The future of Hamilton's public transit

[emge]

There was a quote from Andrea Horwath today in the Spec about shifting manufacturing to needed products and it mentioned light rail:

"To Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, the greatest need is to start transforming Ontario's hemorrhaging industrial base.
"The reality is we have a great industrial infrastructure in this province and I fear the government doesn't see the value of that," says Horwath, Hamilton Centre MPP.
Horwath wants the budget to address "how do we transition our economy into the products of the future." Industries unable to stay afloat with traditional lines of business should get aid to make other wanted goods, she says.
"We might not be building the same products, but we would be using that infrastructure to build new ones, whether it's solar panels or the components for light rail."
http://thespec.com/article/535005

[MsMe]

Originally Posted by emge

We might not be building the same products, but we would be using that infrastructure to build new ones, whether it's solar panels or the components for light rail."[/B]
http://thespec.com/article/535005

I said that a while ago. That putting in the rail system could help all 3 companies, US Steel, A/M/Dofasco and National Steel Car.

[bornagainbiking]

Stop ashphalt tiles and pollution of tar with light weight steel (reasonably priced).

[MsMe]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

Stop ashphalt tiles and pollution of tar with light weight steel (reasonably priced).

Right on Bornagainbiking.

[highwater]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

Stop ashphalt tiles and pollution of tar with light weight steel (reasonably priced).

Too bad it's so fugly. They'll have to work on the aesthetics if they want to increase their market share.

[omro]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

Stop ashphalt tiles and pollution of tar with light weight steel (reasonably priced).

My brother is obsessed with steel rooves.

[bornagainbiking]

Saw one this morning and it looked like spanish clay tile in a light tan. Check it out it can be molded in any shape and texture and at minimal weight. Can be laid directly over existing ashphalt shingles and better than cedar shake. They say it is good or guanteed for the life of the building.

[SteelTown]

HSR gets $3.7 million communication system

March 23, 2009
By Nicole MacIntyre
Hamilton Spectator

The city is spending $3.7 million to put a new radio system on its transit fleet.

By the end of the year, every stop a city bus makes will be automatically announced by the communication system.

It will also allow the city’s transit dispatchers to keep in constant communication with bus operators.

The city’s current system is about five years overdue for replacement. It has failed four times since Christmas leaving drivers with no way to communicate in case of emergency.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Don Hull, director of transit. “It leaves the bus operators and passengers vulnerable.”

[matt602]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

HSR gets $3.7 million communication system

March 23, 2009
By Nicole MacIntyre
Hamilton Spectator

The city is spending $3.7 million to put a new radio system on its transit fleet.

By the end of the year, every stop a city bus makes will be automatically announced by the communication system.

It will also allow the city’s transit dispatchers to keep in constant communication with bus operators.

The city’s current system is about five years overdue for replacement. It has failed four times since Christmas leaving drivers with no way to communicate in case of emergency.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Don Hull, director of transit. “It leaves the bus operators and passengers vulnerable.”

Excellent

[hamiltonguy]

It helps when the drivers actually phone the dispatch when trouble starts. Not after a fight has spilled out of the bus onto the street and the victim is being beat to within an inch of her life.

[SteelTown]

HSR buses get radio upgrade

March 24, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/535687

The city is spending $3.7 million to put a new radio system in its transit fleet.

By the end of the year, every stop a city bus makes will be automatically announced by the communication system.

It will also allow the city's transit dispatchers to keep in constant contact with bus operators.

The city's current system is about five years overdue for replacement.

"We're actually in a state of crisis," said Don Hull, director of transit. "It's extremely time sensitive."

The old system, installed in 1982, has failed four times since Christmas, leaving drivers with no way to communicate with the dispatcher. Hull said they've been fortunate there have been no emergencies.

"It's a safety issue," he said. "It leaves the bus operators and passengers vulnerable."

The Amalgamated Transit Union local 107 has checked out the system and is eager to see it installed to protect employees.

"We were long overdue for the new system," said union president Budh Dhillon.

In addition to dispatch communication, the radio system is needed for the city to comply with an Ontario Human Rights Commission decision requiring all transit stops to be audibly and visually announced to assist disabled passengers.

While some smaller municipalities have drivers announce stops, Hull said big cities are using more reliable automated systems. In one day, he noted, there will need to be 20,000 announcements.

Tim Nolan, chair of the city's advisory committee for persons with disabilities, said the new system will offer passengers more independence. While riders with visual impairments often memorize their usual routes, taking a bus to a new area can be daunting, he said.

"Think about what life would be like for sighted people without street signs," he said.

Councillors yesterday approved increasing the budget for the system by $500,000 after staff found the project needed to be expanded. It will be paid for by federal gas tax money.

[mishap]

Originally Posted by hamiltonguy

It helps when the drivers actually phone the dispatch when trouble starts. Not after a fight has spilled out of the bus onto the street and the victim is being beat to within an inch of her life.

I think it helps more when the driver phones 911 first, then calls dispatch. The police could actually be showing up while he's still on the phone. Kinda like what happened three weeks ago.

[LittleT]

I guess it means nothing that no one informed the driver that there was a fight at the back of an artic. But as far as being beaten to an inch of her life that is not what is true and she turned down medical attention. I know because I was there.

[mishap]

Drivers are told that if they feel the situation warrants, they can call 911 on their cell, even before they notify dispatch on the radio. But they still have to notify dispatch, obviously. That's the way it played out that night, and that's why the girls were caught fleeing the scene.

Drivers do not have a direct line to the police, other than their phone. Anything else has to go through the dispatcher.

BTW LittleT, did you see anyone aside from the driver calling for help?

[omro]

Originally Posted by LittleT

I guess it means nothing that no one informed the driver that there was a fight at the back of an artic. But as far as being beaten to an inch of her life that is not what is true and she turned down medical attention. I know because I was there.

Do you know why no one tried to help?

[omro]

I thought the media said the girls dragged the woman off the bus, not the other way around.

[LittleT]

Have you ever known the media to give all the right facts?

[omro]

Originally Posted by LittleT

Have you ever known the media to give all the right facts?

When I've heard it on the radio and read it in online, I would hope that at least one would deliver the right account.

[LittleT]

But that story was totally one sided. They did not talk to anyone else on the bus and they did not talk to the driver. They only talked to the woman that got involved and who is to say she didn't have something against the driver, so she wants to make it out that the driver did nothing.

[omro]

I just listened to the CHML interview with Nicholas Kevlahan by Bob Bratina and Shiona Thompson. Yes, I know it was a few days ago.

A positive and very encouraging interview!