Well, I come back from a busy week to bring a metro map that exists solely on existing track/approved projects (Just the LRT, lol). I used Brand new Subway to make it, putting a small portion of my time actually deciding what would make sense for stop locations. I am more than open to adjustments to this map as time goes on of course because stops are something that can be hotly debated, especially when this is all just fantasy. Anywho, onto the map.
It includes the aptly named "blue line", running across the escarpment and connecting at major streets and points of interest. I figured cutting it shorter than some of my earlier maps would make sense since I didn't really see there being all too much demand at the furthest parts of Stoney Creek, at least not yet. The other end of the Blue line goes into Dundas, and this is more tentative because there is no precedent for service along this section historically speaking, so I figure this would probably be a later extension.
The Orange line is now closer to Gold, and I still think this is the line with the most potential. While perhaps not super necessary right now, it will reintroduce growth to the parts of Hamilton that already have the capacity for plenty more density, whether it be new industrial, commercial, office space or denser residential. I imagine the parking lot of Barton centre getting filled in with condos, for instance.
The pink line is a loop which would run around what could probably be considered a new 'downtown boundary', what with the LRT, stadium, Gage park and much of the industrial access available from its stations. I anticipate this being the busiest line by far simply because it offers a complete loop to all of the most important locations in the city. The only reason I haven't prioritized it is because it would absolutely require new track and a regrade for its track near Gage/connection to the orange mainline, and so would have to be a future expansion (albeit easily justifiable within the scope of the project).
To address the issues of widening the Hunter st. tunnel to Centre GO, I obviously created a new central station/terminal at the current Fortinos strip. Barring traffic issues, this is a perfect location for a
modern downtown-oriented Hamilton to place a central station in such a network, since track is already present and the lot is undeniably underutilized. Furthermore, GO service can be diverted from the other two stations and kept in one sleek new station that ironically will probably offer reduced commute times; I imagine ~5 minutes. Because it will be a dedicated commercial-use station, CN can continue running trains through the tunnel and we can operate our 'metros' or whatever they might be without issue since GO trains will now be completely off of Hamilton track for the most part. Diverting off of West Harbour might seem ludicrous, but reconfiguring it (and I suppose Confederation, when it's complete) into 'metro' stations, will again result in a minimal increase in net traffic on these tracks. The location also obviously offers direct LRT access, not needing a protected walkway across 3 blocks to get inside the new station. This new station will therefore ideally host most if not all of Hamilton's GO service, with the new rapid transit lines bringing people to the station. I do imagine GO would want to continue operations in at LEAST Confederation GO, since geographically it is quite farther than either West Harbour or Centre GO is from this new central station. Not quite sure how that would work yet, so if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.
I'll include an image with/without the A-line LRT, because at this point that's at least a decade off if it ever happens at all. Being an ideal N/S connector though I did include it in a second version of the map. A third version of the map would hypothetically include a host of alternative transit modes not explored in BLAST but definetly discussed here, like Funiculars or ski-lift carriages. As for the location of those, I'll expand on that in another post as I am short on time and haven't even answered my PMs yet. This didn't actually take all too long, just alot of consideration. Cheers!
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