The future of Hamilton's public transit

[SteelTown]

I don't think a subway will work in Lower Hamilton because of a couple of underground creeks. Think there's an underground creek somewhere near James St. It'll have to be above ground for Hamilton.

[flar]

Transit is handled by private companies in other countries, I'm sure they could find a way to profit. With proper marketing inspired by the profit motive, someone could probably convince people to use transit and pay good money for the privilege. The only thing stopping anyone from trying it here is the massive expenditure to build the network.

[HAMRetrofit]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I don't think a subway will work in Lower Hamilton because of a couple of underground creeks. Think there's an underground creek somewhere near James St. It'll have to be above ground for Hamilton.

They can be rerouted.

[HAMRetrofit]

Originally Posted by flar

Transit is handled by private companies in other countries, I'm sure they could find a way to profit. With proper marketing inspired by the profit motive, someone could probably convince people to use transit and pay good money for the privilege. The only thing stopping anyone from trying it here is the massive expenditure to build the network.

Perhaps they can bring labor and equipment from those countries to reduce the expenditures.

[raisethehammer]

I'm not sure about a subway. I know they are great in places like New York or Paris, but Hamilton could use the street-level inspiration of modern light rail zipping through the city. Putting LRT in it's own lanes with traffic signal controls gives it the same running time as subways, but without all the cost of underground construction and stations.

[coalminecanary]

...Plus the benefit of visual exposure for businesses along the route. In my mind, subways are kind of a workaround to have great public transit without compromising ANY car capacity. We have so much lane capacity in Hamilton, that I think it's fine to compromise two or three lanes total in order to squeeze in two-way surface rail.

[HAMRetrofit]

I would like to see Hamilton maximize more street parking area so that more surface lots can be developed into buildings.

[SteelTown]

$400 million towards public transit for the GTA and Hamilton from the $1 billion infrastructure fund.

[SteelTown]

$400 million for roads and bridges outside Toronto.

$497 million for public transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton.

[raisethehammer]

any idea of how much of that will be earmarked for the Hammer?

[SteelTown]

- $33-million for bus route improvements along Hamilton's King, Main and James Streets, and a new train platform at James Street North Station.

[raisethehammer]

frig...I was hoping for LRT money.

[SteelTown]

We got $5.7 million more than Metrolinx orginally wanted to give Hamilton, $27.3 million.

From Metrolinx
Hamilton A-Line, James-Upper James corridor and Airport connector - $6.9 million
Hamilton B-Line, King-Main corridor - $17.4 million
Hamilton James Street North GO/VIA Station - Gateway to Niagara - $3.0 million

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

frig...I was hoping for LRT money.

That money will come with MoveOntario 2020 which the federal government haven't committed to 1/3 funding yet.

Today's announcement is considered laying the groundwork for the government's $17.5 billion MoveOntario 2020 rapid transit plan.

[SteelTown]

From the Budget.....

Hamilton B-Line Improvements, King-Main Corridor - $17.4 million

A-Line Improvements, James-Upper James Corridor with service to Hamilton International Airport - $12.4 million

James Street North GO/VIA Station Gateway to Niagara - $3.0 million

A-Line got more money than Metrolinx orginally requested, $6.9 million.

[raisethehammer]

17 million for the B-Line. hmm, I wonder what that will buy?? stations? more artics?? I guess that's good for now....it will all be useful later on even with LRT. artics can be re-routed to new routes and the stations can be used for LRT, although I'd like it all on Main St, not King and Main.
Signal light enhancements too maybe??
probably most of that is for new buses.
Any timelines or is that up to the snails-pace HSR?

[SteelTown]

Think for B-Line it includes 12 new artic buses and improvements.

I figured why A-Line went up, last fall Premier Dalton already announced funding for new artic buses so this is for even more artic buses and improvements like shelters.

[SteelTown]

So if it cost $5.5 million for six new articulated buses, that's $916,666 for each.

B-Line - 12 new artic busues - $11,000,000, the rest of $6.3 million for improvements.

A-Line - 6 new artic buses - $5,500,000, the rest of $6.9 million for improvements. Though I think the city may request more buses.

$5.5 million for city transit
Upper James corridor getting six buses to link downtown, airport

Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
(Dec 13, 2007)

The government will announce $5.5 million to finance upgrades to bus transportation along the Upper James corridor between the downtown and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

A government source said the $5.5 million will finance six new articulated, diesel-electric hybrid buses

[matt602]

That would be a total of 25 Hybrid Artic's (we have 7 already) for service on 2 routes. Seems pretty good. Assuming the routes won't be running on weekends, the artic's can go to the King as they already do, as well as the Barton and possibly the 25/26 and 27.

[HAMRetrofit]

These connections to John C. Munro really show the priority the province has for the airport to be the next regional international airport.