GO/VIA Transit

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Theft alert

Last week a friend and fellow commuter had her bicycle stolen from the bike racks in front of Hunter GO station - broad daylight. Parked it on her way in that morning, gone when she came home that same evening. All that was left behind was the cut lock. Apparantly there has been a series of bike thefts from here. It's a shame GO didn't install more secure bike lockers (like these in TO) instead of just placing a bike rack in a bus shelter.

It's tough, I know. Heck, I lock my front tire when I put my bike on the bus rack, as I worry about a guy running up at a red light and grabbing my bike. I agree, GO Centre should have a more secure site to lock bikes. Isn't there a rack on the bus platform? I'll confirm tomorrow. I would think it's more secure than the ones that front Hunter.

Unfortunately, I don't think the bike lockers are really an answer as their form factor limit the number offered. As you see most sites have only 3 to 6 lockers available. The most I've seen is at Metro Hall and I think there are 8 or 10 (I'll double check tomorrow).

[SteelTown]

The Feds and VIA are suppose to give more details on the VIA Rail improvements announced on the last budget.. If you can remember Hamilton was listed as a city to improve a VIA station. In our case we don't have a VIA station so obviously money to build one.

[Blurr]

300 million to rail was announced today, but I heard nothing for Hamilton.

[matt602]

Boo-urns.

[drpgq]

Sadly as a Hamiltonian, money spent on high speed rail doesn't really benefit us. Although as a part time resident of Deutschland, high speed rail for me is grossly overrated.

[SteelTown]

Here's the draft version of the GO Lakeshore Benefit Case for electrification...

http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/genera...BCA_Report.pdf

Some Hamilton related goodies....

Use the Hunter Station for electrification
"Expansion of the Hunter Street Tunnel to allow more frequent service to Hamilton." must be done by 2015

But included in the report says....

"For the purposes of this report, capital and operating costs were developed based on the assumption that the Lakeshore West Corridor would continue to terminate at the Hunter Street Terminal in Hamilton. GO Transit is in the planning stages for a second Hamilton station at James Street North on CN’s Grimsby Subdivision, which could provide an alternative western terminus for expanded operations."

[SteelTown]

" The vehicles will be placed on a new A-line route through the city, which will run north-south and substantially on Upper James Street. it will serve such destinations as the city’s waterfront, the rail stop on James Street North (behind Liuna Station), the downtown, the GO station on Hunter Street, Mohawk College and the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport."

Guess we have a better picture of where the GO Train platform will be built, behind LIUNA Station.

[realcity]

Is this where VIA is finally going to locate too? or is it still planned forever ago near Centre Maul?

[SteelTown]

VIA is commited to James St North.

[realcity]

When? Wasn't this debated since 2005?

"As Via spokesperson Catherine Kaloutsky explained, "The James Street location just isn't conducive to us to serve our customers, so we will continue to serve the Hamilton area through Aldershot and Grimsby." -- 2008 April

[DHLawrence]

They reversed their position about a week later and announced that they'd move to James North after all.

[SteelTown]

http://www.thespec.com/article/348491

"Via spokesperson Catherine Kaloutsky says the Crown corporation's trains will pull into LIUNA Station on James Street North when GO Transit builds the $3-million platform facility promised by Ontario."

[realcity]

So the VIA announcement will come soon after in Sept when Metrolinx plans on making their announcement re LRT/BRT?

[SteelTown]

VIA already announced they'll come to James St North. This fall they are suppose to work on building the platforms. After that I would expect some fund of announcement regarding GO Trains and VIA service to the new Station.

The Feds has set aside money for VIA Station renewal and Hamilton is listed so perhaps the Feds will announce specific funding to build a new Station along with the $3 million platforms.

[SteelTown]

GO bus service expands at McMaster

September 08, 2009
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/630414

Starting with the new school year, GO riders will benefit from expanded services from McMaster University. Changes to some buses that run from McMaster will give a greater service delivery to students who rely on public transportation.

Quotes

"Beginning next week, this additional services by the GO bus public transportation network offers our community more and better choices. This is great news for McMaster University."

-- Ted McMeekin, MPP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough- Westdale

"Increased GO service from McMaster will help me commute back to Mississauga and Brampton. Seeing family and friends back home is an important part of my experience at McMaster."

--Kyle Balkissoon, a fourth-year economics student

Quick facts

April 2007: Opening of new GO Bus Terminal at McMaster University, to accommodate more than 2,000 riders per day, with five bus bays, heated shelters and other amenities (provincial investment of $750,000)

April 2002: Extension of Highway 407 West GO bus service to Hamilton GO centre and McMaster University. Highway 407 GO bus service offers service to locations in Hamilton, Halton and Peel, as well as to York University. Trip frequency has increased continuously each year since introduction

[markbarbera]

Thank goodness, more secure bike parking is coming to Hamilton GO Centre:

GO unveils rush-hour bike parking
Starting at Hamilton and Burlington stations


September 18, 2009
Carmela Fragomeni

A new GO Transit pilot project in Hamilton and Burlington will allow cyclists a secure place to park their bikes when travelling by GO train or bus during rush hour.

Cyclists can currently take their bikes with them on buses (on racks in front) and trains, but not during rush hour. They can also park their bikes at outside unsecured bike racks.

The $85,000 new pilot gives cyclists the opportunity to double lock their bikes -- first onto an individual bike rack, and secondly in a glassed-in room that is locked and accessible only through a microchipped security key mechanism.

The secure bike parking is available for $50 a year starting Oct. 1 and can be obtained through applications available on GO’s website, at the Hamilton and Burlington GO stations, and at Toronto’s Union Station customer service.

The Hamilton station has 25 parking spots and there are 20 in Burlington.

This comes a little late for my friend who had her bike stolen from this station last month, but it's a vast improvement to the present bike rack situation.

I'm wondering if this will be a new locker area, or if they will be modifying the existing covered bike shelter out front by adding sliding doors with the microchip key system.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

VIA already announced they'll come to James St North. This fall they are suppose to work on building the platforms. After that I would expect some fund of announcement regarding GO Trains and VIA service to the new Station.

The Feds has set aside money for VIA Station renewal and Hamilton is listed so perhaps the Feds will announce specific funding to build a new Station along with the $3 million platforms.

Looks like the government will finally flush out details about VIA Stations renewal soon.

Station upgrades

Ontario: 66 projects, $24 million

[realcity]

Thanks for the info Steel.

Is VIA a Crown Corp.? GO is Provincial Corp, Is it Not?. So getting Ottawa/Queens Park to coordinate something together is quite an accomplishment.

[SteelTown]

Liberal MPP ted McMeekin unveils GO's new bike-parking area at the Hamilton station

[SteelTown]

GO looks at new Niagara Rail Service Expansion
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../17/c8463.html

TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2009 /CNW/ - GO Transit is set to start an environmental assessment (EA) that will look at what infrastructure upgrades would be required to expand rail service to the Niagara Peninsula including prospective building sites for new rail stations and potential improvements to the existing rail line. The EA begins this week, with completion scheduled for summer 2010.

Following the EA and subsequent public review period, there will be an assessment to determine whether a business case exists for this service.

"The potential service expansion along the Niagara corridor will depend on various factors such as fleet availability, capital and operating funds and supportive business partnerships with the railways," said Gary McNeil, GO Transit's Managing Director. The Niagara rail line service expansion is outlined in GO Transit's Strategic Plan: GO 2020, and is part of GO's vision for better, expanded service for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. For more information, visit the Publications page at gotransit.com.

A successful weekend excursion train service was offered this summer linking Niagara Falls and Toronto, and ran between Toronto's Union Station, Port Credit GO Station, Oakville GO Station, Burlington GO Station, St. Catharines VIA Rail Station and Niagara Falls VIA Station.

GO introduced year-round weekday and weekend bus service to Niagara Falls on September 5 between Niagara Falls VIA Rail station and Burlington GO Station with stops in Stoney Creek, Grimsby, and St. Catharines. This service connects with GO's Lakeshore west train service. GO encourages travelers to take the Niagara Falls bus service as an alternative to driving to this popular destination area.