Rapid Transit

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

City and province in talks to extend LRT to Eastgate Square
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/lrt-eastgate-square-1.4083776

That leaves $125 million unspent in the $1 billion project. It would cost an estimated $225 million to run LRT to Eastgate Square, which means Hamilton needs more money from the province to make it work.

So basically it'll take another $100 million to get a few councilors to back the B-Line LRT.

Kinda odd that they ditched the LRT from downtown to Harbour West GO Station in favour of full A-Line BRT to appease Mountain councilors and now it appears the Mountain will get nothing of this new push towards Eastgate.

[Jon Dalton]

I don't understand the costing of the Eastgate extension. They originally costed the whole B-line at $800-somthing million which inflation boosted to 1 billion. They yanked Eastgate to add the James spur and now they're saying it'll cost $100 million more to switch it back? We're talking roughly the same length of track here and less complications as Queenston Road is wide open compared to James.

As I've always said I support Eastgate but delaying to ask the province for more is playing with fire. If I was Wynne I'd pull the whole billion dollars and fund something in Toronto that would buy me votes instead.

Originally Posted by king10

some potential challenges identified in this article

http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7259156-a-civil-engineer-looks-at-hamilton-s-lrt/

Well that's just ridiculous. Who does he think is working for the city and the consulting firm who came up with the EA? No civil engineers there?

[SteelTown]

BREAKING: Province says it will fund LRT to Eastgate.

[SteelTown]

Province supports extension of LRT line to Eastgate Square but offers no new money
https://twitter.com/EmmaatTheSpec?ref_sr...tp%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespec.com%2Fhamilton%2F

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca says the province supports the extension of Hamilton's LRT line to Eastgate Square but is offering no new money to make it happen.

In a letter to Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Del Duca says the province will work with the city to make it happen through the current $1 billion provided but that is contingent on support from Hamilton council.

Council will decide today whether to send a critical environmental assessment plan to the province. If it does, Hamilton's $1 billion project moves ahead. If it doesn't, LRT is suspended indefinitely and risks what some have called "death by delay."

Amid much hand-wringing and consternation from some corners of the council chamber, the city and the province have been in eleventh hour talks about a last-minute switch back to the project's original plan of running from McMaster University to Eastgate Square, rather than the current plan of the Queenston traffic circle.

The LRT plan was originally supposed to extend to Eastgate Square — but when the province announced $1 billion in 2015 for Metrolinx to build the project, the B line portion only went from McMaster to the Queenston traffic circle.

The province said the revised plan allowed it to build an LRT spur line down James Street North. But it has since found the ridership isn't worth the cost. Then it floated an A line bus rapid transit (BRT) plan from the waterfront to the airport, but that didn't win expected accolades from Mountain councillors.

At least four councillors previously interviewed by CBC News say they're more likely to approve the project if it goes to Eastgate Square. That includes Arlene VanderBeek, councillor for Ward 13 in Dundas.

"It's a much better plan if it goes to Eastgate Square," she said.

Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor, previously said his own support for the LRT plan hinged on Eastgate Square.

[SteelTown]

Province willing to work with city to extend LRT to Eastgate

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/726349...work-with-city-to-extend-lrt-to-eastgate

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca says the province will work to extend Hamilton's LRT to Eastgate Square.

The announcement was made in a letter sent to Mayor Fred Eisenberger Wednesday.

"Given the funds made available from the removal of the LRT spur, I can confirm that the Province will work to add the Eastgate extension to the current project scope and procurement," it reads.

The extension would be contingent on support from city council and "the consideration of available funding" to address additional cost requirements, the letter continues.

"The Province will work with the City to explore ways to reduce costs to accommodate the extension within the original project budget."

The letter from Del Duca comes in response to one penned by Eisenberger earlier this week that stated Hamilton's goal is to build LRT "to Eastgate and secure the necessary funds to do so now."

Council is expected to vote Wednesday night on whether to submit the existing project environmental assessment to the province for approval. Without that step, Metrolinx cannot start seeking bids for design-build-operating consortiums and the project will stall.

[SteelTown]

Whoa Chad Collins just said he'll support the EA.

If Collins supports it than we've hit a milestone.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

So let's do the math:

YEA: Eisenberger, A. Johnson, Farr, Green, Merulla, Pearson, B. Johnson, Ferguson

NAY: Collins, Skelly, Conley, Partridge

UNSURE: Jackson, Whitehead, Vanderbeek, Pasuta



I feel like Jackson will vote YEA

Whitehead is all over the place on this, but utimately I think he sees this as good thing, so YEA but who knows

Vanderbeek, I rarely hear her speak and is a quiet one so I'm unsure

Pasuta, I believe voted YEA, he tend to see things from the entire perspective instead of just his own ward.

Ok, so let's update this, based the comments from this evening council session

YEA: Eisenberger, A. Johnson, Farr, Green, Merulla, Pearson, Ferguson, Collins, Jackson, Conley, Whitehead

NAY: Skelly, Partridge

I don't know yet: Vanderbeek, Pasuta, B. Johnson

[durandy]

Jackson and Collins both for this is passing! Wow about face. Collins must think it will be a landslide.

[SteelTown]

Too early to celebrate yet....


http://www.reactiongifs.com/tag/champagne/

[SteelTown]

Sounds like Vanderbeek is a YEA

YEA: Eisenberger, A. Johnson, Farr, Green, Merulla, Pearson, Ferguson, Collins, Jackson, Conley, Whitehead, Vanderbeek

NAY: Skelly, Partridge

I don't know yet: Pasuta, B. Johnson

[SteelTown]

LRT EA passes. 10-5

[King&James]

Done ! Yeas 10 Nays 5, moving forward!

[SteelTown]

The Final vote

YEA: Eisenberger, A. Johnson, Farr, Green, Merulla, Ferguson, Collins, Jackson, Whitehead, Vanderbeek

NAY: Skelly, Partridge, Conley, B. Johnson, Pearson

[matt602]

Looks like LRT is safe until the operations and maintenance agreement next year. Really glad to see that they're shooting for Eastgate again, as well. It's a no-brainer commuter hub, especially with Metrolinx plans to expand GO service to Niagara. An LRT hub at Eastgate will also allow the HSR to beef up local service throughout Stoney Creek with connections to Grimsby, who are also starting up their own transit service in the next few years.

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by matt602

Looks like LRT is safe until the operations and maintenance agreement next year. Really glad to see that they're shooting for Eastgate again, as well. It's a no-brainer commuter hub, especially with Metrolinx plans to expand GO service to Niagara. An LRT hub at Eastgate will also allow the HSR to beef up local service throughout Stoney Creek with connections to Grimsby, who are also starting up their own transit service in the next few years.

Another good thing about the LRT project is that HSR can make the 56 CENTENNIAL bus route one that operates all day between Eastgate and the future Confederation GO station and Walmart. People would need to use that bus route then.

=)

[durandy]

It's really weird the way it's played out. Whitehead stirs up a giant cloud of opposition, then supports it only because the project will now be longer and more expensive, and, thanks to the lack of commitment, maybe partially funded by the city? And wasn't it Collins that killed the LRT line to Eastgate, now he supports it when it's being reextended there?

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^They're children.

But I'm thrilled that it seems to be going ahead.

But they're bloody little children playing children's games.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by matt602

Looks like LRT is safe until the operations and maintenance agreement next year. Really glad to see that they're shooting for Eastgate again, as well. It's a no-brainer commuter hub, especially with Metrolinx plans to expand GO service to Niagara. An LRT hub at Eastgate will also allow the HSR to beef up local service throughout Stoney Creek with connections to Grimsby, who are also starting up their own transit service in the next few years.

Grimsby is starting a bus service?

[drpgq]

Maybe the city can get some federal money to make up the shortfall if there is one. I'm glad the LRT is going to Eastgate. The province deserves some blame here for their stupid harbour spur idea, but at least we are doing right. Hopefully.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Grimsby is starting a bus service?

Grimsby Transit Investigation Study

The Town of Grimsby has engaged Dillon Consulting Limited to undertake a Transit Investigation Study. The purpose of the study is to help the Town of Grimsby determine the feasibility of introducing a viable transit service that improves mobility and quality of life for our residents. Throughout the study, we will be seeking your input to better understand your mobility needs and your support for public transit.

The transit investigation will include:

• Public consultation (surveys, open houses, focus groups) with Grimsby residents, community groups, and local business groups;
• A review of comparable communities that offer transit services;
• The preparation of a financial plan and feasibility assessment for a potential future transit service;
• If the service is deemed feasible, a recommended design of a potential future transit service, including routes, service levels, and service delivery mechanisms.

More here.