The future of Hamilton's public transit

[SteelTown]

HSR bus route solution
HSR Bus Routes Changing at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences

http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/worth-mentioning/hsr-bus-route-solution/

The City of Hamilton staff, the HSR, Hamilton Health Sciences, and McMaster University have worked together to find a bus route solution for the McMaster precinct which includes both McMaster University Medical Centre and the University. A report will be going to the City of Hamilton’s Public Works Committee on Tuesday.

A number of factors are contributing to the need to alter the route from the front drive of McMaster University Medical Centre, including the structural damage to the hospital building caused by buses on the driveway, concern about access for ambulances, and exhaust from idling buses near patient care areas. Hamilton Health Sciences will be restricting buses from using the front drive of the hospital as a turning area and passenger drop off.

Under the proposal, buses that currently turn under the canopy at the McMaster University Medical Centre will continue to travel through the university campus but will then exit campus at the Main Street light without using the hospital ramp. Two options for the subsequent last leg of the route are being considered. The first would enhance bus service levels further west on Main to Dundas with buses turning at the existing terminus at University Plaza. The University has also offered a turning location on the west side of campus which would be established within an existing parking lot.

“We all had a common goal of finding a way to ensure patient, student and citizen access and safety, and to optimize HSR routes,” said Ward One councilor Brian McHattie. “We are proposing a solution that we believe meets all of those criteria.”

If approved, changes to the routes would begin in June.

The proposed routes will have minimal impact on service as students and patients will still be able to catch buses on campus at the top of University Avenue with easy access to the Medical Centre. All other current stops will be maintained.

Construction at the hospital will begin this May. HSR will use its usual temporary detour route on Emerson until the new bus route configuration begins in June.

The parties have committed to continuing to work together to maximize busing options to serve the campus and the hospital in the longer term including the potential to develop a more comprehensive transit area on campus that could includes rapid transit, the HSR and Go Transit which currently has a bus terminal at the University.

[LikeHamilton]

From today's Public Works meeting.

That the General Manager of Public Works or delegate be authorized to amend the
approved 2014 Transit Fleet replacement capital budget to purchase eighteen (18)
sixty-foot (60’) articulated buses at an upset cost of $15,500,000 in the alternative to
the planned purchase of eighteen (18) forty-foot (40’) buses at a budget cost of
$8,765,000.

That the General Manager of Public Works or delegate be authorized to single source
the purchase of eighteen (18) CNG sixty foot articulated buses from New Flyer Industries
with the understanding that they are the only Canadian manufacturer.

For the past eight years the City has partnered with other municipalities for Transit fleet
purchases through the Metrolinx Governance agreement approved by Council in City of
Hamilton/Metrolinx Multi-Year Governance Agreement (PW13092) - (City Wide). The
Metrolinx tender was issued in Q1 2014 but does not include a provision for sixty foot
articulated, CNG powered buses. The tender will include forty foot CNG powered
buses, along with forty and sixty foot Diesel powered buses. For this reason, staff is
recommending single source from New Flyer Industries, currently the only Canadian
manufacturer of CNG sixty foot articulated buses.

[SteelTown]

With 18 new articulated buses are they planning to beef up the A-Line?

[matt602]

I'm surprised the HSR is going with more articulated buses. Didn't expect that, though I had heard rumors of a return to CNG buses. I suppose the 1, 5 and 10 don't have enough 60 footers as it is.

[SteelTown]

City looking to put bigger buses on roads

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4477346-city-looking-to-put-bigger-buses-on-roads/

The city is looking at spending big to put bigger, more eco-friendly buses on the road in the overcrowded downtown.

Councillors are being asked to approve about $20 million to buy 18 longer, articulated buses that will be fuelled by compressed natural gas and serviced at a yet-to-be-built station run by Union Gas.

The cheaper fuel and longer buses would save cash and move more passengers over time, but it would also cost twice as much up front compared to the same number of shorter, diesel buses.

HSR director Don Hull told councillors at public works on Tuesday the cost of natural gas is now about a quarter of the cost of diesel fuel. If that ratio continues, he estimated, the city could eventually end up saving $3.7 million a year if it continues replacing diesel buses with natural gas.

He pitched longer, 60-foot articulated buses because of overcrowding on the Barton Street and B-line routes.

The longer replacement buses would pick up more people without forcing the city to hire more drivers for additional, shorter buses, he added.

Some councillors pointed out city staff had previously advocated getting out of the natural gas fuel business in the early 2000s. The city has about 35 buses fuelled by natural gas now.

"You want us to go back to a fuel you asked us to abandon years ago," said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. "That makes me uneasy."

Hull agreed he was pushing a "change in direction," but added it was prompted by a radical difference in pricing and stricter emissions rules that favour natural gas over diesel.

The public works committee asked staff to report back with more information about the proposed new natural gas station.

That means a final spending decision won't be made until late May.

[Jon Dalton]

Glad they're putting some on Barton, that route could really use them. The A-line seems to not need 60' buses.

[SteelTown]

^ With the James St GO Station opening next year the demand for the A-Line will likely increase a lot.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

^ With the James St GO Station opening next year the demand for the A-Line will likely increase a lot.

The A-Line route presently only runs during the afternoon on weekdays. When the new GO station is opened it will only see a few trains per day to Toronto while being further along the route from the current GO station which has all-day bus service to Toronto. Not sure why anyone would want to ride even farther than they need to, to catch a train that barely ever runs.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by matt602

The A-Line route presently only runs during the afternoon on weekdays.

Schedule says morning and afternoon:
https://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/2978F014-0AD5-4992-A90F-38D115378E04/0/MAR14_Timetable.pdf

The early evening A-Line isn't well coordinated with GO's current inbound train service to Hunter St. - trains arrive at 17:45, 18:17, 18:49, and 19:50, but the last southbound A-Line bus leaves King/Hughson at 17:40? That's really great for mountain commuters who might want to take an express bus.

Sidenote: When will the HSR actually have its own website? Anyone know if that's to be part of the city's internet revamp?

[SteelTown]

It would be great if somehow all of the gas tax that goes to the City for transit would be guided by an independent HSR committee.

[SteelTown]

For the CNG articulated buses from New Flyer it must be the XDE60 model. They come with sunroofs, neat feature.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

For the CNG articulated buses from New Flyer it must be the XDE60 model. They come with sunroofs, neat feature.

Thanks SteelTown! That's a beautiful-looking vehicle.

From the updated version of the Spectator article on the purchase:

"Councillor Terry Whitehead said he wanted statistics justifying the need for the 18-metre articulated buses in the lower city, noting he receives overcrowding complaints from some Mountain residents, as well."

It's ridiculous that there are no firm statistics, but also ridiculous that Whitehead would call it in to question. If he's so interested, he should park his car at the Fortino's Plaza on Dundurn or Eastgate Mall at 8:00am tomorrow and see what the experience of boarding a bus is like.

[flar]

Sometimes it's hard to understand the unfathomable ignorance of Hamilton councillors.

The b-line corridor was way overcrowded back when I lived in Hamilton. Many a full bus passed me by. Which is exactly why people with options don't take the bus. It's a vicious circle.

[thistleclub]

The LED headers on the new Delaware buses at least signal they're at capacity. I guess that counts as progress.

[flar]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

The LED headers on the new Delaware buses at least signal they're at capacity. I guess that counts as progress.

Interesting, I've never heard of that before. I guess the HSR should keep a tally of how many times that sign is turned on for Whitehead.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by flar

Interesting, I've never heard of that before. I guess the HSR should keep a tally of how many times that sign is turned on for Whitehead.

I suspect it has to be driver-activated, because I've seen crushloaded buses pass stops without the advisory lit up.

Or maybe I've been having episodes. Anyone else seen these?

[HillStreetBlues]

I’m not sure if this counts as progress. You’d have to query people about how much less depressing it might be to have the ability to crane your neck out into traffic and discern an extra fifteen seconds early that the bus you were counting on taking to work is instead going to pass you by. I personally am not less frustrated by the opportunity for that knowledge.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

I’m not sure if this counts as progress.... I personally am not less frustrated by the opportunity for that knowledge.

It's infinitesimally less annoying. The slightest of courtesies.

[SteelTown]

I kinda understand where Whitehead is coming from but he's just being snotty.

The Mountain definitely needs an overhaul on HSR service. Mohawk and Upper James buses could use some articulated buses. If Mohawk can go to Dofasco/Stelco why can't it also end at McMaster University as well? Mountain buses should have direct access to business parks/centres without taking a transfer or only have rush hour service or every 30/60 minutes service.

[flar]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I kinda understand where Whitehead is coming from but he's just being snotty.

The Mountain definitely needs an overhaul on HSR service. Mohawk and Upper James buses could use some articulated buses. If Mohawk can go to Dofasco/Stelco why can't it also end at McMaster University as well? Mountain buses should have direct access to business parks/centres without taking a transfer or only have rush hour service or every 30/60 minutes service.

I certainly agree with that. HSR would pick up more than a few new commuters on the mountain if they could eliminate the transfer.