Rapid Transit

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by omro

Am I reading the route map right? Is the 41 the only bus that goes from downtown to Limeridge Mall and I have to go all the way to bloomin' Ottawa to catch it?? Nothing closer to Wentworth/Victoria at all? What about from the centre of town?

The Stonechurch (43), Wentworth (25), Wellington (26) and Mohawk (41) all stop at Limeridge mall.

So from Gore/John/James you can catch the 25 or 26.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by crhayes

The Stonechurch (43), Wentworth (25), Wellington (26) and Mohawk (41) all stop at Limeridge mall.

So from Gore/John/James you can catch the 25 or 26.

taking the 25 compared to the 26 saves I think 10-15 minutes.

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

taking the 25 compared to the 26 saves I think 10-15 minutes.

Yeah, the 26 has to go down Wellington, across Rymal to Wentworth, and then up to Limeridge.

[omro]

Am I blind or does the HSR map make it look like the 25 and 26 just stop at the escarpment, I can't see any 25s or 26s shown on the map downtown...

Maybe I'm just blind.

I like these style of bus maps, perhaps am just used to them

My local bus map (pdf)

[SteelTown]

Mayor wants assurance Hamilton's in line for LRT funding

October 25, 2008
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator

Mayor Fred Eisenberger wants a cost estimate for "the big six" projects Metrolinx is studying to be sure $11.5 billion in provincial cash won't vanish before Hamilton gets east-west light-rail transit (LRT).

Metrolinx is doing benefits case analysis of six projects assumed to reflect priorities in the regional transportation agency's 2009-13 capital budget, due next month.

"My question was, OK you've got projects here that are beneficial to municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area. What about the Hamilton project?" he said during a break in a Metrolinx meeting in Toronto. "I'm fairly confident there is room in the $11 billion, but I want to be sure."

The big six projects, well ahead in their analysis to determine how they should be built, are: York Viva bus rapid-transit expansion, the aging Scarborough rapid-transit line, Yonge subway extension north, Eglinton crosstown LRT, the Sheppard-Finch corridor and electrification of GO's Lakeshore rail line.

Eisenberger said his support for Metrolinx's final regional transportation plan next month depends on inclusion of Hamilton LRT. He had an ally in Durham region chair Roger Anderson, who felt the six projects would eat up $11 billion and a longer list of projects should have been considered.

Eisenberger also raised concern about Metrolinx's stated 2012-13 timeline for the already-approved GO/Via train platform at LIUNA Station. He said it can happen in two or three years, so asked that the job be moved up.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by flar

University Plaza is not a good spot for the terminus, it's barely used.

Ironically, that's what makes it a good spot. There's lots of available parking (a vital element for suburban uptake) and more potential to increase density and use around the station.

Originally Posted by flar

There are many bus riders in Dundas (and could be many more) if the B Line went to the busiest transit stop in Dundas--at Ogilvie and Governeror's.

Public Works staff have suggested that a future expansion could bring LRT into Dundas if the original line does well.

[flar]

Originally Posted by ryan_mcgreal

Ironically, that's what makes it a good spot. There's lots of available parking (a vital element for suburban uptake) and more potential to increase density and use around the station.

The largest group of the transit riders and potential transit riders in Dundas are senior citizens living in the many condos in Dundas' core. They are nowhere near University Plaza. The area around University Plaza is totally not pedestrian scaled and the potential for intensification of the land use around there is minimal. It's a very successful plaza and the owners are unlikely to give up parking space. The most that we could hope for there is another row of stores along Osler. There are a few apartment buildings across the street (students mostly) and the rest is single family homes. At present, the B-line is usually completely empty (as in 0 passengers) when it gets to University Plaza and picks up few riders before it leaves (often 0). Ample parking or not, if potential commuters from Dundas are going to drive as far as University Plaza, they'll probably just drive another 2 minutes to Mac or another 8 minutes downtown. While the B-Line sits empty, #52 into the heart of Dundas is fairly well used. My prediction is that light rail to University Plaza will not be used much more than the current B-line, but light rail into Dundas would be a huge success.

[hamtransithistory]

Originally Posted by flar

The largest group of the transit riders and potential transit riders in Dundas are senior citizens living in the many condos in Dundas' core. They are nowhere near University Plaza. The area around University Plaza is totally not pedestrian scaled and the potential for intensification of the land use around there is minimal. It's a very successful plaza and the owners are unlikely to give up parking space. The most that we could hope for there is another row of stores along Osler. There are a few apartment buildings across the street (students mostly) and the rest is single family homes. At present, the B-line is usually completely empty (as in 0 passengers) when it gets to University Plaza and picks up few riders before it leaves (often 0). Ample parking or not, if potential commuters from Dundas are going to drive as far as University Plaza, they'll probably just drive another 2 minutes to Mac or another 8 minutes downtown. While the B-Line sits empty, #52 into the heart of Dundas is fairly well used. My prediction is that light rail to University Plaza will not be used much more than the current B-line, but light rail into Dundas would be a huge success.

I'm not certain how many students live in those small apartments across from University Plaza. I used to live at Main & Osler and frequently was asked why I lived so far from campus. Course, this was way back in 2004 so times may have changed.

I agree with you that no one would drive to University plaza and ride the LRT to Mac, but I think that since Mac is so close to Dundas that those people who live in Dundas and are car addicted would drive to Mac even if there was an LRT stop at their front door. The same applies to those people who live on top of the escarpment in Flamborough, those people will drive to Mac no matter where in Dundas we put the end of the line. It's the people who don't have cars, or who would drive to the end of the line and travel by LRT as far as downtown that we need to worry about.

At the west end of the B-Line we're going to have to build a transfer terminal between the LRT and the Dundas buses, both branches of the 52 and also the 52A. University plaza is reasonable, as currently the 52's pass this point, and the 52A could be extended along South & Osler to the plaza, as it was back in the 1980s. There is the added bonus that a person getting off the LRT can pick something up from the plaza if need be.

Granted, we can extend the LRT into downtown Dundas, but where would we put the transfer terminal and parking for riders from outside of Dundas?

As for the terminal eliminating parking spaces, this is true. The terminal itself would probably take up the spots that are the furthest from the stores along Osler. How much parking would be available I'm not sure, but isn't the plaza the busiest on weekends, while the LRT would be most used on weekdays? (We could try to get the plaza owners to realize that better transit would allow more people to come and shop without their cars, but hey, this is Hamilton. )

[adam]

Just wanted to spread the word again ... here is the link from the Hamilton Light Rail site

Metrolinx Open House Needs High Turnout

It is vitally important that as many Hamilton residents attend this meeting as possible so that Metrolinx can see firsthand the strong public support for light rail rapid transit.

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

This is becoming too circular an argument, but I'll try to make my point one last time. The city would not construct LRT traversing into Mac campus because the campus is private property. They will however construct a line abutting the campus. This is keeping with the manner in which private campuses are treated practically everywhere else. And, quite frankly, is more than sufficient an arrangement for serving the demographics of McMaster University. Service is not being taken away from the campus, it is simply being provided in a different manner. Those wishing the express line can catch it at Main West. Those who don't want to do the ten minute walk to Main West can catch the local University bus service to downtown. Or take the University westbound from the Sterling stop to Main and Emerson, then transfer onto the LRT there.

I've seen LRT's going into a campus. I have no idea of the legal implications, but do know it has been done. Mac might have to pay for their share of the trackage, which as I envision it would be a branch off of Main, single track, heading in through the hospital entrance, right at the psychology building and around to the main entrance. How is this legally different from the Eastgate transit terminal or the McMaster GO bus terminal, other than that tracks are being installed?

[highwater]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

Mac might have to pay for their share of the trackage,

There's your problem right there.

[thistleclub]

Dreschel in today's Spec: $1.7m missing from HSR fare boxes

"Reliable sources say council directed staff to contact police during a closed-door committee meeting Wednesday. Sources say an internal audit has also been launched."

Best to get the machine streamlined. Helps build confidence with rapid transit funding in a roundabout way, I imagine.

[omro]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Dreschel in today's Spec: $1.7m missing from HSR fare boxes

Could be the bus drivers stopping off to buy their Tim Horton's using fare money...

I was on the bus yesterday on my way to Eastgate. All of a sudden (not at a stop) the driver pulled over and leapt out of the bus and pelted into the Tim Horton's and stood in line for 5 minutes, got his coffee and ran back into the bus and drove off.

I was more than a little shocked by everyone's reaction. As we were waiting, everyone on the bus seemed quite patient about it. No one really seemed to mind. And this was a full bus, lots of people were crammed in and standing.

In London, if a bus breaks down, or stops for longer than it should, people start grumbling and complaining. Some might get argumentative and verbally aggressive with the driver, if no reason for the delay is forthcoming. If a London bus driver got out of his (reinforced plastic shielded) cab and went and got himself a coffee, leaving a full bus waiting for 5 minutes, I think some passengers would lynch him.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton’s light rail transit project on slow budget train

By Kevin Werner, News Staff / Oct 31, 2008

Hamilton is in the Metrolinx train’s headlights for funding its $1.1 billion light rail rapid transit project, says Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

It’s just that the bottleneck up front needs to be cleared away first, he said.

The Metrolinx board and staff know all about Hamilton’s proposed light rail transit project, said Mr. Eisenberger. It will just take some time to finalize where and when the Metrolinx money will go to, he said.

He said Metrolinx still has to approve of Hamilton’s LRT project. Metrolinx scheduled an open house at the Hamilton Convention Centre Oct. 30.

City councillors were expected to overwhelmingly pass the LRT project at their Oct. 29 council meeting.

“I’m confident there will be the dollars available for a basic light rail transit project,” said Mr. Eisenberger.

Metrolinx is examining the costs for six large transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area, which could eat up most of the allocated $11.5 billion budget Metrolinx has for the 2009-2013 cycle.

Mr. Eisenberger has earlier called Toronto, “the elephant in the room” when discussing Metrolinx funding needed transit projects for Hamilton.

“I have been fighting for Hamilton,” he said. “Their staff understands the city’s needs.”

The six projects being discussed include the York Viva bus rapid-transit expansion; the Scarborough transit line; the Yonge subway expansion north; the Eglinton light rail transit; the Sheppard- Finch corridor; and the electrification of Go’s Lakeshore rail line, which would also benefit Hamilton.

Hamilton councillors have already started questioning why Hamilton isn’t already included in the budget. City staff and Mr. Eisenberger have stated that other Toronto municipalities, such as York and Durham regions, were far out front of Hamilton establishing public transit projects. Hamilton’s rapid transit plans were only introduced to the community earlier this year.

Mr. Eisenberger, who is a Metrolinx board member, said the board will be deciding on its final regional transportation plan at its next board meeting in November.

[thistleclub]

Mayor can't talk about missing funds
Andrew Dreschel
The Hamilton Spectator
(Nov 1, 2008)

Hamilton police have now confirmed that they've received a report from city hall regarding missing taxpayers' money.

But Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he still can't talk about the $1.7 million of HSR cash that has gone missing.

According to Spectator sources, city councillors directed staff to ask police to launch an investigation into $1.7 million of unaccounted-for fare-box revenue during a closed-door meeting earlier this week.

Yesterday, Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings said police had received a missing money report from city officials.

"We acknowledge that there is some missing money, that we've been informed of that," she said.

Collings says police will now decide if there are grounds for an investigation.

Despite the report to police, Eisenberger says he can't confirm transit money is missing or comment on reports because it is confidential.

"In terms of process, as long as there is legal liability and other concerns that could cost the taxpayers more money, I think it's critically important that we deal with this on an in-camera basis and not in the media," Eisenberger said.

Sources say the city has also launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing cash as well as an audit of the HSR.

HSR has an annual budget of about $60 million, half of which comes from fare-box revenue.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by omro

Could be the bus drivers stopping off to buy their Tim Horton's using fare money...

I was on the bus yesterday on my way to Eastgate. All of a sudden (not at a stop) the driver pulled over and leapt out of the bus and pelted into the Tim Horton's and stood in line for 5 minutes, got his coffee and ran back into the bus and drove off.

I was more than a little shocked by everyone's reaction. As we were waiting, everyone on the bus seemed quite patient about it. No one really seemed to mind. And this was a full bus, lots of people were crammed in and standing.

In London, if a bus breaks down, or stops for longer than it should, people start grumbling and complaining. Some might get argumentative and verbally aggressive with the driver, if no reason for the delay is forthcoming. If a London bus driver got out of his (reinforced plastic shielded) cab and went and got himself a coffee, leaving a full bus waiting for 5 minutes, I think some passengers would lynch him.

They are allowed to do that. There's no washroom for HSR drivers, they have to sneak into Tim Hortons or other downtown restaurants to take a washroom break. I'm sure once the new passenger terminal is built it'll include a Tim Hortons kiosk.

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

They are allowed to do that. There's no washroom for HSR drivers, they have to sneak into Tim Hortons or other downtown restaurants to take a washroom break. I'm sure once the new passenger terminal is built it'll include a Tim Hortons kiosk.

Yeah people tend to be patient. I know sometimes I get impatient and then I stop and think "these guys drive a bus for 8 hours....". If they need to stop and take a 5 min break to get a coffee or take a piss that's cool with me.

Besides Tim Hortons was born in this city, who wouldn't understand haha

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by omro

I was more than a little shocked by everyone's reaction. As we were waiting, everyone on the bus seemed quite patient about it. No one really seemed to mind. And this was a full bus, lots of people were crammed in and standing.

In London, if a bus breaks down, or stops for longer than it should, people start grumbling and complaining. Some might get argumentative and verbally aggressive with the driver, if no reason for the delay is forthcoming. If a London bus driver got out of his (reinforced plastic shielded) cab and went and got himself a coffee, leaving a full bus waiting for 5 minutes, I think some passengers would lynch him.

But we are Canadians, and Canadians have traditionally not wanted to 'rock the boat' too much. I think that temperament separates us from many other nationalities/countries (i.e. our neighbours to the south and apparently Brits, or more specifically Londoners)

[sofasurfer]

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

...or more specifically Londoners

Nail. On. Head.

You can pretty much think of London (and its citizens) as pretty much a different 'country' to the rest of the UK. Seriously. Most Londoners view anything beyond the M25 (the orbital highway that encircles Greater London) as another country... and most of them rarely venture beyond it if they have no reason to do so... (I say this as someone who lived in London for nearly a decade, and >20 years outside London)

BTW, the general british tradition of moaning/'whingeing' - tempered with a 'oh, well, mustn't grumble' as a coda - is still alive and well, but consumer activism is definitely on the up. The last few years definitely saw a kick back against 'rip-off Britain' (as some of the papers dubbed it) and sites like journalist Martyn Lewis' moneysavingexpert.com/ epitomize this. Out of interest, is there a Canadian equivalent? redflagdeals really doesn't compare...

[SteelTown]

Rob MacIsaac is leaving his position as the head of Metrolix. He's moving on to be the next President of Mohawk College on Feb 1, 2008.

Guess this is good news for Mohawk College and the A-Line.