMaster. Currently it's a cement median with young trees.

Wish the report contained a map showing the route and proposed ROW to make it a little easier to understand.

Looks like A-Line will cost more than B-Line. I would support LRT for B-Line and BRT for A-Line. For the B-Line I would include the transit median along Upper James from Fennell to the Airport like the report suggests.

raisethehammer · #**750** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 10:10 PM**

I wonder if a new thread should be started specifically for the topic of LRT/BRT.

Here's a good overview of the report:

http://hamiltonlightrail.com/article/analysis_feasibility_study_biased_against_light_rail

SteelTown · #**751** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 10:31 PM**

^ Done made a Rapid Transit thread, figured it was the best title for both LRT and BRT.

mishap · #**752** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 10:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Looks like A-Line will cost more than B-Line. I would support LRT for B-Line and BRT for A-Line. For the B-Line I would include the transit median along Upper James from Fennell to the Airport like the report suggests.

Eventually, the A-Line should be LRT, at least a tunnel portion to cross the escarpment. All it takes is one nasty winter event (like freezing rain) to cripple the A-Line. Have you seen how those artics accelerate on slippery roads? Not well. I think we would agree that any LRT track (even the tunnel) still has to be able to handle a bus in the event of train breakdowns, track repairs, etc.

And to rth, maybe a thread covering LRT/BRT and the bus network changes that might directly result from it.

SteelTown · #**753** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 11:15 PM**

Wow also Public Works want the city to spend $3,200,000 for...

"replacement Radio Communications solution and automated next stop passenger information;"

Yes GPS on buses and voice bus stop announcements. Awesome! HSR is really making some serious improvements!

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/57BA88E9-2C8D-491C-8C02-717A21810C1E/0/Apr14PW08038.pdf

"It is expected by the OHRC that Hamilton will have system-wide bus stop announcement, manual or automated prior to year end. The radio system allows voice communications between HSR dispatch and Bus Operators which is a critical safety and security requirement. The radio system includes GPS/AVL functionality which is critical to individual bus communication in the event of an emergency. The GPS/AVL functionality inherent in the radio system allows automated stop announcement to be readily adopted."

RePinion · #**754** Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 11:24 PM**

The analysis on the hamiltonlightrail site is excellent. However, it also makes clear that all the data is shamelessly being skewed to promote BRT at the expense of LRT. There is clearly a powerful - and probably irresistible - predisposition towards the BRT option. It's a foregone conclusion. The city is almost assuredly not going to choose light rail, unless some powerful white knight (and I can't imagine who that would be, in this province) intervenes to promote it. LRT is probably not going to happen. This is really the last straw in terms of stupid decisions in this city. If they choose BRT, I'm moving to Toronto.

HAMRetrofit · #**755** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 12:29 AM**

If they choose LRT I will be so jealous and will be moving to Hamilton.

Considering the number of disabled inbreds that have final say over this I hope they have not decided against LRT by only looking at costs.

matt602 · #**756** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 12:37 AM**

I'm glad they will be doing stop announcements before the end of the year. This will also pave the way for bus stops with estimated arrival times like VIVA (and what TTC plans to do in the future). Doesn't need to be at all stops but definitely at any major terminus.

RePinion · #**757** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 1:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAMRetrofit

If they choose LRT I will be so jealous and will be moving to Hamilton.

Considering the number of disabled inbreds that have final say over this I hope they have not decided against LRT by only looking at costs.

If Hamilton chooses LRT it would mean that for the first time in about fifty years we would actually be infected by productive progressive thinking. If Hamilton does choose LRT this city will hold an unbelievable amount of promise. If they choose BRT, they're setting us back at least twenty years. It wouldn't be worth staying here ...

matt602 · #**758** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 2:40 AM**

Also for the first time in 50 years, the Hamilton Street Railway would actually be what it's named again

flar · #**759** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 2:48 AM**

The LRT vs BRT outcome will greatly affect my decision on whether to stay in Hamilton as well.

go_leafs_go02 · #**760** Posted **Apr 11, 2008, 2:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

The LRT vs BRT outcome will greatly affect my decision on whether to stay in Hamilton as well.

I don't plan on sticking around in this city, but a LRT, where we push it full-forward would be the number #1 project I would like to work on when I finish my schooling in Transportation engineering. We go BRT, blah, I won't be impressed at all. I'll be out of this city pretty quickly I think.