Rapid Transit

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by NortheastWind

If the City will be on the hook for extra costs, Ryan McGreal had a good idea a while back that would eliminate the need for a new bridge over the 403. Have the train turn before the 403 and go adjacent to the CP right of way (behind Fortinos) and over to Innovation Park. The train can then go over the 403 at Longwood (which is going to happen anyway).

Also, they are delaying the project start-up to 2020 while maintaining the staff, which will add to the cost. The City shouldn't be on the hook for those costs.

That was my idea.

[NortheastWind]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

That was my idea.

My apologies. Good idea.

[drpgq]

I wonder if the city and Metrolinx could get some money from developers by allowing some tall buildings on the expropriated land for the stations. Although I'm sure the design review panel would disapprove.

[thistleclub]

Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly says Hamilton is responsible for LRT cost overruns
(Flamborough Review, Kevin Werner, Feb 25 2019)

Flamborough-Glanbrook Progressive Conservative MPP Donna Skelly said that Hamilton will have to cover any cost overruns if the $1 billion light rail transit project exceeds its budget.

“We don’t know what the final price tag is,” said Skelly in an interview. “If it’s a billion or less the money is there. If it is beyond the billion dollars, I think at this point the city has to make a decision, how much do they want to put into it.”

Hamilton councillors recently approved a motion requesting the province to identify which government is responsible for any cost overruns on the LRT project.

Answers from the province may be coming when Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek and Mayor Fred Eisenberger meet sometime in March to discuss the LRT; Skelly said that she will also attend, along with any councillor who is interested.

Eisenberger has been attempting to seek a meeting with Premier Doug Ford since he was reelected mayor last fall, to clarify the province’s funding commitment for LRT.

Skelly said that the province remains committed to providing Hamilton with the $1 billion — less any money that has already been spent — for the LRT. She said the $1 billion is a lot of money that other communities would be thrilled to have.

Read it in full here.


Skelly is still talking out of turn and an unauthoritative (and fundamentally biased) voice on this file, but it's interesting that she's coming closer to the "LRT or nothing" interpretation of the province's LRT commitment. No more talk about using the $1b for other transit, enhanced transit, and approved projects.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

Someone needs to look into skelly's motives ....why is she always so anti lower city? She seems to be working against anything progressive or big for the lower city especially.... And she frankly needs to STFU

[king10]

Seems like a terrible deal. City isn't the project manager and can't mitigate cost overruns yet is on the hook for cost over runs for a project they aren't in control of.

Too much risk on the City's end.

[king10]

Metrolinx scraps portion of Hurontario LRT in effort to cut costs

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/92331...f-hurontario-lrt-in-effort-to-cut-costs/

Wouldn't be surprised if we see an announcement cutting Hamilton's LRT back to the traffic circle.

[ChildishGavino]

Originally Posted by king10

Metrolinx scraps portion of Hurontario LRT in effort to cut costs

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/92331...f-hurontario-lrt-in-effort-to-cut-costs/

Wouldn't be surprised if we see an announcement cutting Hamilton's LRT back to the traffic circle.

Yikes, that certainly isnt a good idea.

[Jon Dalton]

That would be awful. If they want to cut costs they need to find a way to eliminate the unnecessary tunnel under the CP rail spur. That adds nothing but cost to the project.

[thistleclub]

Metrolinx scraps portion of Hurontario LRT in effort to cut costs [/QUOTE]
(Toronto Star, Ben Spurr, Mar 21 2019)

The province’s transit agency is scaling back plans for a major transit line linking Brampton and Mississauga in order to cut costs.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Phil Verster, the chief executive officer of Metrolinx, announced changes to the Hurontario LRT that he said were intended “to offer riders a more convenient route and alleviate potential budget pressures.”

The changes include removing the proposed loop around Mississauga city centre, and eliminating three stops. That would shorten the LRT by about two kilometres and leave it with 19 stops. The line is still intended to run between Port Credit GO station and the Brampton Gateway Terminal.

A proposed pedestrian bridge at the Cooksville stop will be deferred in the hopes a private developer will pick up the cost in the future, Verster said, and streetscaping along the LRT route will also be scaled back.

A Metrolinx spokesperson said the line’s planned completion date of 2022 remains unchanged.

Read it in full here.

The three stops appear as part of the aforementioned loop around Square One (~2.4km).

Mercifully, Hamilton did not petition for a lap around Jackson Square.

[king10]

Mississauga’s LRT route was shortened to save cash. Is Hamilton’s project next?
Metrolinx announced the budget-saving measures for the Hurontario LRT on Thursday. Meanwhile, Hamilton is waiting to hear if its own light rail project will be allowed to go ahead.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/92340...o-save-cash-is-hamilton-s-project-next-/

[thistleclub]

SNC-Lavalin failed to meet technical threshold for $1.6B LRT contract: sources
(CBC News, Joanne Chianello, Mar 22 2019)

SNC-Lavalin won the $1.6-billion contract to extend and maintain Ottawa's north-south LRT line even though it didn't achieve the minimum technical score to qualify for the project — a threshold its competitors met easily, CBC News has learned.

The Montreal-based company beat out two other consortia to extend the Trillium Line from Greenboro into Riverside South, a decision cemented with a 19-3 vote by Ottawa city council on March 6.

However, sources with direct knowledge of the Stage 2 evaluation process told CBC that SNC-Lavalin failed to achieve the minimum technical score of 70 per cent, a requirement set out in publicly available documents.

CBC is not naming the three sources because they are not authorized to speak with the media.


Read it in full here.


Also in Ottawa this morning:

Premier Doug Ford and Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation, will make an announcement about the Ottawa LRT

[thistleclub]

Mississauga’s LRT route was shortened to save cash

City of Brampton:

The City understands that the changes announced by Metrolinx are necessary to deliver the overall project in a timely and efficient manner. The City is pleased to see that there are provisions in the amended contract to adapt to future changes, including a potential extension into Brampton.

These changes still allow for a future LRT extension north of Steeles Avenue to the Brampton GO station, which will be subject to further study and approvals.…

“Efficient transit is one of the City’s key priorities as defined by our residents. We are happy that this project has received a go-ahead. We are especially pleased to see the provision in the contract amendment for a potential extension into Brampton as we continue to explore all the possibilities for Phase 2, including the tunnel option that would lead to downtown Brampton GO.” - Mayor Patrick Brown

[thistleclub]

Premier Ford has just announced $1.2B+ in provincial funding for Stage 2 of Ottawa LRT, roughly twice the province's commitment to Stage 1.

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2019/03/ontario-government-announces-investment-in-ottawa-lrt.html

[ChildishGavino]

The Mayor is sitting down with the transportation minister right now, to discuss lifting the spending freeze Metrolinx is currently under. Hopefully they are finished and have reached an agreement in time for the evening news.

[SantaClo]

BREAKING : Freezing has been lifted : https://twitter.com/Mattatthespec/status/1111357150813716481

[ChildishGavino]

Huzzah!! The project can finally continue!!

[realcity]

Originally Posted by SantaClo

BREAKING : Freezing has been lifted : https://twitter.com/Mattatthespec/status/1111357150813716481

thanks. i heard it first on here.

[thistleclub]

Transport Canada to study Hyperloop technology
(iPolitics, Jolson Lim, Mar 28 2019)

Transport Canada wants to study the potential of hyperloop technology, a futuristic mode of high speed transportation envisioned by eccentric billionaire Elon Musk.

The department put out a tender on March 27 asking for bids on a feasibility study of hyperloop technology, which proponents see as the future for land-based transportation that uses a pod to go through a system of tubes at airplane speeds. Experts have disagreed on whether the ambitious proposal can ever be commercially adopted.

According to the notice published on the federal government’s procurement website, Transport Canada wants to evaluate whether the hyperloop can be transformed into a “viable technology that is safe for passengers and the communities where the tubes traverse.”

The department also wants to see whether the cost of such technology is “comparable or significantly more affordable” than conventional high-speed or magnetic rail.

The scope of the study would also include examining its potential as an “intercity transporter,” as well as whether regulatory oversight of such technology can be performed within existing rules for rail and aviation. Use as freight transportation and safety concerns around terrorism would also be studied.

The tender acknowledges the hyperloop idea is very new and information on specifications, performance and costs are limited. Current concepts also show a limited capacity of up to 40 passengers per pod, making it harder to compete with commercial aviation….

Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, also made his proposal “open-sourced” and other companies such as Toronto-based TransPod have picked up the idea. The company is proposing an elevated network of tubes that would see pods travelling at 1,000 kilometres per hour.

A link between Montreal and Toronto at that speed would mean only a 45-minute commute. The company estimates the cost of such infrastructure would be $15 billion excluding purchase of land.

Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

[Ford government won’t work with federal Liberals on building projects, says Trudeau
(Toronto Star, Apr 16 2019)

KITCHENER, ONT.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Ontario government is holding up vital infrastructure spending.

He says the province risks missing this summer’s construction season if the delays continue.

Trudeau says Premier Doug Ford’s government has yet to say on which projects, including transit, it wants to partner with Ottawa.

The prime minister says Ontario is dragging its feet because it doesn’t want to work with his Liberal government.

Trudeau’s ramped-up rhetoric today comes ahead of October’s federal election in which Ontario will be a key battleground.

Last week, Ford announced a $28.5-billion plan for four transit projects in the Toronto area and said he expects the federal government to contribute.