The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[Doady]

Of the $155 million Hamilton received from the federal gas tax from 2005 to 2012, only $6 million was spent on transit compared to $78 million for roads:

https://raisethehammer.org/article/2202/...ustainability_fund_for_road_construction

That's why I don't think Hamilton should get full funding for this LRT. It's just a another excuse for the City of Hamilton to not spend money on transit and continue to underfund HSR.

[hipster duck]

Hamilton is already two cities: rich, driving suburbanites on top of the mountain, and poor, transit-dependent urbanites below. But in the future it might be three cities: the same two plus rich, tram-friendly urbanites - exiles from Toronto - who will probably be happy to ride an LRT but less enthusiastic about sharing a bus with the welfare seniors in wheelchairs on their way to Bingo.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by Doady

Of the $155 million Hamilton received from the federal gas tax from 2005 to 2012, only $6 million was spent on transit compared to $78 million for roads:

https://raisethehammer.org/article/2202/...ustainability_fund_for_road_construction

That's why I don't think Hamilton should get full funding for this LRT. It's just a another excuse for the City of Hamilton to not spend money on transit and continue to underfund HSR.

The people of Hamilton deserve a fully funded LRT line. The City of Hamilton does not.

[Hybrid247]

They deserve an LRT line. Not a fully funded one. If other cities got theirs fully funded too, it'd be cool.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

They deserve an LRT line. Not a fully funded one. If other cities got theirs fully funded too, it'd be cool.

So instead we should just let GTA cities have full funding but no one else?

[caltrane74]

Metrolinx is testing the UPX trains nonstop, everytime I pass on Spadina or Bathurst see at least one pass.

[Nouvellecosse]

When do they enter revenue service?

[vegeta_skyline]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

My hope is that with full grade separation on the electric lines, they can apply for new rolling stock - such as the EMUs that Nouvellecosse mentions - that don't adhere to FRA/Transport Canada crash guidelines. That usually uglifies our trainsets quite a bit.

Road grade separations alone aren't enough they need complete separation from freight service, which isn't going to happen on any corridor as long as CN still uses them because they retained full running rights as per the agreement to sell them to metrolinx.

[caltrane74]

I don't mind the DMU/EMU trainsets on UPX and I believe they meet all crash guidelines..

[vegeta_skyline]

Yup they do and their appearance seems to be slowly growing on people somewhat.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Beedok

So instead we should just let GTA cities have full funding but no one else?

No. I'm saying that every city should be treated fairly. If Hamilton gets full funding, then so should every other city.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

No. I'm saying that every city should be treated fairly. If Hamilton gets full funding, then so should every other city.

Yes, and Hamilton getting it is the first step in other cities getting it. The GTA has been getting better treatment than the rest of the province for years (decades?). Hamilton is the first city outside the GTA being offered that sort of thing. If Hamilton can get it that improves the odds for Kitchener or Niagara or whoever next time.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

No. I'm saying that every city should be treated fairly. If Hamilton gets full funding, then so should every other city.

I support a government that makes decisions based on economics rather than fairness. Nothing to do with Hamilton LRT, by the way, as I don't know the motives behind it.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Yes, and Hamilton getting it is the first step in other cities getting it. The GTA has been getting better treatment than the rest of the province for years (decades?). Hamilton is the first city outside the GTA being offered that sort of thing. If Hamilton can get it that improves the odds for Kitchener or Niagara or whoever next time.

You might be right, but I'll believe it when I see it. For cities like Ottawa it's usually a struggle just to get 1/3rd funding.

I support a government that makes decisions based on economics rather than fairness. Nothing to do with Hamilton LRT, by the way, as I don't know the motives behind it.

I see economics as a factor in determining fair shares. Still, I think full funding is a little ridiculous when other cities typically get 1/3rd. The economics don't justify such a contrast in funding. But, If they truly start dishing out more comparable deals with other cities, I won't complain.

[Innsertnamehere]

Funding varies based on the situation, as always.

No project "deserves" any amount, it should get what it needs to make it happen. Each project is unique and requires a unique funding formula.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by vegeta_skyline

Yup they do and their appearance seems to be slowly growing on people.

I like the UPX trainsets, and I could see this kind of trainset used for RER services.

The problem, I guess, is that they're high floor and that would require rebuilding every platform in the system. We would also have to build gauntlet tracks for freight trains to swing out of the way of the high platform.

[WhipperSnapper]

See no problem Freight should have dedicated track particularly around stations when we shift to RER

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I like the UPX trainsets, and I could see this kind of trainset used for RER services.

The problem, I guess, is that they're high floor and that would require rebuilding every platform in the system. We would also have to build gauntlet tracks for freight trains to swing out of the way of the high platform.

What I'd like to see used is something like the Stadler Kiss. At peak hours two 6 car permanently married consists could be joined to make a 12 car configuration. We'd want a wider version though as the Europeans tend to use narrower mainline trains.

[ssiguy]

Longer trains are not possible on the UPX due to the station size at Pearson which will only hold the 3 car trains configuration. If the UPX tracks are also used for Smart Track or RER then they could hold any size train.

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