Rapid Transit

[LikeHamilton]

Can you say LRT crashes...here is a great video on LRT crashes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2rdGX4JYc

and a couple of other ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld6BhZSdLKg&feature=related

[MalcolmTucker]

^ That is why centre lanes on a two way street make much more sense. (unless your going to give the LRT full signal control, like it has in Calgary)

[realcity]

sweet vids.... love the last one the most... ///.... sorry... but it kinda makes me think of Darwin's Law.

That and snowmobile accidents.

[LikeHamilton]

From July 24th CATCH

Province will own rapid transit lines
Jul 24, 2009

The provincial transit agency has announced it will own and control the rapid transit projects it is backing, rather than municipal governments. Metrolinx has already formally notified Toronto and York region of its operating principles and it appears these would also apply to any Hamilton light rail or bus rapid transit projects funded by the agency.

A report to the first board meeting of the reconstructed agency earlier this month set out “five key principles” including “Metrolinx ownership and control of the new, designated transit projects” as well as “clear project governance” that could include public-private partnership agreements.

“Metrolinx will be responsible for approving project scope and budget, and for approving the terms and conditions of owning, constructing, operating and maintaining the new assets,” states the report. “The procurement of construction services, transit vehicles and other project capital requirements will also be the responsibility of Metrolinx, working closely with municipal partners.”

The report also says that “municipally-requested changes to project scope, and the corresponding impacts on construction costs and schedules, will require Metrolinx Board approval”, while promising a cooperative approach with local transit authorities. Another prerequisite of Metrolinx funding is a fare card system that can be used across the golden horseshoe.

Letters detailing these conditions were sent last month to Toronto and York officials where the five priority Metrolinx properties costing an estimated $10 billion are located. The Toronto projects are all rail-based, while in York, the existing VIVA bus rapid transit network will be substantially expanded.

The Metrolinx board heard that $3 million has been allocated to Hamilton for rapid transit studies, but whether that will be light rail or buses has not been determined, and the expected completion date is still blank. The description does promise “service frequency of five minutes or less”.

Several options for the east-west route between Eastgate and McMaster have been proposed and city officials are asking for public comment up to the end of this month.

At the end of June, Waterloo regional council endorsed a $790 million light rail system for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge urban area expected to be operational in the first two cities in 2014.

“In future years, people will look on this decision as doing more than anything else to manage growth and shape Waterloo Region,” said Waterloo regional chair Ken Seiling. “Our ability to cope with growth and ensure our future quality of life will depend on providing a transportation system that encourages intensification, limits urban sprawl to protect our agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands, and avoids gridlock by providing alternatives to the dependence on cars as we grow.”

Federal officials immediately announced a $160 million “first instalment” of funding for the project.

[SteelTown]

McMaster, city to consult students and faculty over LRT station

September 03, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/627985

McMaster University wants rapid transit coming to its campus -- but where it stops is the big question.

The city sees tremendous benefits in locating a transit terminal in the heart of the university.

But Mac's current campus plan protects its core for pedestrians and pushes transit to the perimeter.

Rather than locking horns, both sides have agreed to ongoing talks and consultation with students and faculty this fall.

"Working with Mac, we want to make sure we locate at the best spot," said Jill Stephen, Hamilton's director of strategic and environmental planning. "Mac is a key destination point."

The city is still waiting to find out if Metrolinx will pick light rail or rapid buses for Hamilton. A decision is expected this fall.

West-end Councillor Brian McHattie said he fears if Mac insists on a location that isn't supported by Metrolinx, it could jeopardize the project's funding.

"Mac could be responsible for the whole project being killed," he said, noting his concerns are based on past precedent when the university asked that the city remove bus routes from campus after a disagreement over truck routes.

Downtown councillor Bob Bratina first raised the alarm about the potential clash with the university over rapid transit on his blog.

He's since heard from the university and believes a compromise is possible. Though he would prefer to see the transit stop near the campus core, he's open to a location on the edge, like the GO Transit terminal near Cootes Drive.

"I hope there's still room for dialogue," Bratina said, noting a prime location will increase ridership and boost the connection to downtown. "It's an image issue."

Vice-president Roger Trull said the university remains committed to rapid transit and finding the right spot for a terminal.

"Our plan is to work with the Metrolinx folks and the city to determine the best location."

If there's a strong case for changing its plan, Mac is open to the idea, said Trull, adding he's confident they will find a solution that works for both.

Nicholas Kevlahan, co-founder of the citizens' group Hamilton Light Rail and a Mac professor said he was initially worried but now feels discussions are going well.

"I don't want things to get confrontational," he said, noting a location on the edge of campus would still work as long as students aren't forced to cross Main Street.

"We have the luxury of a compact campus, so no matter where they put it, it's going to be a short walk."

[highwater]

Wow. Fightin' words coming from McHattie. Guess there's no love lost there.

[SteelTown]

A-Line is up and running. They hardly make any noise, kinda eerie.

[matt602]

Yah the new artics are incredibly quiet due to a different engine and a diesel particulate filter on the muffler that the '06's don't have. They also have a slimmer hybrid battery housing which looks much nicer. The new artics were also on the B-Line today since theres more than enough to fully serve both A and B Lines.

[SteelTown]

Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, Phase 3 – Public Consultation Update

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/F7...8-8EDEE33F79BA/0/Sep14Item58PW08043f.pdf

95% support Rapid Transit
79% want LRT for B-Line
Majority support two way LRT

[emge]

Nice to have some good news there.

[realcity]

If anyone of those lines ends up a Bus, I'm not riding it. Nor will anyone else who doesn't already ride those bus routes

I don't even know why at this point we are still discussing the Bus vs Train option. FORGET THE BUS it won't do squat. Hopefully this report finally ends the BRT as an option

[Jon Dalton]

So where's all this opposition that's supposed to stop the project dead in its tracks? I guess it's all those 'regular' folk who don't you know, read the spec or anything and still haven't heard. We'll have to wait until construction to find out how impossible it actually is.

[markbarbera]

The questionnaire was designed to gauge support for the concept of LRT vs BRT. Certainly LRT is overwhelmingly supported. The devil is in the details, and the details are yet to be sorted.

If the city rapid transit team blindly moves forward with the idea of two way LRT on King between Paradise and the Delta (as opposed to Main), then things will get ugly I'm afraid. King Street's IV business association has already expressed concern about that. The survey was designed in a manner where public opinon on a preferred central route path was not addressed in a quantifiable manner, porbably to avoid any kind of controversy during this early stage of discussion.

[emge]

I live near the IV and I don't think it'll be that big of a deal in the end. They may be vocal, but it's not going to ruin business.

It's a relatively short section of King where there's already lots at Denningers and a municipal lot (parking smack dab in the middle of the IV, not to mention side streets).

[mishap]

Originally Posted by matt602

The new artics were also on the B-Line today since theres more than enough to fully serve both A and B Lines.

Maybe, but you also have to serve University, and there aren't enough artics to serve all three routes. You would need 24 buses to fully cover 10, 20 and 51. The HSR has 25, and assigns 20 of them between those routes, putting some 40-footers on B-Line.

[matt602]

That is very true, I totally forgot about the 51 which I learned today makes FULL use of the articulated buses. I took it around 4pm today and we got a crush load before even leaving the campus. The other 09 artic going the other way was also crushloaded. Our bus stayed that way all the way to downtown. I had no idea the 51 was used so much since it leaves from downtown so empty. Made the B-Line seem sparsely used in comparison.

[SteelTown]

Public backing for LRT hinges on tax hit

September 14, 2009
Nicole MacIntyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/633868

Hamiltonians support rapid transit — as long as it doesn’t cost them too much.

The city’s latest public consultation with about 1,100 residents reveals nearly 80 per cent are in favour of the $650-million project if local taxpayers are expected to pay less than 5 per cent.

Support drops to 70 per cent when the city’s cost jumps to 15 per cent. Enthusiasm begins to plummet when the expense increases to 20 per cent or more.

“Cost is the biggest factor,” said Jill Stephen, director of strategic and environmental planning.

The city is still waiting to find out if its plans for rapid transit, preferably light rail (LRT), will be selected by Metrolinx this fall. It will also learn its expected share of the tab.

[SteelTown]

Public backing for LRT hinges on tax hit

September 15, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/633898

Hamiltonians support rapid transit -- as long as it doesn't cost them too much.

The city's latest public consultation with about 1,100 residents reveals nearly 80 per cent are in favour of the $650-million project if local taxpayers are expected to pay less than 5 per cent.

Support drops to 70 per cent when the city's cost jumps to 15 per cent. Enthusiasm begins to plummet when the expense increases to 20 per cent or more.

"Cost is the biggest factor," said Jill Stephen, director of strategic and environmental planning.

The city is still waiting to find out if its plans for rapid transit, preferably light rail (LRT), will be selected by Metrolinx this fall. It will also learn its expected share of the tab.

Observers have estimated the city's cost at around 15 per cent, but there's been no official indication. Metrolinx chair Rob MacIsaac has stated the agency plans to fund "bare-bones" transit lines and cities would be "prudent" to put money aside.

Several councillors have tied their support to the city's cost.

Downtown Councillor Bob Bratina said it's clear the city should be prepared to invest capital dollars.

"Anyone who thinks we're going to get a free LRT, forget it," he said, noting transit projects in other cities have been divided into thirds between government levels.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he's confident Metrolinx will pick up the "lion's share" of the cost, "well in excess of 75 per cent."

Nicholas Kevlahan, co-founder of the citizens' group Hamilton Light Rail, cautioned against putting too much weight on the survey results, noting it's difficult to gather informed opinions until the real costs are known. At this point, he suspects it only shows residents don't want their taxes to increase.

He added that Metrolinx has announced it will own and control rapid transit systems, suggesting they will pick up most of the cost.

"They're really taking ownership."

[SteelTown]

On October 29, 2008, Council approved Report PW08043d pursuing the B-Line as the first line to move to design and construction. Staff have continued to stress with Metrolinx that the B-Line is well suited to be an early success for Hamilton, the Province and Metrolinx, and by having the B-Line open by Summer 2015, it would be available for residents, employees, athletes, fans and tourists and residents to use should the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games bid be successful.

Metrolinx is currently completing the Benefits Case Analysis (BCA) for the B-Line. When this is presented to the Metrolinx Board, it is anticipated that they will also be making a decision on the technology, funding and timing for rapid transit on the B-Line. While we do not know what Metrolinx staff will recommend to their Board for the B-Line, staff have been strongly encouraged by Metrolinx to have a preliminary design for the B-Line complete by March 2010. This date is important because it aligns with the announcement of the Provincial Budget for 2010/11.

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/23B513E4-F824-4797-B4C3-71008783A9B6/0/Sep21PW09085.pdf

[SteelTown]

So summed up the City want to have IBI do the traffic study and the City will complete the preliminary design for the B-Line by March 2010 before the Provinical budget is annouced. So next year's budget should be a good budget for Hamilton. Construction could start in 2011 and finish by 2015.