Rapid Transit

[markbarbera]

Metrolinx signed a contract with Bombardier yesterday to purchase their LRV's for Toronto's Transit City project:


Source: Metrolinx.com

The purchase is for 182 vehicles with an option to purchase an additional 118, so we have a good idea of what may be gliding down Hamilton streets should LRT get approved for B-Line.

[crhayes]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Metrolinx signed a contract with Bombardier yesterday to purchase their LRV's for Toronto's Transit City project:


Source: Metrolinx.com

The purchase is for 182 vehicles with an option to purchase an additional 118, so we have a good idea of what may be gliding down Hamilton streets should LRT get approved for B-Line.

Damn those look nice... maybe the additional 118 will be for Hamilton

[SABBATICAL!]

Light Rail Hamilton is doing an advocacy campaign right now: http://hamiltonlightrail.com/article...o_support_lrt/

Everyone needs to get on there and email these MPPs!

Of any potential urban improvement I can think of, a light rail system in any form would go the longest way toward transforming outside opinions of Hamilton from "dirty steeltown" to "up and coming city". Even for SUV types, I think, light rail just says "futuristic" and "big city".

(Apart from the real benefits of such a system.)

[SteelTown]

The projects being prioritized now are the remaining unfunded capital projects from the list of top 15 priority projects identified in the Big Move. These projects have BCAs that are complete or are near completion.

The projects being prioritized first are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1:

Projects being prioritized now

Rapid transit in Downtown Hamilton from McMaster University to Eastgate Mall - Up to 0.83 (Approximate Estimated Cost ($billions)
Rapid transit on Dundas Street in Halton and Peel - Up to 0.65
Hurontario rapid transit from Port Credit to Downtown Brampton - Up to 1.35
Yonge Subway capacity improvements and extension to Richmond Hill - Up to 2.38
Rapid transit service along Highway 2 in Durham - Up to 0.50
Express Rail on the Lakeshore Line from Hamilton to Oshawa - Up to 5.97

http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/Agenda...2010-06-29.pdf

[SteelTown]

So Hamilton's B-Line will likely be priority number 1 for an unfunded project. What's also new is the price tag, now $830 million. Looks like Metrolinx has also ruled out having B-Line only run from McMaster to Gage.

[matt602]

I hope things actually unfold this way... we'll see. Good to see that they're at least "planning" to give us priority.

McMaster to Gage would have been completely pointless. I'm glad they will be doing it right to Eastgate. There's already a brand new terminal built there, why terminate the line before it?

[mishap]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

So Hamilton's B-Line will likely be priority number 1 for an unfunded project. What's also new is the price tag, now $830 million.

Does it say in the report that the B-Line is top priority? I didn't see that in there, though i just skimmed. The projects seem to be numbered with local systems first, west to east, or left to right on the map. Either way, we're on the short list, so that's a positive.

It's funny how the Halton-Peel Dundas Line just ends near the edge of Burlington, probably Brant Street. And what's there to anchor it? Nothing, really. What's a little to the west? Waterdown. And Hamilton has thrown the T-Line(?) idea out there... Downtown to Waterdown. That's a much better anchor. I imagine those two will be combined into a longer corridor at some point.

[SteelTown]

Waterloo gets LRT cash while Hamilton waits

June 28, 2010
Emma Reilly
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/798161

While Hamilton waits to learn the future of its rapid transit projects, Waterloo became the latest city to receive transit funding on Monday.

The provincial government pledged $300 million to build light rail transit (LRT) between Kitchener and Waterloo and bus rapid transit (BRT) to Cambridge.

Waterloo is the second city to receive funding this month. The federal government committed $600 million to Ottawa’s rapid transit system on June 8, matching a contribution from the province announced in December.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is still waiting to hear whether Metrolinx – the arms-length provincial agency that manages transit in the Hamilton and Greater Toronto areas – will recommend LRT or bus rapid transit (BRT) and how these projects will be funded.

Though Metrolinx released a study in February saying that LRT would produce the greatest benefits for the city compared to BRT, Hamilton is still waiting to learn which option it will receive.

Currently, the city is undergoing a year-long LRT study that will look at everything from station location to the technology to run the trains. But neither Metrolinx nor the province has indicated any timeline on a funding announcement for Hamilton.

Jill Stephen, the city's director of strategic planning and rapid transit, said Waterloo’s funding announcement doesn’t affect Hamilton because that region doesn’t fall under the Metrolinx umbrella.

“It’s a different pot of money than Metrolinx money,” she said.

But while the provincial and federal governments continue to commit money to other cities, funding to Metrolinx projects has slowed.

Metrolinx has identified five of its 15 Greater Toronto Hamilton Area projects as its top priorities – four LRT lines in Toronto and a bus rapid transit line in York Region. The province committed $8.15 billion to the plan.

But in this year’s provincial budget, the province announced it was cutting $4 billion from its disbursements over the first five years of construction. As these projects are also first in line for funding, it leaves Hamilton’s rapid transit plans in danger of being delayed.

[SteelTown]

City awaits transit cash
Waterloo, Ottawa get millions while Metrolinx funding has slowed

Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/798328

While Hamilton waits to learn the future of its rapid transit projects, Waterloo became the latest city to receive transit funding yesterday.

The provincial government pledged $300 million to build light rail transit (LRT) between Kitchener and Waterloo and bus rapid transit (BRT) to Cambridge.

Waterloo is the second city to receive funding this month. The federal government committed $600 million to Ottawa's rapid transit system on June 8, matching a contribution from the province announced in December.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is still waiting to hear whether Metrolinx -- the arms-length provincial agency that manages transit in the Hamilton and Greater Toronto areas -- will recommend LRT or (BRT) and how these projects will be funded.

Though Metrolinx released a study in February saying that LRT would produce the greatest benefits for the city compared to BRT, Hamilton is still waiting to learn which option it will receive.

Currently, the city is undergoing a year-long LRT study that will look at everything from station location to the technology to run the trains. But neither Metrolinx nor the province has indicated any timeline on a funding announcement for Hamilton.

Jill Stephen, the city's director of strategic planning and rapid transit, said Waterloo's funding announcement doesn't affect Hamilton because that region doesn't fall under the Metrolinx umbrella.

"It's a different pot of money than Metrolinx money," she said.

But while the provincial and federal governments continue to commit money to other cities, funding to Metrolinx projects has slowed.

Metrolinx has identified five of its 15 Greater Toronto Hamilton Area projects as its top priorities -- four LRT lines in Toronto and a bus rapid transit line in York Region. The province committed $8.15 billion to the plan.

But in this year's provincial budget, the province announced it was cutting $4 billion from its disbursements over the first five years of construction. As these projects are also first in line for funding, it leaves Hamilton's rapid transit plans in danger of being delayed.

Still, Stephen says, Hamilton is better off with Metrolinx.

"I think it's really positive to be part of Metrolinx, because we can build on the inter-regional connection," Stephen said.

Local light rail advocate Nicholas Kevlahan agrees. "For Hamilton's system to be successful, it has to be integrated into the GTA," he said.

Minister of Consumer Services Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP for Hamilton Mountain, says she'll continue to advocate for light rail in Hamilton.

"There are a lot of people working behind the scenes very, very hard to help Hamilton with rapid transit," she said. "We want to make sure that public transit gets the funding that it requires."

According to Emna Dhahak, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, yesterday's contribution to Waterloo marks "a long-standing government commitment dating back to the 2007 budget."

However, critics say the announcement falls well short of the province's pledge to fund two-thirds of the $800 million project.

[SteelTown]

As part of an ongoing commitment to facilitate an open and consultative planning process, the City of Hamilton is establishing a Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee (RTCAC). The role of the RTCAC will be to provide advice and feedback to the Rapid Transit team regarding ongoing rapid transit plans for Hamilton.

The City is seeking up to 25 members for the committee including diverse representation from Hamilton residents, property owners, businesses and other key stakeholders. The commitment to the RTCAC will involve monthly evening meetings, led by City staff, beginning September 2010, as well as attendance at various public events (with a minimum of one year commitment).

If you are interested in this opportunity please submit your application online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RapidTransitCAC or in person at the City of Hamilton, Public Works Department, 77 James Street North, Suite 320. Applications must be completed and returned by Friday, July 30, 2010.

A one-year rapid transit study funded by Metrolinx is currently ongoing with a focus on the preliminary design for the B-line and the feasibility for the A-line. It will outline how the rapid transit system will look and function along the B-line, analyze traffic impacts and develop solutions to address challenges. In addition to the RTCAC, the City will continue to provide traditional community participation opportunities through public meetings, open houses and surveys. For further information on the RTCAC please visit www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit.

[thistleclub]

Burlington bus link to Toronto
Rapid transit could save $350m

July 08, 2010
Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/article/803741

"A multimillion-dollar bus rapid transit system for Dundas Street, connecting Burlington to west Toronto, will mean as much $350 million in commuter savings. Regional transportation agency Metrolinx released a benefits case for four possible options for the 37-kilometre section of the former Highway 5 stretching from Highway 407 in Burlington to Kipling station in Toronto, linking Etobicoke and Mississauga. The Metrolinx report, which was presented to Halton regional chairperson Gary Carr on Tuesday by agency officials, suggests construction of one of the four options, which range in price from $225 million to $505 million, could begin as soon as 2012."

[SteelTown]

Help put transit on right road

July 13, 2010
Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/806554

The city wants to hear your thoughts on getting rapid transit up and running in Hamilton.

A new Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee is being formed and officials are looking for applications.

A minimum one-year commitment is required, starting in September. The group will meet once a month and will be capped at about 25 members.

Jill Stephen, acting director of rapid transit with the city, said they want a "broad range of people and views." That includes folks from the business community, property owners along potential routes and members of the general public.

"We're not expecting that everything we present, the entire group is going to agree on ... but we want to hear the different perspectives," Stephen said.

The city's long-term rapid transit plans include five lines, but the priority is on the B-Line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. The city has proposed converting Main and King streets to two-way traffic, possibly removing street parking from the core, restricting left turns and possibly closing part of King to vehicles.

The A-Line from the harbour to the airport is also being studied and a consultant has been hired to work on both projects.

The public will likely be able to get a glance at how the system will look and function in November.

The city's route choice will not change, said Stephen.

Kathy Drewitt, executive director of the Downtown Hamilton BIA, said she's hopeful the committee will be as productive as the group that provided input into the Gore Master Plan.

But Drewitt said there are still many unanswered questions, such as whether the system will use overhead wires.

"I think from a business perspective it's got to be done right or you're going to put a lot of businesses out of business," she said.

The committee will give the city advice and comment on rapid transit planning and development, as well as land-use studies.

Peter Hutton, spokesperson for the Hamilton Transit User Group, said something must be figured out to allay people's fears, particularly about losing car lanes to rapid transit. The public also needs to be engaged, he said.

Hutton gave the city high marks for its overall outreach efforts.

Anyone interested in applying to the committee can contact Katie Edmonds at 905-546-2424, extension 2553 or e-mail [email protected].

[realcity]

What's the deal with LRT? Are we getting it? Is it King or Main? What is the timeline? I'm lost.

Jill Stephen also thinks there is nothing wrong with Redhill Floodway. To be asking for input is stupid. Haven't we done this like a million times over the last couple years? The city wants LRT!!! not busses. Rail cars, from Eastgate to Mac along Main. So let's do some more public input and studies??

OMG take the middle lane from the 5 lanes on Main and make that LRT. Convert the other 4 to two-way. Convert King to two=way. And put a bike lane on King from Gore Park to Westdale village. Since we have 5 lanes there too. And then you're done.

But don't forget the line up Clairmont from Wellington and Burlington STs

[markbarbera]

I was considering applying, but why bother when opinion is not being sincerely sought? This is another example of single-mindedness at City Hall. "We want your perspective, but it isn't going to change anything". Jill Stephen was supposed to be a fresh face offering a refreshing change, but she is turning into somewhat of a disappointment. I am still waiting for a response to a request I made months ago for info on the study that indicated why King is preferred to Main.

This is the next issue to get bogged down in discourse due to the blind visionaries that staff city hall.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by realcity

What's the deal with LRT? Are we getting it? Is it King or Main? What is the timeline? I'm lost.

Jill Stephen also thinks there is nothing wrong with Redhill Floodway. To be asking for input is stupid. Haven't we done this like a million times over the last couple years? The city wants LRT!!! not busses. Rail cars, from Eastgate to Mac along Main. So let's do some more public input and studies??

OMG take the middle lane from the 5 lanes on Main and make that LRT. Convert the other 4 to two-way. Convert King to two=way. And put a bike lane on King from Gore Park to Westdale village. Since we have 5 lanes there too. And then you're done.

But don't forget the line up Clairmont from Wellington and Burlington STs

The city has already made it pretty clear that they're backing light rail instead of bus rapid transit technology. The studies on that were conducted last year and the people showed overwhelming support for light rail. Public Works, City Council and even Metrolinx are on board with light rail (albeit without any funding commitment). The current studies are down to the finer details such as routing, facilities, neighborhood impact, etc. This is all applies to B-Line LRT mind you, A-Line is still up in the air as far as technology goes and the rest of the lines are just dreams so far.

[astroblaster]

lets do this:


http://i.imgur.com/qX3sr.jpg

[ihateittoo]

is it powered by devouring cars in it's underbelly?

[LikeHamilton]

$265-mil in federal cash for light rail in KW

THE CANADIAN PRESS

KITCHENER, Ont. — The federal government has announced millions of dollars to support public transit in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of southwestern Ontario.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the money will go toward construction of a light rail system between Kitchener and Waterloo.

A bus line between Kitchener and Cambridge is part of the plan.

Harper says the feds will kick in one-third of the costs — up to $265 million.

The money is part of Ottawa’s previously announced stimulus spending strategy.

If approved, the transit plan should be operational by 2015.

Harper says the plan will stimulate the regional economy.

“Projects like this will pay dividends for our economy and our communities long into the future,” Harper said.

- The Canadian Press


http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/...ght-rail-in-kw

[SteelTown]

Make your case, Metrolinx tells Hamilton

John Kernaghan
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...tells-hamilton

TORONTO He’s been on the job just eight days but new Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig has Hamilton on his mind as he takes over the regional transportation giant.

McCuaig said the planning process now needs Hamilton to make its case for where it belongs on the queue of cities waiting on transit help.

He made his comments following a speech to the Toronto Board of Trade.

Metrolinx has considered both bus and LRT for the city’s B line from Eastgate Square to McMaster University and the city has a $3-million study under way to support the LRT option.

That’s the “evidence-based” kind of planning McCuaig says the regional body needs when it begins to set priorities for the next stage of a strategy for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

He said Metrolinx is looking at a model to assess municipal plans and create a pecking order of next steps based on need and readiness.

McCuaig, a former deputy Minister of Transportation, was peppered with questions from reporters about the municipal election in Toronto and candidates whose ideas on transit counter Metrolinx plans in the city.

[Jon Dalton]

Same thing they've been saying for 2 years.

"How much do you really want it, Hamilton?"

"We want it bad!"

"How bad?"

"Here's a feasibility study"

"Let's see you get on your knees"

and so on.