The future of Hamilton's public transit

[ryan_mcgreal]

The interview is now posted on the Hamilton Light Rail website:

http://hamiltonlightrail.com/article...e_in_hamilton/

Thanks again to omro for recording it and sending it to me.

[oldcoote]

JEFF GRAY AND KAREN HOWLETT

Globe and Mail Update

April 1, 2009 at 12:25 PM EDT

TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty will today announce billions in funding for Toronto Mayor David Miller's light-rail transit vision with the Mayor by his side, just days after kicking him and other local politicians off the board of the province's Toronto-area transportation agency.

The plans, to be announced today at the bus garage where York Region stores its Viva rapid transit buses, will see the province confirm support for Mr. Miller's 31-kilometre, partially tunnelled light-rail line on Eglinton from the Kennedy subway station to Pearson airport.

The Eglinton rapid transit line will be the most expensive among the projects, costing about $4.6-billion. The City of Toronto and Metrolinx will determine final costs, the government said.

It will also include funding for the Toronto Transit Commission's plans to update and extend the Scarborough Rapid Transit line, and build a new rapid transit line along Finch Avenue from the Yonge subway line west to Highway 27 and east to Don Mills station.

The projects are subject to environmental and other approvals and will cost about $9-billion. The projects are part of the McGuinty government's plans to spend $11.5-billion on transit projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.

A proposed rapid transit system for Hamilton will be the second most expensive project at an estimated $3-billion. The study initiated by the province will examine potential rapid transit systems on two corridors in Hamilton. The study should be completed in the spring of 2010.

The York Viva system and Scarborough rapid transit system will each cost an estimated $1.4-billion. The Finch light rail system will come in at an estimated $1.2-billion.

“We need to move quickly to build a better public transit system for commuters,” Premier Dalton McGuinty said in a statement. “Our investments in transit will create jobs, help stimulate the economy and improve the air we breathe.”

Construction on the York Viva bus system will begin this year and all segments should be up and running by the end of 2013. The extension of the Scarborough Rapid Transit Line should be in service by 2015, the government says.

The investment is part of the McGuinty government's plan to use transportation and other infrastructure projects to help create jobs and kick-start the ailing economy.

[SteelTown]

Yay!!! Premier McGuinty for life!

The Premier is funding $3 million for the study. After that you got construction so that could start late 2010 or 2011.

[SteelTown]

Hamilton Rapid Transit Studies

Description

Study potential rapid transit on two corridors in Hamilton, including East-West Corridor (King-Main Streets) and James-Upper James Street Corridor


Hamilton is currently developing rapid transit plans for the two major corridors


This funding will assist Hamilton (in cooperation with Metrolinx) in finalizing their plans for these corridors.



Timing

Planning study to be completed by spring 2010.


Cost

Cost Estimate: $3 million

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2009/0...s-forward.html

[SteelTown]

Province going ahead with $3M Hamilton rapid transit study

April 01, 2009
The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty says the government will go ahead with a $3-million feasibility study for Hamilton rapid transit, looking at King and Main streets and the James Street-Upper James Street corridor.

The project is part of $9 billion worth of public transit projects for the Greater Toronto Area. McGuinty released details of those projects today.

In Toronto, a 30-kilometre rapid transit line will be built along the Eglinton Avenue from Kennedy subway station to Pearson Airport, including a 13-kilometre underground section, and is scheduled to be in service by 2016.

Another Toronto transit line to be completed by 2013 will be built along Finch Avenue from the Yonge subway station west to Highway 27 and Humber College, and east to Don Mills station.

The Scarborough Rapid Transit line will be upgraded and extended by 2015.

York Region’s VIVA rapid transit system will have more buses, bus stations and dedicated bus lanes by 2013.

[emge]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hamilton Rapid Transit Studies

Hamilton is currently developing rapid transit plans for the two major corridors


This funding will assist Hamilton (in cooperation with Metrolinx) in finalizing their plans for these corridors.

although it likely doesn't mean much and one can't put much stock in one document , it's worded quite differently than the rest of the projects. Many of the other ones are set to go and have governments fully behind them, nothing is changing much... meanwhile, they'll "assist Hamilton... in finalizing their plans for these corridors."

it leaves too much up to the city in my mind. i know the metrolinx study will also help with that, but when some councillors have been saying "uh, yeah, if they completely pay for it, we'd love a free light rail system, but i don't want to pay for it" it's not like the city's jumping over themselves with a solid plan quite yet.

i know the city is working on their own stuff already, it would just have been nice to have something that showed a bit more definition on metrolinx's part, or at least the wording "proposed light rail" etc. instead of it still being kept as open as "rapid transit."

then again, maybe i'm just a little nitpicky today.

[SteelTown]

In July we'll know if we will get LRT or BRT or both. After that the Environmental Assesment begins, $3 million fund from Queen's Park.

[emge]

So they're not concurrent studies at two different levels.. one follows the other? That does make more sense, and I think that's where I was confused. Thanks.

Hopefully all continues to be a go for LRT.

[MsMe]

I wonder if they will be making it disability accessible?

[flar]

Originally Posted by MsMe

I wonder if they will be making it disability accessible?

They are required to in this day and age.

[MsMe]

Originally Posted by flar

They are required to in this day and age.

Yea times sure have changed in that respect now a days, as it should.

[SteelTown]

City gets $3m from province for transit study

April 02, 2009
Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/541548

Hamilton is getting a $3-million share of a multibillion-dollar injection into transit in the Golden Horseshoe.

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced yesterday the province is committing $9 billion to public transportation in the Hamilton and Toronto area.

Hamilton's cash will be used to study the proposed rapid transit lines running along the King-Main and James-Upper James corridors.

The money will fund the city's environmental assessments, design and public consultation, said Jillian Stephen, the city's director of strategic and environmental planning.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he was "happy to accept" the funding. He attended yesterday's announcement in Hamilton alongside local Liberal MPPs Ted McMeekin and Sophia Aggelonitis.

The majority of the province's $9 billion has been awarded to the Toronto area, which will see a 30-kilometre rapid transit line from Kennedy subway station to Pearson Airport that includes a 13-kilometre underground section.

Toronto will also see a transit line from the Yonge subway station west to Highway 27 and Humber College and east to Don Mills station.

Scarborough and York region will also see rapid transit boosts.

Meanwhile, Metrolinx has launched a separate study to determine whether Hamilton will get light rail transit (LRT) --the unabashed preference of city council -- or dedicated bus lines. The city should know the results by summer.

The rapid transit lines are part of Metrolinx's 25-year, $50-billion plan to ease gridlock and pollution in the Toronto-Hamilton area.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by MsMe

I wonder if they will be making it disability accessible?

LRT is inherently accessible. With low-floor vehicles, you can just roll right on from the sidewalk/platform.

Also, since electric vehicles have smooth starts, stops and acceleration and the ride isn't bumpy, they're safer and more comfortable to ride than buses when you're in a wheelchair.

[SteelTown]

They'll be another funding announcement tomorrow but this time with the Feds. John Baird will make some GO Transit related funding announcement in Etobicoke at noon. The Feds seem to really like GO Transit.

[Batman]

That's interesting...I wonder what it will be

[SteelTown]

Big part of the top 15 priorities from Metrolinx that is related to GO Transit is the electrification of the Lakeshore Line.

[SteelTown]

Canada-Ontario Transit Announcement - Media Advisory

TORONTO, April 2 /CNW Telbec/ - John Baird, Canada's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, along with the Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Transportation and GO Transit Chair, Peter Smith will make an important infrastructure announcement.

A brief media availability will follow the announcement.


Date: Friday, April 3, 2009

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Location: GO Transit Willowbrook Maintenance Facility and Yard
125 Judson Street
Etobicoke, Ontario

http://dcnonl.com/nw/11186/tt

[Batman]

It looks like tomorrow's annoucement will be a new GO station in Barrie

http://www.barrieadvance.com/barriea...article/132591

[Jon Dalton]

About time. The GO trains are already parked in Barrie near the old train station. Since they re-established service to Barrie last year, the trains stopped in basically farmland, leaving passengers stranded with a 2 hour bus ride unless they had a car waiting for them. Then the train goes all the way downtown with no passengers to park for the night. The local bus actually passes the storage yard and you can see the train there, and wonder why you couldn't have rode the whole way.

Apparently they will also restore service to Guelph later this year. Before the Harris government and the decimation of transit in the 90's, Barrie (downtown) and Guelph had GO service. To put it in perspective we're only beginning to recover from what we've lost 20 years ago. It makes me wonder if the investment in transit these days is just another wave, something that will be denounced as excess in a few years when the recession has taken its toll and the Liberals get booted out again.

[matt602]

I guess that means GO service to Kitchener/Waterloo probably isn't far off, either.