Rapid Transit

[raisethehammer]

Portland has their LRT lines a block apart downtown on one-way streets. Same with their streetcar. Mind you, their one-ways are better than most of our two-ways. Not highways in the slightest. Other than stops at Sherman and Gage which are more like 2 blocks in between King/Main, the rest of the line would be a short walk between lines. I think Dundurn would be the next widest distance between King/Main and it's only about a 3 minute walk.

Main both ways would certainly be cheaper, but it seems as though city hall feels like they'd be biting off more than they can chew in this car-addicted town to lose 2 traffic lanes on Main! heaven forbid. I still hope they do lose 2 lanes by adding parking on the curb lane. Although, Jill made it sound like local bus service wouldn't be affected, meaning the 1-King would still be trundling along Main and King. Not very smart IMO.

If they do decide to use King and Main, I suggest they put the LRT lines on the north curb on Main and south curb on King. Parking can go on the 'right lanes' and local buses can still use the 'right lanes'. Keep LRT separate. And they had better add a few more stops, like Wellington, Gage and perhaps Reid (Red Hill area).

[SteelTown]

So I suppose city buses like 1 King won't be able to ride along the LRT lane?

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

So I suppose city buses like 1 King won't be able to ride along the LRT lane?

no way! That would suck the 'rapid' out of rapid transit! Lol.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

no way! That would suck the 'rapid' out of rapid transit! Lol.

Well no. When the LRT isn't using the lane the buses could ride on the lane to skip all the car traffic. Share the lane for LRT and city buses.

I know in Ottawa the transit lane is shared by buses, taxis and emergency vechicles.

[omro]

It's still early days yet. This is all still pie in the sky.

Hopefully they will do a cost/benefit analysis of:

- one route on King and one on Main.
vs.
- both on Main.

I can't see them putting both on King, as that's the narrower road, in places, right?

At the end of the day, money talks and if it's a lot cheaper to put both on Main, then both will end up on Main.

[FairHamilton]

My biggest concern with LRT is that we'll lose the option to ever make King Street & Main Street two-way. City politicians change, so even if it's not desired now who knows what the future will hold.

Call me crazy (I'm sure many will), but if LRT means never having 2 way traffic on Main & King Streets, I'd gladly give up the LRT for buses and 2 way streets.

[mishap]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

So I suppose city buses like 1 King won't be able to ride along the LRT lane?

The buses might get in the way of the trains, but they could probably share the lane in certain places, such as queue-jumps. It's worth noting that in downtown Calgary, the buses and trains do share the street. The trains can pass while the buses are in the bays. Even more noteworthy is that this street, 7th Avenue, is for transit only. No cars allowed. Why can't we do something similar?

BTW, I agree with rth's stop suggestions (I've bought those ones up as well). To keep stops somewhat evenly spaced (~800m), I would also consider adding the Queenston Traffic Circle. While I didn't expect King buses would disappear altogether, I would hope that these extra stops, plus a bias toward riding by LRT, would reduce the number of King buses required.

[SteelTown]

Riding the rails in Hamilton rapid sign of economic growth

By Lloyd Ferguson, COUNCILLOR'S CORNER
Columns
Sep 26, 2008

I've just returned from a business trip to three cities in Canada and the U.S. where light-rail transit has been the engine for economic growth. Along with Mayor Fred Eisenberger, colleague Russ Powers and transit staff, I am now convinced that we need to look at some form of light-rail system, among other things, to spur our local economy and get Hamilton into the next millennium.

As one who had doubts, recognizing that a light-rail line would reduce traffic lanes by at least one, the cost savings and economic-growth potential are worth exploring for our city. In Charlotte (North Carolina), Portland (Oregon) and Calgary (Alberta) - all comparable-size cities to ours - the average per-user cost to the municipality was significantly less than our bus operating costs.

We have the opportunity through Metrolinx, a provincial body, to secure funding for the capital cost of such a rail system. This is truly an exciting project for us to pursue.

Speaking of transportation routes, I want to report to area residents that due to deficiencies in the retaining wall site, the Sulphur Springs Road project will be extended in order for crews to dismantle and reconstruct the walls. While frustrating for motorists and residents of the neighbourhood, I have been assured by staff that this activity will wrap up before the end of the 2008 construction season. Thanks for your patience.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the executive and hundreds of volunteers who made the annual Ancaster Fair such an outstanding event. With the 158-year Fair celebrating its final days at 625 Garner Road East, 2008 marked a special time in this agricultural society's history. We are all looking forward to 2009 and the festivities at the new location on Trinity Road and wish organizers the very best in preparing for the big move.

And finally, I want to express my best wishes to Ryerson United Church who will be celebrating 200 years of service to the community of Ancaster. There will be a gala celebration on Sat. October 18th at the Waterfront Banquet and Convention Centre, for tickets call 905-648-2731.

There will also be an anniversary service held on October 19th, 2008 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Ryerson Church.

Until next time, if you have something you want to see or read about in this column, please contact my office at City Hall at 905-546-2704. You can also reach me by e-mail at [email protected].

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by Lloyd Ferguson

I've just returned from a business trip to three cities in Canada and the U.S. where light-rail transit has been the engine for economic growth. Along with Mayor Fred Eisenberger, colleague Russ Powers and transit staff, I am now convinced that we need to look at some form of light-rail system, among other things, to spur our local economy and get Hamilton into the next millennium.

Light rail is truly win-win-win-win [etc] for everyone: good for public transit, good for economic development, good for urban revitalization, good for the environment, good for civic pride, good for municipal finance. Unlike many other issues that have cloven our city along ideological, political or geographic lines, light rail benefits everyone and can appeal to people with vastly different value systems.

Bravo to Councillor Ferguson for joining the 'light rail tour' with an open mind, studying the issue closely and recognizing the enormous potential.

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

Anyways, they need to find the money to pay for the LRT first........

Metrolinx has already committed to funding two rapid transit lines in Hamilton within the next fifteen years, with the east-west B-Line particularly identified among the top 15 high priority projects at the outset.

The province has already committed $11 billion, which Metrolinx is going to start spending before they figure out how to come up with the rest of the money ($6 billion from the feds, another ~$30 billion from other sources).

Assuming Hamilton commits politically to light rail on the B-Line and the project satisfies whatever criteria Metrolinx uses to decide whether to go with light rail (and based on what they've already written about "transformational" rather than "incremental" change, this seems like a shoo-in), there's no reason LRT on the B-Line couldn't be included in the first five year rolling budget.

[SteelTown]

Remember though with LRT on King and Main they'll have priority and it'll be the end of current street light system. When the LRT approaches a street light it'll turn green. So that will help end the highway feel of King and Main.

[DC83]

I'd still prefer both directions along Main, but it seems like the City and Staff have their minds set on one way each.

So hopefully the positive spinoffs aren't affected by this :s Although some spots along King are in more need of redevelopment than some places along Main... so I guess it's a win-lose situation.

Paying extra attention recently, I think the ONLY area where the B-Line would have to run mix-traffic is in The Delta between The Delta Block & Queenston Traffic Circle... everywhere else has plenty of room for dedicated lanes.

[SteelTown]

C-r-a-z-y!!!!!

[omro]

I have to admit, from a British perspective, I have to laugh whenever I read about people getting upset about a five lane road being reduced to three lanes or being made into four lanes, two each way.

Two lane roads are the norm here in cities, sometimes up to four lanes here and there. This includes big cities which have serious traffic.

If a road is at least two lanes, it can support two way traffic.

And.... If LRT goes ahead and people actually use it (), that should, in theory, mean fewer cars on the roads, which should mean fewer car lanes are required. Thus, if all goes well, two car lanes, one each way, may be all that is needed in the end.

[highwater]

That's the norm in Canada too. Hell, just about anywhere. Hamilton's 'special', and so are many of our local political and media 'leaders'.

[raisethehammer]

Fair Hamilton - CRAZY! I've seen calm one-ways in Portland and elsewhere. 2 lanes of traffic with an LRT lane and parking lane would be good with lots of trees, wider sidewalks, and NO timed lights (other than LRT lights).

[markbarbera]

I can see Main Street remaining three lanes one way traffic with both lanes of LRT here. In that scenario King could covert to two-way traffic.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I can see Main Street remaining three lanes one way traffic with both lanes of LRT here. In that scenario King could covert to two-way traffic.

So you would have say 5 lanes heading east down Main and King, and then 2 lanes heading westbound on simply King? that makes no logical sense to me, since I don't believe traffic is any higher on Main compared to King, although Main being slightly busier wouldn't surprise me.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

Fair Hamilton - CRAZY! I've seen calm one-ways in Portland and elsewhere. 2 lanes of traffic with an LRT lane and parking lane would be good with lots of trees, wider sidewalks, and NO timed lights (other than LRT lights).

What is wrong with synchronized traffic lights? If you travel at the speed limit, you will catch the wave and proceed smoothly. If you go over the speed limit, red lights will get you.

[adam]

There is enough room on Main and King to put 2 LRT lanes on either of the roads including 1 lane for cars going each way.
Do the math: you start with 5 lanes.... 3 lanes taken up for LRT - since they are a bit wider probably, and this STILL leaves 2 lanes for cars.
Get over the whole highway-running-through-the-downtown mentality - look where its gotten us..

[omro]

I also have to say that I find it amusing that sometimes it almost sounds like King and Main are the only east/west arteries running throughout the city.