Rapid Transit

[Jon Dalton]

They're still busy widening the QEW through Burlington and Oakville. I guess nobody told them we had a deficit.

[SteelTown]

Transit picture gets cloudy

March 27, 2010
Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/743586

The timing of Hamilton's rapid transit line is at risk due to a $4-billion cut to five Toronto-area transportation projects.

The hope is for Hamilton's first rapid transit line to be up and running by the Pan Am Games in 2015.

But Thursday's provincial budget included news that $9 billion committed to Metrolinx's top five transit priorities would be scaled back to only $5 billion.

Those projects, all in the Toronto area, are first in line for funding but will now be delayed.

That means projects like Hamilton's rapid transit line that haven't received any funding commitments are also at risk of delay.

Hope for Hamilton comes in a promise that projects relating to the Pan Am Games will be given priority -- but a decision on how to proceed from here will be left up to Metrolinx, the province said yesterday.

"We've asked Metrolinx to come up with their plan," said Derek Luk, a representative in the office of Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne.

"They will report back to us on which projects need to move forward first."

Metrolinx spokesperson Vanessa Thomas said Thursday's announcement doesn't immediately affect the timing of Hamilton's line, but she couldn't speak to what would happen as a result of this decision.

"At this point, we believe we're in the same position we were before the provincial budget," she said.

Nicholas Kevlahan, a McMaster University professor and light rail advocate, argued the funding delay demonstrates how closely Metrolinx's decisions are tied to the provincial purse.

"It implies that (Metrolinx) doesn't have the decision-making power, and they were getting the message that they better not make decisions because there may not be the funding to support it."

He also added that he has feared funding delays because of the lack of a decision that had been expected on whether Hamilton will get light rail or dedicated bus lanes.

Toronto Mayor David Miller had a strong reaction to news of the projects that had been delayed in his city, calling them "disgraceful," "thoughtless" and "thick."

However, Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Hamilton's situation is much different than Toronto's.

"For Hamilton, the fact that we don't have funded projects as of yet and we're still in the queue... the impacts are just not the same," he said.

"I'm certainly not over-the-top upset. Does it cause me to want to hear more about what that means for Hamilton? Yes."

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

They're still busy widening the QEW through Burlington and Oakville. I guess nobody told them we had a deficit.

The construction between Burlington and Oakville is the addition of HOV lanes , which will be used exclusively by transit and car pools. Its construction was funded back in 2008 budget.

[markbarbera]

As far as what may constitute a high priority transit project for the Pan Am games, I would imagine the Toronto harbourfront LRT and the Niagara GO extension would be considered priority, and possibly the Scarborough LRT as they connect the atheletes' village to event venues. I really doubt the B-Line would considered prioirty as it would not be used to connect atheletes's village to any event site (GO transit to a new Hamilton James North station would do that - assuming the West Harbour location does not get changed, of course).

Having said that, let's remember the original transit expansion plan has always seen B-Line construction beginning in 2016 at the earliest. It has been only wishful thinking that it would be bumped up for Pan Am, but it never has been planned to be moved up. Emma Reilly's article in the Spec is a little misleading in that respect.

[scott000]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

As far as what may constitute a high priority transit project for the Pan Am games, I would imagine the Toronto harbourfront LRT and the Niagara GO extension would be considered priority, and possibly the Scarborough LRT as they connect the atheletes' village to event venues. I really doubt the B-Line would considered prioirty as it would not be used to connect atheletes's village to any event site (GO transit to a new Hamilton James North station would do that - assuming the West Harbour location does not get changed, of course).

Having said that, let's remember the original transit expansion plan has always seen B-Line construction beginning in 2016 at the earliest. It has been only wishful thinking that it would be bumped up for Pan Am, but it never has been planned to be moved up. Emma Reilly's article in the Spec is a little misleading in that respect.

The B-Line would link up the events at McMaster to the Stadium and GO Station. Although, you're likely right that it won't be seen essential enough to push ahead prior to the games.

[SteelTown]

The city has selected a winner for the EA for the B-Line. Premier Dalton gave Hamilton $3 million.

The winning bid is Steer Davies Gleaves for $2,898,563.

[scott000]

I've always been a fan of bringing LRT to Hamilton, but with Hamilton continuing to bleed jobs (Siemens, Lakeport, etc) and the very questionable success of LRT in North America, I have to wonder if the focus (and $) needs to shift away from projects like LRT to doing whatever it takes to bring in new major employers to the city.

LRT probably isn't going to draw XYZ Bank to build an office tower downtown, but maybe a big, fat cheque will. I realize its not that simple, but if it can be done somehow, I'm sure a revived CBD will do more for Hamilton than LRT can.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ places with good transportation for workers to connect housing and office space tend to get more jobs. Look at how long downtown Toronto has stagnated because GO, and the TTC were basically full.

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by scott000

I've always been a fan of bringing LRT to Hamilton, but with Hamilton continuing to bleed jobs (Siemens, Lakeport, etc) and the very questionable success of LRT in North America, I have to wonder if the focus (and $) needs to shift away from projects like LRT to doing whatever it takes to bring in new major employers to the city.

LRT probably isn't going to draw XYZ Bank to build an office tower downtown, but maybe a big, fat cheque will. I realize its not that simple, but if it can be done somehow, I'm sure a revived CBD will do more for Hamilton than LRT can.

As far as I understand it, municipalities in Ontario can't do bonusing like those in the US.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ depends on how you define bonusing. Are you saying that Hamilton can't offer more floors or floor area in exchange for lets say - a public plaza, a piece of art or a green roof? Even if I am not verse on Hamilton, I would think that to be ludicrous.

Now if you mean bonusing in the sense of expropriating land for private development and then supporting it all with a TIF, like many arena districts, well that is different.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

The city has selected a winner for the EA for the B-Line. Premier Dalton gave Hamilton $3 million.

The winning bid is Steer Davies Gleaves for $2,898,563.

This is pretty big news to me. Steer Davies Gleaves planned out Portland's and Manchester's LRT. They also did Bogota's BRT, which would be good for the A-Line.

By the end of this year (within about six months) we will have completed the EA with renderings and detailed plans. After that it's up to the province for funding.

[SteelTown]

LRT remains a go, says mayor

By Kevin Werner, News Staff
News
Apr 01, 2010
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/206584

Hamilton’s light-rail transit system remains on the rails, despite the provincial government’s $4 billion cut to Metrolinx’s budget, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

Eisenberger said the provincial reduction in money to the crown corporation’s budget delays five major transit projects in Toronto, but doesn’t including Hamilton’s nearly $800 million LRT plan.

He said the goal is still to construct the much-hoped-for LRT system in time for Hamilton to host the 2015 Pan Am games.

“It leaves money for Hamilton,” said Eisenberger. “It is only a delay of five years.”

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced in his Ontario budget last week to delay spending $4 billion of Metrolinx’s $9 billion budget to for five high-priority transit projects in the GTA, including York, Etobicoke, and other northern Toronto areas, prompting Toronto politicians to hit the rails in opposition.

Duncan did say the transit projects for the Pan Am Games will be funded as promised.

Hamilton Mountain Liberal MPP Sophia Aggelonitis said she also remained hopeful the province will fund the city’s LRT plans.

“LRT is still alive,” said Hamilton’s cabinet minister. “We will still need to keep focused. It’s true it will take longer to roll out the capital program. We are phasing it in more slowly.”

Hamilton is currently in the process of conducting a light-rail transit study, including hiring a consultant, with about $3 million in funding received from the province. The proposed system includes a line running from Main and King streets from MacMaster University to Eastgate Square in Stoney Creek.

Metrolinx released its cost benefit analysis of light rail in February that compared the system to bus transit and found LRT won hands down. Even though LRT cost more initially at $784 million, in contrast to $222 million for the bus line, LRT overwhelming provides more benefits to the city in the long-term, the consultant stated in the report.

[LikeHamilton]

I was talking to a member of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee. As part of their mandate, they have had a sub-committee investigating attracting a LRT manufacture to Hamilton. They have been at this for about a year. They conducted studies and surveys of the areas manufacturing availabilities and available land and buildings. They have talked to thousands of manufactures and suppliers in the field from Europe to China. They say they have a company interested in the possibility of starting a LRT manufacturing plant in Hamilton. They will not name whom. They also said that Metrolinx has been getting inquires from manufactures about setting up in southern Ontario.

[SteelTown]

This morning Mayor Fred revealed that construction for the LRT for the B-Line won't be completed in time for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Construction won't happen until after the games.

[SteelTown]

From the sounds if it the province might fund bus lanes and barriers in Hamilton before the Pan Am Games. I know for sure they'll be temporary HOV lanes along the 403 and QEW to Hamilton.

The same that was done for Vancouver's Olympics. We might even get a demo during the Games.

[matt602]

That's a pretty meager offering.

[coalminecanary]

lame

[matt602]

It's high time to boot these jerks out of Queens Park. The McGuinty Liberals and the failure of Metrolinx that they created have done nothing for this province, and even less for cities like Hamilton and Toronto. I'm not saying that any other political party is better, but I am saying that the current one is NOT getting the job done.

We're at risk of losing LRT and even GO Transit service improvements because they have to deal with the giant deficit that they created. It's a miracle that Hamilton and Toronto are still able to pick up the slack.

[markbarbera]

The timeline for Metrolinx rapid transit development for Hamilton remains exactly the same as the day it was announced. What's all the hubaloo about?

[SteelTown]

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