Rapid Transit

[FairHamilton]

^ Depends on who replaces him. Do you think his recent change in tone, could have been to soften the blow of a change in Metrolinx's support of Hamilton?

He knew he was leaving, he was a big supporter of Hamilton's transit aspirations, and he was worried/concerned/knew the next head of Metrolinx might (or will) have different priorities.

Just my little conspiracy theory.

[SteelTown]

Actually it sounds like he'll stay on as Chair of Metrolinx.......

Rob MacIsaac Named New Mohawk College President
Ken Mann
11/6/2008

Here's one that will likely surprise a lot of people.

The board of governors at Mohawk College, has announced that Rob MacIsaac will become the college's seventh President.

He's been named to the post effective February.1st.

MacIsaac has served as the chair of Metrolinx since 2006, driving the process which has led to the current discussions around the construction of Light Rail Transit in Hamilton.

Prior to that, he was the Mayor of Burlington.

He is expected to continue on as Metrolinx chair, but will transfer some of his other responsibilities with the provincial organization.

[raisethehammer]

good news for Mohawk...potentially devastating news for Hamilton's LRT chances.

[SteelTown]

Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology in Hamilton has announced that Rob MacIsaac has been selected as its new president starting February 1, 2009.

MacIsaac will continue his work as Metrolinx board chair on a part time basis.

Since 2006, MacIsaac has built a team to get the regional transportation agency up and running, and to develop a Regional Transportation Plan and Investment Strategy for a seamless and convenient transportation network for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The final plan is expected to be released before the end of the year.

[thistleclub]

More details at Spec.com: Metrolinx boss to be new Mohawk president

Because of his familiarity with Hamilton and good relationship with Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger, MacIsaac has been considered a key ally in the city’s aspirations to establish provincially-funded light rail transit links across the city, starting with an east-west line that would run from Eastgate Square to McMaster University.

The link is considered critical to the city’s economic renewal, particulary in the lower city. MacIsaac hinted that Hamilton funding would surface in the latter years of the 2009-13 budget, coming this fall.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

potentially devastating news for Hamilton's LRT chances.

LRT is much bigger than just one person, even a person in a crucial position. It's not like MacIsaac could go against Metrolinx just to get Hamilton an LRT system if the organization didn't support it. It's good that MacIsaac takes a special interest in Hamilton's interests, but the basic case for LRT hasn't changed.

As it is, Metrolinx has stated that they will evaluate Hamilton's LRT bid based on a "full benefits analysis", not just a "business case analysis", and that analysis will consider economic development potential, environmental impact, socioeconomic impact, and so on, not just cost and ridership (though LRT comes out ahead of BRT on overall cost and ridership as well).

Metrolinx also identified public input as a nontrivial factor, so make sure you communicate your support for LRT to them:

• Email - [email protected]
• Web - http://metrolinx-consult.limehouse.com/portal
• Mail - Metrolinx, 20 Bay Street, Suite 901, Toronto ON, M5J 2N8

[go_leafs_go02]

As one of the main pushers for a bus pass at Mohawk College for students. I screamed in delight when I heard he's going to be our next president.

[SteelTown]

Route 20 “A-Line” is the first phase of rapid transit (RT) in the north/south James/Upper James corridor between Downtown and the Airport. It is included as a Metrolinx Tranche 1 undertaking in support of Hamilton’s higher-order transit strategy. A 30-minute service frequency will be provided during Weekday AM and PM peak periods, with limited stops at James & King, Hamilton GO Centre, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mohawk College, Mountain Plaza, Upper James & Mohawk, Upper James & Stone Church, Upper James & Rymal, Mountain Transit Centre Park’n’Ride-TransCab transfer point, Mount Hope Village and the Airport Passenger Terminal. Many existing transit users in adjacent neighbourhoods will be able to take advantage of a faster transit trip across the escarpment. The proposed route will assist in generating new transit passengers whose live/work/play trip ends are situated in the newly developing tracts of land that are situated within walking distance of Upper James Street. Lands within the eastern portion of the Airport Employment Growth Area may be easier to market to potential employers, due to the presence of an express transit service that provides linkages to major activity centres and east/west HSR routes. The proposed installation of a Park’n’Ride lot, as proposed in the 2009 Capital budget submission, may serve to attract suburban residents who are attempting to reduce the length of their daily commute by private auto. Subsequent Rapid Transit development on this corridor, subject to approval of the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan and associated funding programs, may involve extension of service to the Waterfront, purpose built stations at major nodes and transit priority measures within the corridor right-of-way.

[raisethehammer]

only during AM and PM periods eh??
that's lousy. You won't attract full ridership potential with hours like that.

[SteelTown]

It'll be no different than the current B-Line.

[raisethehammer]

current B-Line goes from early morning till 6:30pm. No midday break anymore.

[SteelTown]

Hamilton’s on the funding train:Metrolinx
City on track to receive some of Crown corporation’s $11.5 billion pot for light rail transit system

By Kevin Werner, News Staff

News
Nov 07, 2008

Metrolinx chair Rob McIsaac is confident Hamilton will receive some cash from the Crown corporation’s $11.5 billion pot for its much-anticipated light rail transit system.

“I’m very hopeful we can flow some funds to Hamilton within the five-year time frame,” said Mr. McIsaac. “This is an important project. I’d like to see it proceed early in the Metrolinx plan.”

Hamilton councillors recently recommended seeking $1.1 billion from Metrolinx to construct a light rail transit system for the city.

The system would consist of two lines: the ‘A’-line from Dundas’s University Plaza to Eastgate Sqaure, and a ‘B’-line from the waterfront to the Hamilton International Airport along Upper James.

“The project is in the top 15 priorities of Metrolinx,” said Mr. McIsaac. “I think the project is well positioned.”

The former Burlington mayor remains optimistic that Hamilton’s LRT project won’t be ignored by the Metrolinx board when it makes its funding decision later this month. Hamilton is competing against predominately Greater Toronto Area transit projects that have been in development for a few years.

There is the rapid transit line along Eglinton Avenue, a new Hurontario Street rapid transit line from Port Credit to downtown Brampton, a new north-south transit route for York Region, a new Finch/Sheppard rapid transit corridor, upgrading the existing VIVA bus service in York Region and an express Go rail service from Oshawa to Hamilton.

The projects form the backbone of Metrolinx’s proposed “Big Move” strategy that will involve funding $50 billion over 25 years.

“If we fail to do anything, we are going to be facing even more gridlock,” said Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger.

Mr. Eisenberger, a Metrolinx board member, has stated in an interview he has been fighting for Hamilton’s projects at the board, and believes the city will get the necessary funding.

Dan Rodrigues of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce transit committee argues the Metrolinx board can’t overlook Hamilton.

“They can’t ignore us,” he said.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

current B-Line goes from early morning till 6:30pm. No midday break anymore.

It is also no less frequent than 20 minutes between trips, any time of the day. In the afternoon rush (2-6pm) it runs every 10 minutes. 30 minute frequencies at rush hour only is indeed ridiculous.

[SteelTown]

'Hamilton has fared quite well' in Metrolinx plan

November 25, 2008
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator

No surprises for Hamilton.

That's what Rob MacIsaac says we can expect as regional transportation agency Metrolinx unveils a near-final plan to ease gridlock, pollution and car dependency in greater Toronto and Hamilton.

Today, Metrolinx will post online an updated version of its regional plan. A draft of The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area was released in September.

In the 25-year, $50-billion draft plan, Hamilton was slated to get four rapid-transit lines. An east-west B line -- on Main or King from Eastgate Square to McMaster University -- was a priority in the first 15 years. Whether bus or rail is undecided and awaits analysis to be done in 2009.

"I don't think there will be any surprises for Hamilton. We continue to be impressed by the work that Hamilton has done and Hamilton will continue to be one of the top 15 priorities in the plan," MacIsaac said of the B line yesterday.

The City of Hamilton worked intensely on its proposal for light rail transit, with public surveys, trips across North America to see LRTs, and studies of possible routes.

The city says it can have shovels in the ground for LRT by 2011. MacIsaac has hinted Hamilton funding will surface in the latter years of the 2009-13 budget, then ramp up.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, a Metrolinx board member, said there are no substantial changes for Hamilton when one compares the draft to today's more final plan.

It still sees an east-west line, and a north-south line, of rapid transit slated within the first 15 years of the Metrolinx vision. Other lines will come later. GO Transit enhancement is still there, too.

"It's pretty much as expected for me," Eisenberger said. "I think Hamilton has fared quite well in the overall plan. For me, the next challenge is the five-year capital plan" outlining project funding.

The Metrolinx board votes Friday on the final regional transportation plan. MacIsaac said it will also see an interim 2009-13 budget, but "not much detail," on project funding.

"It begins to set the table for the finely grained five-year budget to be completed this summer," MacIsaac said. He said he "anticipates" Hamilton will see project funding in that budget.

Today, the unapproved plan will be posted at metrolinx.ca under Board Agenda items. It is not final without board approval; Friday's meeting may call for revisions before the final plan is printed.

"I have some confidence that it will be well received by the board," MacIsaac said. "I don't know if I will have a unanimous vote. But I am feeling good about it, going into the board meeting."

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

'Hamilton has fared quite well' in Metrolinx plan

November 25, 2008
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator

No surprises for Hamilton.

That's what Rob MacIsaac says we can expect as regional transportation agency Metrolinx unveils a near-final plan to ease gridlock, pollution and car dependency in greater Toronto and Hamilton.

Today, Metrolinx will post online an updated version of its regional plan. A draft of The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area was released in September.

In the 25-year, $50-billion draft plan, Hamilton was slated to get four rapid-transit lines. An east-west B line -- on Main or King from Eastgate Square to McMaster University -- was a priority in the first 15 years. Whether bus or rail is undecided and awaits analysis to be done in 2009.

"I don't think there will be any surprises for Hamilton. We continue to be impressed by the work that Hamilton has done and Hamilton will continue to be one of the top 15 priorities in the plan," MacIsaac said of the B line yesterday.

The City of Hamilton worked intensely on its proposal for light rail transit, with public surveys, trips across North America to see LRTs, and studies of possible routes.

The city says it can have shovels in the ground for LRT by 2011. MacIsaac has hinted Hamilton funding will surface in the latter years of the 2009-13 budget, then ramp up.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, a Metrolinx board member, said there are no substantial changes for Hamilton when one compares the draft to today's more final plan.

It still sees an east-west line, and a north-south line, of rapid transit slated within the first 15 years of the Metrolinx vision. Other lines will come later. GO Transit enhancement is still there, too.

"It's pretty much as expected for me," Eisenberger said. "I think Hamilton has fared quite well in the overall plan. For me, the next challenge is the five-year capital plan" outlining project funding.

The Metrolinx board votes Friday on the final regional transportation plan. MacIsaac said it will also see an interim 2009-13 budget, but "not much detail," on project funding.

"It begins to set the table for the finely grained five-year budget to be completed this summer," MacIsaac said. He said he "anticipates" Hamilton will see project funding in that budget.

Today, the unapproved plan will be posted at metrolinx.ca under Board Agenda items. It is not final without board approval; Friday's meeting may call for revisions before the final plan is printed.

"I have some confidence that it will be well received by the board," MacIsaac said. "I don't know if I will have a unanimous vote. But I am feeling good about it, going into the board meeting."

I think we can expect to have LRT started here no earlier than 2013, in all honesty. I hate to be pessimistic, but with our luck we will get BRT anyways.

[BrianE]

I think the timing will work out quite well for Hamilton.

It will take at least 2 or 3 more years to get a final draft of a plan for the B-Line alone. Environmental assessments, possible property expropriations or severances, bidding for contracts, public open houses, council debates, nitty gritty details like colour schemes, hiring staff, training staff, purchasing vehicles.

As much great work that has been done by Light Rail Hamilton and The City, there is still a huge, giant, mamoth pile of work yet to be done.

[markbarbera]

The agenda for the Nov 28 meeting and its associated reports have been posted online.

As expected B-Line is short listed for five-year construction budget. What is more interesting is the motion to prioritize some business case analyses for the five-year projects. Currently six of the top 15 projects have BCA's underway. The motion wants to add five more projects with priority for BCA completion by the summer of 2009. The Hamilton east-west rapid transit project tops that list.

[SteelTown]

Metrolinx plan moves ahead
Four rapid transit lines for Hamilton, peak service for Stoney Creek

November 26, 2008
Rob Faulkner
The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton holds its place in the final version of Metrolinx's regional transportation plan: it still has four rapid transit lines coming, more details about timing and great news for Stoney Creek.

Yesterday the provincial crown agency released a 25-year, $50 billion final draft plan for greater Toronto and Hamilton. It needs Metrolinx board approval Friday.

"There is a lot here for Hamilton," said John Howe, general manager of investment strategy and projects at Metrolinx. It's more than just rapid transit, he adds.

"It's about how Hamilton connects with the rest of the region."

Howe cited GO rail-line electrification's cutting travel time to Toronto, the James Street North regional rail station and a Burlington rapid transit line linked to Toronto's Kipling subway station.

Yesterday's final draft plan resembled September's draft, with a few changes and more details:

* The east-west rapid transit line in the lower city is now defined as being anchored at Eastgate Square in the east end, not Centennial Parkway in general, as in the draft.

* GO train service extends to Stoney Creek via the future James Street North station at peak times, in the first 15 years of the plan. A stop wasn't identified but may be Centennial Parkway, Howe said.

* The Dundas Street rapid transit line linking Toronto to this region originally ended at Waterdown but will now end at Brant Street in Burlington, after more modelling on future growth patterns.

Metrolinx staff will ask Friday to get five more projects analyzed in 2009 so they can be prioritized and slated for construction. The Eastgate-McMaster B-line's analysis should be done by July 2009.

In a related budget document, this B-line is called a Category C project. So, in the 2009-13 budget it will vie for planning, design and engineering funds with 10 other projects, on which Metrolinx plans to spend $4.9 billion in total. Construction will occur for some of these categorized projects by 2013. City staff say a B-line could cost $650 million.

The first five years of the Metrolinx budget (2009-13) will spend $7 billion of the $11.5 billion in funds that the province has committed to the fledgling agency. This is the only guaranteed money Metrolinx has for its $50-billion plan.

"It's another incentive for getting our work done and in to Metrolinx in a timely manner," said Jill Stephen, Hamilton city manager of strategic planning working on rapid transit.

She was encouraged that Hamilton still has a lot coming in the final plan and that the Waterdown link is not being ignored, just delayed to a time frame beyond 25 years.

City staff are preparing for the Metrolinx benefits case analysis. City staff hope to recommend their preferred route for light rail transit on Main or King in April, she said.

See the Metrolinx plan online at metrolinx.com/en/boardMeetingDocs.aspx. It's not final without board approval Friday; that meeting may call for revisions.

[the dude]

wow! $650M is a lot more than i expected. still got my fingers crossed. we deserve a break for once.

[SteelTown]

I think we could see construction go earlier than 2013. With this rough economy the government (federal government) will fast track all sort of infrastructure projects and Hamilton's economy isn't doing so well.