Rapid Transit - Page 48

omro · #**941** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yes, from University Plaza to Paradise Road and from the Delta to Eastgate. The rest one lane for LRT on Main.

So they aren't even considering LRT both ways along Main through the downtown at all?
It will definitely be a Main/King split?

SteelTown · #**942** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 5:35 PM**

They would like to spilt it on King/Main.

Main St -> From University Plaza to Paradise Road it's two lanes for LRT, from Paradise to Delta it's one lane for LRT and from the Delta to Eastgate it's two lanes for LRT.

King St -> All one lane for LRT. It'll link up at Paradise and Delta. Hope that's clear. I have some plans I'll post them later on.

But really things can change until the EA is completed, Spring 2010.

Blurr · #**943** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 7:15 PM**

I think that will be difficult to navigate for visitors and tourists. Come to think about it, it will be difficult to navigate for locals too.

Is there any support for main two way LRT?

What about converting main/king to two way streets?

SteelTown · #**944** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 7:39 PM**

I don't think locals are confused about the current Route 10 B-Line. The proposed LRT route is extactly the same route as the B-Line bus.

markbarbera · #**945** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 7:52 PM**

I would be much more cost-effective to build the LRT with both directions on one street, rather than splitting on two streets.

SteelTown · #**946** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 7:58 PM**

If it had to go on one street only instead of King/Main than Main St would be the best option and not King St.

LikeHamilton · #**947** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 8:08 PM**

At a breakfast meeting today with Chris Murray, City Manager, he was asked when would the LRT construction start. He stated and staff confirmed that they expect everything to be out of the way and the shovel in the ground by May 2011.

The latest from the Rapid Transit Team.

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...l200985x11.pdf

Cities Rapid Transit web site.

http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/.../RapidTransit/

Jon Dalton · #**948** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurr

I think that will be difficult to navigate for visitors and tourists. Come to think about it, it will be difficult to navigate for locals too.

Is there any support for main two way LRT?

What about converting main/king to two way streets?

Once again it's about maintaining one-way traffic flow. LRT and 2-way conversions at the same time would be a huge win, but we'll probably end up half-assing it and wasting a lot of money in the process.

There are some areas where it makes sense to divide the tracks, but not huge 5-lane wide streets.

block43 · #**949** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 8:26 PM**

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...23TACFINAL.pdf

According to their website they are looking at one way operations and two way. See slide 18 in the link.

Blurr · #**950** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 9:10 PM**

Are there any other cities who implemented LRT on one way streets? Was it a positive experience?

I am looking outside my office at King in the gibson neighbourhood and there is so little traffic at times during rush hour, I may start a road hockey game.

SteelTown · #**951** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 9:14 PM**

Phase 3 Studies

The Rapid Transit Team recently completed more than 10 different studies including:
• Archeology & Built and Cultural Landscapes;
• Natural Environment;
• Subsurface Infrastructure Review;
• Technology Review;
• Economic Uplift Potential Study and
• Additional Transportation studies.

All of the studies focus on the B-Line and Light Rail Transit as the preferred technology. The focus of the recent studies begins to look at routing options for Light Rail Transit through Downtown Hamilton and attempts to identify any "red-flags" along the corridor.

In addition to the operation of Light Rail Transit one-way on Main/King Streets, as identified as part of Hamilton’s Rapid Transit Feasibility Study Phase 1 (previously presented to the public in Spring 2008), the Rapid Transit Team is investigating other alignments including:

• Contra-flow on Main (one-way traffic eastbound with two-way LRT operation)
• Contra-flow on King (one-way traffic westbound with two-way LRT operation)
• LRT on Main Street with two-way traffic
• LRT on King Street with two-way traffic

In addition to preparing for Metrolinx's Benefit Case Analysis, staff are also investigating alternative funding opportunities and other economic development opportunities for the City, including the tie in of LRT with the PanAM Games Bid.

markbarbera · #**952** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 10:22 PM**

My preferred LRT option is contra-flow on Main, paired with 2-way conversion of King Street.

markbarbera · #**953** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurr

Are there any other cities who implemented LRT on one way streets? Was it a positive experience?

If memory serves, such is the case with the LUAS Red Line in Dublin, Ireland, and it has been an overwhelming success. Actual ridership far exceeded projected ridership.

omro · #**954** Posted **Apr 7, 2009, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I would be much more cost-effective to build the LRT with both directions on one street, rather than splitting on two streets.

I've said this before. Putting both lines on Main makes the most sense. King just isn't wide enough in places and putting the LRT on King would prohibit converting it back to two-way in the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurr

Is there any support for main two way LRT?

I did a poll... though that's just opinion on here.

East/West LRT through the Downtown

adam · #**955** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 2:46 AM**

It is hard to believe they are even thinking of maintaining the antiquated one way streets from the 1950's for LRT. Sidewalks will need to be wider to accomodate the extra foot traffic, so sidewalks alone get rid of a lane of traffic. Add LRT and you are down to 2 lanes of traffic, one each way. We still need street parking, but this is an excellent opportunity to make King and Main 2 way

LikeHamilton · #**956** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 4:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurr

Are there any other cities who implemented LRT on one way streets? Was it a positive experience?

2 years ago I was in Vienna and they have a one-way street through the middle of the old city that has 2-way track system and it seem to work.

I have travelled through out the world, just spent the weekend in Montreal and I was in New Zealand for a month in January and every city has one-way streets. They have their purpose and place. Sometimes they are just an easy way out and sometime it is the best way to move traffic. We do not need to get rid of all one-way streets. This is just going to the other extreme. There has to be a balance on how we do our roads.

I do not have a picture of that street but here is a Vienna tram and a one-way street in Vienna (From my hotel window). Their tram system goes out into the countryside and we took it out to the wine country for an evening of wine tasting and eating. Very civilized!

emge · #**957** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 4:21 PM**

The land purchase is very encouraging. Great to hear about another place that's done it on one-ways as well - very interesting.

It would be my preference to have it all run on Main and both Main and King converted to two-way, just because I don't think King will ever be converted to two-way if you have an LRT track on there, because it's down to a couple lanes in certain parts already. Then again, who knows if it ever will be anyway.

omro · #**958** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 7:22 PM**

I also worry that if they put a line on King, that'll be an excuse not to put another line further north on Barton one day.

Having taken the bus up and down Barton a few times already in my first three days of living in Hamilton, I believe Barton really really really needs LRT and the associated investment. The street just screams potential.

crhayes · #**959** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 7:42 PM**

LOL... I don't see one North American car in the whole picture.

emge · #**960** Posted **Apr 8, 2009, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by omro

I also worry that if they put a line on King, that'll be an excuse not to put another line further north on Barton one day.

Having taken the bus up and down Barton a few times already in my first three days of living in Hamilton, I believe Barton really really really needs LRT and the associated investment. The street just screams potential.

The potential in this city is ridiculous compared to anywhere near here. I've been here two years now and I'm still constantly amazed at those fwho can't see it or take on the "it'll never happen here" perspective (whether from here, or almost as soon as they move here.)

LRT on Barton's still a pipe dream, but it makes a whole lot of sense.

Regarding the King/Main split, the RTH article was a good read and I see how it's worked there -- but as far as costs go, I don't see our city wanting to pitch in for the more expensive option at all.