Rapid Transit

[raisethehammer]

Yea, I got the impression when I met with them last week that they are pro-LRT.
We got talking about the underpass on James St and the one guy said "it'll be no problem. We just shave the roadway down a little and widen the gap".

It was nice, for once, to hear city of Hamilton staffers with simple, good ideas instead of always saying 'no' to everything.

I heard on the radio that there was about 120 people there.

[Jon Dalton]

Best question of the night (and I paraphrase)

'this may work for good cities but we know our own city is crap. How do you know it works in bad cities too?'

Almost made me shout 'Pittsburgh' or 'Sheffield'

[raisethehammer]

HAHA...someone actually asked that??? Classic!

[raisethehammer]

Portland WAS crap before LRT and urban revitalization.
Same with Tacoma, Manchester etc.....

[DC83]

^^ hahaha Ya, there were some pretty interesting questions (tons re: accessibility. I dont' think ppl understand Modern LRT v. Toronto Streetcars... YET).

Bureaucrats are so funny. Always so serious. I think I saw Ms. Stephen smile once or twice! hahaha

[oldcoote]

Margaret Shkimba
The Hamilton Spectator

(May 2, 2008)

Transit can be a tough sell these days. With the disruptions caused by last Friday's midnight strike by Toronto transit workers, the arguments against a publicly funded and fully accessible transit system gained support among those looking for another reason to buy a new car.

However, in this time of rising gas and food prices, heightened health concerns over air quality, and, last but not least, global warming, our reluctance to embrace more responsible, economic and environmental methods of transportation will leave us all ill-prepared for the future.

This is an exciting time for transit advocates. Governments at all levels are recognizing the need to invest in and support the use of public transit.

In Hamilton, the situation is enough to make one positively giddy. It couldn't have come at a better time.

The Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) is desperately in need of a major rethink and overhaul of all services. Much more is needed in order to create a system effective and efficient enough to lure people away from car dependency. But it's a start.

I take the bus every day. To say the route I ride is popular with students would be an understatement. The stop I get on at services four different routes, yet some mornings buses go by too full to take on more passengers. Crammed to the door, passengers are pushed up against the front window, well past the yellow caution line. Buses leapfrog one over the other as they make their way along King Street toward the west end.

When passengers do get on, they are jammed and jostled against each other as the driver negotiates busy traffic on bumpy roads. Add a stroller, scooter or wheelchair during peak hours and there's an accident waiting to happen. I'd be interested to know what the HSR pays out in accident claims each year for passenger injuries.

At present, the City of Hamilton is considering adopting either a bus rapid transit (BRT) or light-rail transit (LRT) system to take us forward into the 21st century.

The transportation needs across Hamilton are varied; the system has to take into account how people use it now, how they could use it more, and how to use it better. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a major east-west rail line is sorely needed; as is a quick and convenient way up the hill and down to the harbour. To continue with buses on some routes, whether rapid or not, is to replicate what we already have.

To be frank, the buses alone can't cut it. Not for the needs of our community. They may work in terms of moving people from neighbourhoods to main lines, as short-run feeder routes, but they're not big enough, they can't accommodate enough people and most importantly, they are not designed for passenger comfort or safety.

Imagine the King line with a train. It's a long line. It would go all the way between west of Dundas and east of Eastgate Square, out to the ends of the municipality.

There could be a car just for strollers and scooters, one that can accommodate bicycles, other cars could be added or subtracted as needed.

Close your eyes and envision the ride. Smooth, seamless. No jostling, bumping, slipping. Quiet.

The car doors open, people get off, on, there's lots of room to sit or stand. The trip's quick, done in half the time it would take a bus. And if we're wise in our planning, the trip will be free.

This past Sunday afternoon, I took the King bus from downtown to Eastgate Square. The bus was packed both going and coming. The ride was bumpy, a quick touch to the brakes sent us all jerking forward.

The trip took almost 40 minutes and it cost $9.60 for two people to get there and back.

No wonder no one wants to take the bus.

Hamilton has the potential to become a world-class city, but that demands an investment in the future; an investment in a vision of what makes a people-friendly, environment-friendly, business-friendly community. It demands that we consider the needs of the entire community when we spend public funds.

Public transit should be baseline transportation in Hamilton. Public transit should be an essential service, with transit workers compensated accordingly.

Public transit should be publicly funded.

This issue is all about choice. In order to increase transit use, riders need to choose public transit, they need to want to take transit.

At present it's not that attractive a choice.

A system that is flexible, fast and free, a combination of both bus and rail would bring together the best of both worlds.

I think the people of Hamilton deserve the best.

Margaret Shkimba lives in Hamilton. She is a freelance writer with an interest in social issues.

[DC83]

(sorry) another thing about last night is that City Officials kept stressing 'PUBLIC INPUT' all night. They really want to know what we think/want!!!

So spread the word, and get anyone/everyone you can to email [email protected] with their ideas/suggestions/opinions. It takes 2 minutes to write a simple email that may change Hamilton forever!

[coalminecanary]

the comment forms are available online too. i'm going to print a bunch for friends and co workers, and then collect them and hand them in for them.

if people are too lazy to send their ideas in, i'll go out and collect them!

[raisethehammer]

ahhh, I love that description above of riding a future LRT along King or Main. this is too exciting!

[ryan_mcgreal]

Hi All,

I've lurked on SSP for a while but this is my first post.

I was one of the organizers for last night's meeting, and I can tell you I spent the past few days worrying whether anyone would actually show up.

I took a visual attendance count at 7:30, and there were around 125 people - the place was packed with light rail enthusiasts asking excellent questions that sustained the excitement and in some cases generated applause.

Jill Stephen and Lisa Zinkewich, the public works managers running the rapid transit feasibility study, deserve tremendous credit for agreeing to participate, making a solid presentation that took into account many of our methodological concerns, providing forms for public input (every form they brought was used), and answering audience questions with candour (including acknowledging that they've already received plenty of feedback from the public, mostly in support of light rail).

From now on, it's absolutely crucial for everyone who supports light rail to communicate that to the city via the public consultation process:

http://www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit

Every message helps! Every single comment tips the scale a bit more in favour of light rail as the superior choice.

At the same time, be sure to contact your councillor as well to express your support for light rail.

http://raisethehammer.org/article/450/

One final note: there seems to be an idea on this forum that the May 6 public information centre concerns the A-Line and the May 8 meeting concerns the B-Line. That's incorrect. Both meetings are making the same presentation regarding the RTFS and public input, so you don't have to attend both to participate fully.

[DC83]

quote from "let's talk about one-way streets" thread:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

If we get LRT than I would support keeping Main St as one way, as long it's reduced down to at least 3 lanes. Right now it's 5 lanes so one lane for LRT, 3 lanes for cars and the rest for sidewalk improvements.

For King St that's tricky, from Wellington to John keep the same expect take away one curb side parking for LRT lane. Really I would keep the streetscape design from International Village for King W instead of two way but if not I wouldn't oppose two way for King St W as well, just keep a lane for LRT.

Jillian Stephen (public works lady at the meeting) mentioned that they are looking at keeping King & Main one way w/ the trains travelling the same direction in it's own dedicated lane. So I don't think two-way conversions along Main and/or King will happen WHEN () LRT is built.

However, I still prefer all trains along Main rather than EB trains on Main and WB trains on King. It's just cheaper, no?

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by DC83

quote from "let's talk about one-way streets" thread:


Jillian Stephen (public works lady at the meeting) mentioned that they are looking at keeping King & Main one way w/ the trains travelling the same direction in it's own dedicated lane. So I don't think two-way conversions along Main and/or King will happen WHEN () LRT is built.

That's something I would support. It'll have a profound change as your changing the streetscape for not just one but two Streets in Hamilton (King and Main). Tie that in with fixing and sprucing up Gore Park and wham a big change. Keeping the one way lanes will also keep drivers satisfied and it wouldn't require a complete overhaul of the 403 ramps on Main and King. Also cyclist can share the transit lane as well, a multi use lane basically (LRT, cyclist and taxi can share)

[HAMRetrofit]

Originally Posted by DC83

Jillian Stephen (public works lady at the meeting) mentioned that they are looking at keeping King & Main one way w/ the trains travelling the same direction in it's own dedicated lane.

I can't foresee any possible advantage to this but to each their own. I am just happy Hamilton seems to be going the LRT route.

Quite honestly I think the best route to take is to run the LRT in both directions down the center of Main. Keep two lanes east and one lane west on Main. Use the extra space for bike lanes. Leave King street exactly the way it is. The singular west lane can turn right at Dundurn so modification is not needed to the 403 ramps.

This way there is balance for east and west lanes and LRT is kept together in each direction. Also, there will be no extra costs to revising King St.

[SteelTown]

Because having LRT on both Main and King instead of the centre of Main you can share transit lane for cyclist as its not in the centre lane.

Most think bicycle lanes should be on both side of the road for bidirectional traffic but with King-Main cyclist can use the lane on Main heading East and King heading West just like cars.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by HAMRetrofit

I can't foresee any possible advantage to this but to each their own. I am just happy Hamilton seems to be going the LRT route.

Quite honestly I think the best route to take is to run the LRT in both directions down the center of Main. Keep two lanes east and one lane west on Main. Use the extra space for bike lanes. Leave King street exactly the way it is. The singular west lane can turn right at Dundurn so modification is not needed to the 403 ramps.

This way there is balance for east and west lanes and LRT is kept together in each direction. Also, there will be no extra costs to revising King St.

the benefit to having both ways of LRT on Main is cheaper construction costs as well as much more convenient transit use for riders.
Who wants to walk from Main to King (especially in Central Hamilton where they separate) just to catch an opposite bound train.
If they do both LRT ways on Main, they would also do both ways on King for the King buses. perhaps the south curb parking on King would be converted to an eastbound traffic lane.

anyhow, I'd support this idea since Main St would effectively be reduced to 2 lanes and function with LRT having right of way, not timed lights and all the BS we have right now.

Oh by the way, now people can stop guessing that I'm Ryan McGreal! haha.

[coalminecanary]

THe only reason the city is looking at LRT east on main and west on king is because they asked for the preliminary report to investigate BRT and LRT using the existing "alignments" - the route plan they'd already come up with back when they were looking only at buses.

The report said "use both streets" for the same reason the report said to build a tunnel up the mtn.

I imagine that the savings would be significant if both directions were on one street. Especially if overhead wires are used for all or part of the route.

So I would expect that when they start doing the full evaluation of LRT, they'll opt to put them both on one street in order to get more distance for the dollar... unless there are specific reasons to separate the lines (such as trying to get TOD on two arteries).

Main could remain one way even if LRT ran 2 ways on it...

[SteelTown]

Did they give a timeline for rapid transit?

[coalminecanary]

nope they wouldn't commit

[raisethehammer]

that's my worry...we might decide in June to go with LRT and still be arguing about it in 10 years.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

that's my worry...we might decide in June to go with LRT and still be arguing about it in 10 years.

I dunno... they seem pretty dedicated to get it done NOW. The money is being waved in our faces, why wouldn't we jump? haha

You said yourself, rth, that the Public Works Dep't was surprised at how quickly this is moving along. This is a new thing for Hamilton bureaucrats.

And ya, re: EB on Main/WB on King; it needs to be stressed that the city is just exploring ALL options (like the KW ppl explained). Hell, the KW ppl even studied the feasibility of PRT (Personal Rapid Transit... like the Jetsons haha), that doesn't mean they're going to do it. They/we just need to cover their/our asses so that any resistance is met with hard data.

So Public Input is recquired here as well; if you want both directions along Main, email them and let them know that's what you want. They're pretty much going to do what the public wants.

ps: They also admitted that they read blogs & forums online *ahem*