Rapid Transit

[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.

[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.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by 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.

I know...it's crazy around here. there's 32 lanes of major east/west traffic lanes within the 2.5km wide swath from Aberdeen to Burlington St. It's nuts.

[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.

[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].

[raisethehammer]

Wow....I continue to be stunned.
Bravo Lloyd.

[DC83]

^^ I love it!

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm sorry those calling me crazy want LRT, even if it means never having 2-way traffic on Main & King Streets. Read my above.......

My preference will always be for two-traffic, and the LRT better not eliminate that from ever potentially happening. Hopefully, any LRT planning will work with an eye to two-way conversion.

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

[SteelTown]

The money is coming from MoveOntario 2020. Think there's 6 billion available and another 3 billion is waiting for federal commitment. Once all that funding has been drained out in 2013 Metrolinx will look at tolls, parking tax, transit tax, etc.

[highwater]

Call me crazy too. We need two-way AND LRT. LRT plans should not preclude future conversions.

[go_leafs_go02]

Bingo. I don't see Main & King being one-way forever. Just wait until the 403/Main interchange needs to be rebuilt, that's simply the major stumbling block I believe to two-way conversion, but the outlook for the LRT should look at the future, like can Hamilton see Main and King in 25-30 years being one-way still? I have my doubt, and placing LRT on the north side of say Main, and the south side of King will make traffic a nightmare if/when the city comes to its senses to go back to two-way, since the trains will be running against opposing traffic, so if you're driving east on King, you'll have a LRT heading west on your right, and traffic heading west on your left.

I'm excited. I got a co-op job starting in january, no clue where i'll be, but to be involved with Metrolinx or Hamilton LRT is like, exactly where I hope to end up for 8 months.

[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.

[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.

[omro]

Originally Posted by 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.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by omro

from the 403 connecting to downtown really they are the only ones. I guess you could include York, but that really doesn't go anywhere in alot of ways.

Lower mountain, I guess you could include Barton and Burlington of course, but none of those run straight across Hamilton, only King and Main techincally connect across the city.

That's what I meant. And when I think of King & Main, honestly, I usually visualize the area between the 403 and downtown. I just do.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

The money is coming from MoveOntario 2020. Think there's 6 billion available and another 3 billion is waiting for federal commitment. Once all that funding has been drained out in 2013 Metrolinx will look at tolls, parking tax, transit tax, etc.

Originally Posted by Ryan McGreal

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).

Again, they don't have the money. "waiting for federal commitment", "Metrolinx will look at....", "~$30 billion from other sources" (undetermined at this point).

My credo is to never start a project without enough money/financing to finish it. Don't ook for quarters under the sofa cushions as you go.......

[SteelTown]

I'll pull up the finance plan from Metrolinx for you to read. Hang on a sec.

[SteelTown]

Draft Investment Strategy

http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/1/Boar...pendix%20A.pdf