The future of Hamilton's public transit - Page 86

ScreamingViking · #**1701** Posted **Jul 13, 2013, 1:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

That's one thing I find weird about this forum. Everyone complains and complains about their city in it's section, then you go to the Canada section and everyone defends their city to the death.

It must be a Canadian pastime, along with talking about the weather and complaining (but not doing anything) about government.

bigguy1231 · #**1702** Posted **Jul 13, 2013, 4:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katrillion

Okay, it makes me sad driving on the highway and seeing Mississauga's BRT being built. It looks good too.
Hamilton is so far behind, I think I'm moving out of here right when I'm old enough (I'm only 16 haha).

Back when I was your age in the late 70's all of my friends said the same thing and many of them did leave, but most of them came back eventually. The grass isn't always greener on the other side and sometimes you have to leave to see that. Personally, I had no desire to leave. I have travelled all through this country and I am always glad when I get back home. Hamilton is a great city with good hard working down to earth people despite some of the minor problems we have.

SteelTown · #**1703** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 12:36 PM**

Up next for Hamilton: A gondola up the Mountain

http://yourhamiltonbiz.com/up-next-f...p-the-mountain

Seems like Chris Murrary will present the idea to council for consideration for city staff.

mattgrande · #**1704** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 12:48 PM**

Can you post the test of that article?

Katrillion · #**1705** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 2:14 PM**

Are we getting LRT or not...?

HillStreetBlues · #**1706** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 6:28 PM**

Awesome! I'm for it. I can't access the link so don't know the proposed route, but don't care. I used to take this from time to time, and it was awesome, and it was cheap to build.

This would be pretty cool, too.

lucasmascotto · #**1707** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 9:10 PM**

Up next for Hamilton: A gondola up the mountain
YourHamiltonBiz.com
By Saira Peesker

Of all the ways Hamilton could improve as a way to walk, bike, and take transit around, an unlikely suggestion was the toast of Wednesday's "sustainability mobility" forum at the Hamilton Art Gallery: A gondola taking passengers up and down the mountain.

The event's 90 attendees - which included politician's, urban activists, and business owners and about 40 city staffers - were asked to list long and short-term improvements that would make the city a vibrant place. Then, the large group voted on suggestions, listed on large pieces of paper taped around the room, by placing stickers beside their favourites.

The gondola came out on top alongside, ideas including;

Converting underused roads to active commuting routes,
Using planters as temporary barriers to separate bike lanes from other traffic
Slowing down traffic on non-arterial roads
More temporary closures of key streets
Dedicated bus-lanes on city streets
Expanding transit capacity and routes
Improving transit stops using bike racks, walkways, shade and benches

City manager Chris Murray said that any plans would have to go back to council and some listed are already being studied by staff. The next step will be creating a list of projects that are on both the city's existing docket and the list generated on Wednesday and try to speed those up, he told YourHamiltonBiz.

As for the gondola, Murray acknowledged it may sound farfetched but not when taken in the greater scheme of history - Hamilton formally rain "incline railways" up the mountain at the ends of James and Dundurn in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

"The dotmocracy is important (and) according to this it looks like we'll be building a gondola pretty soon," said Murray. "It's an idea that's starting to take hold, and not just on ski hills. It's a very interesting idea...There's a lot to be said for creativity."

Other supporters for the idea include the Barton Village BIA director Shelly Wonch, who saw it as a way to move groups of cyclists between the upper and lower cities and Chamber of Commerce CEO Keenan Loomis.

"I think it's something we should really be looking into." he said following the end of the event. "It would be really unique and distinctive for the city. That's the kind of thing that really excites people."

Dr Awesomesauce · #**1708** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 11:52 PM**

Dotmotcracy - that's a new one for me. Don't think I'll be adopting it any time soon, however.

If you wanna know just how sexy a gondola could be, check out Portland's. Total hotness.

Beedok · #**1709** Posted **Aug 2, 2013, 1:13 AM**

Wish Hamilton still had this network.

thistleclub · #**1710** Posted **Aug 3, 2013, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

Wish Hamilton still had this network.

Would be sweet. Served pretty much the entire city, too.

At the start of WWI, Hamilton’s population (100,808) was concentrated almost entirely below the Escarpment between Dundurn St. and Ottawa St. That area now contains, as of the 2011 census, a population of 88,610.

By the start of WWII, Hamilton’s population (155,276) was still largely found below the Escarpment, though by that point the city limits stretched from Westdale to Parkdale.

By the end of WWII, about 5% of Hamiltonians were living on the Mountain. A decade later, 20% of Hamiltonians lived there, and by the eve of amalgamation, that proportion had more than doubled.

So perhaps there's a business case for a gondola. Unlike, say, a ski hill.

thistleclub · #**1711** Posted **Aug 3, 2013, 6:06 PM**

Related to the above: Here’s a snap of HSR streetcar #525 heading south on James on August 1, 1947.

Visible at right, the Tivoli’s lost facade/cupola, 80-86 James North and perhaps a sliver of the Federal Building; at left, 91 to 113 James North, the Bank of Upper Canada, its former neighbour at 123 James North and, of course, Leon Furs.

The hourly rate for the York Boulevard parkade is now $2.50.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**1712** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 12:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

Wish Hamilton still had this network.

Where'd you get that map? It's amaze-balls.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**1713** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 12:27 AM**

I've never seen this photo before - almost unrecognisable.

The building behind the Eaton's sign is gone but the one beside it is still there - dilapidated though it may be. Home to Mex-i-can, etc.

Also barely visible in this shot is the Grand Opera House which sat beside the Tivoli. In this photo it's called the Granada.

Great eye. I would have flipped right past this one without recognizing it as Hamilton.

ScreamingViking · #**1714** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 4:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

Wish Hamilton still had this network.

Amazing.

Imagine what could be done with those radial rights-of-way today. Some do still exist as trails. That one along the Beach Strip went to Oakville, if I'm not mistaken.

And if the HSR's tracks had never been ripped out...

movingtohamilton · #**1715** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 2:57 PM**

I would like to reproduce or link to that map. Can anyone give me the source location and/or author, so I can get permission? Thanks.

thistleclub · #**1716** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

I would like to reproduce or link to that map. Can anyone give me the source location and/or author, so I can get permission? Thanks.

Ian Dunlop aka @docdun

Beedok · #**1717** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce

Where'd you get that map? It's amaze-balls.

I think I got it from here: http://www.hamiltour.ca/links.html

I just googled "hamilton streetcar map". A bunch of results were irrelevant, but the map I posted and this one were relevant.
(Also got some really weird "similar images" from some of these)

movingtohamilton · #**1718** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 8:03 PM**

Thanks Thistleclub and Beedok!

thistleclub · #**1719** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 11:32 PM**

Happy to help.

Looking into Portland Aerial Tram, I see that it was largely funded by Oregon Health & Science University. The City of Portland kicked in about a sixth of the initial $57m capital cost, but OHSU covers the operating costs.

Maybe the solution resides in linking McMaster Innovation Park and the new health campus at West 5th and Fennell, and having Mac and Mohawk bankroll the bulk of the project, comping staff and students as they see fit. (An Escarpment-to-Bayfront cable car, which would mimic the Portland line, is conceptually appealing but our footing is a bit different -- the Aerial Tram links two OHSU properties 1km apart, while Bayfront is about 3km from the Escarpment and currently campus-less.)

Dr Awesomesauce · #**1720** Posted **Aug 4, 2013, 11:43 PM**

Yeah, distance/ cost is a potential issue but the route might be an even bigger impediment. The Portland aerial tram passes over relatively few homes - and still had a good deal of opposition. I've looked at this before and I'm just not sure there's any way to link the escarpment to the bayfront without stepping on a few toes. I'm not sure I'd want an aerial tram cruising past my house, either. I just don't think it would fly.

Your ideas about Mac and Mohawk/ HHS footing most of the bill are quite reasonable, though. It could be a great project.