The future of Hamilton's public transit

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by durandy

off topic a bit, but does anyone know if the balance on your presto card expires after inactivity?

Transactions performed online or by phone will expire in 30 days if you do not tap your card by using it to travel or using a Balance Checker. To reactivate an expired transaction, call 1-8-PRESTO-123 (1-877-378-6123) to reactivate it.

https://www.prestocard.ca/en-US/Pages/ContentPages/PurchaseRegister.aspx

[mishap]

Originally Posted by KDP

I also have a question about PRESTO. I don't use it for HSR, but I used to use it to get to Toronto on the GO Train. Then it was simple, load the card online, tap on at Aldershot (or Hamilton), and that's it. It knew that I was going to Union Station because it was pre-programmed that way. So how does it work with the HSR? With a flat fee for the bus, I guess it doesn't matter where you go, but what if you need to make a connection or two?
How does the PRESTO card work for a bus system.

HSR deducts $2.00 off your e-purse for an adult fare. All subsequent taps for the next two hours are $0.00 on the HSR or any other municipal system using Presto. If you're connecting to/from GO, the fare on the second carrier is reduced by $1.50.

Monthly passes are a bit different. The system was recently changed so that tapping onto the HSR with a Presto pass also registers a two-hour transfer window, allowing free transfers to other systems. That used to require a punched paper transfer (voided for the HSR). I'm not sure how GO fare sharing works in that case.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by mishap

Monthly passes are a bit different. The system was recently changed so that tapping onto the HSR with a Presto pass also registers a two-hour transfer window, allowing free transfers to other systems. That used to require a punched paper transfer (voided for the HSR). I'm not sure how GO fare sharing works in that case.

Tapping onto GO within 2 hours of an HSR tap on with an HSR monthly pass still functions as it should ($1.50 reduction). I did it about 2 months ago. And vice versa tapping onto HSR with a monthly HSR pass within 2 hours of a GO fare.

Not all transit systems seem to have the same GO Transit co-fare rates though. For example a TTC fare is $2.60 (savings of .40 cents) after tapping on within 2 hours of a GO Transit PRESTO fare. In comparison, the HSR one is a pretty sweet deal.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by KDP

I also have a question about PRESTO. I don't use it for HSR, but I used to use it to get to Toronto on the GO Train. Then it was simple, load the card online, tap on at Aldershot (or Hamilton), and that's it. It knew that I was going to Union Station because it was pre-programmed that way. So how does it work with the HSR? With a flat fee for the bus, I guess it doesn't matter where you go, but what if you need to make a connection or two?
How does the PRESTO card work for a bus system.

Mishap and matt602 gave a really good explanation of PRESTO fare calculations. I'll mention here that you don't need a pre-programmed route (default) and you can get rid of it. Many commuters using GO never vary their trips and had their card set to a default route since it eliminated the need to tap off at the destination.

[thistleclub]

Via City of Hamilton:

Transit Accessibility Public Meetings

During October 2013, the City of Hamilton’s Transit Division will be holding two (2) public meetings regarding the accessibility of conventional transit (HSR) and specialized transit (Accessible Transportation Services (ATS) and DARTS). In compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), transportation service providers are required to hold at least one (1) public meeting on an annual basis.

The public meetings will include a presentation from Transit staff on accessibility achievements to date. Interested persons and agencies are encouraged to attend at least one (1) public meeting and are welcome to provide comments and feedback.

The scheduled dates, times and locations are as follows:

Thursday, October 10, 2013 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hamilton Convention Centre, 1 Summer’s Lane, Albion Room, 2 Fl.

Thursday, October 24, 2013 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sackville Seniors Recreation Centre, 780 Upper Wentworth Street

Please note: Both of the above locations are accessible.

If you plan on attending one of the public meetings, it is recommended that you confirm your attendance in advance with ATS – this will assist staff in preparing for the meeting (to ensure that adequate seating / space and refreshments are available). Also, if you require a specific accommodation (information in Large Print or Braille) to attend and/or participate in the meeting, please let ATS know in advance.

For more information, contact ATS Customer Service by phone at 905-529-1212 or by e-mail at [email protected]

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

Mishap and matt602 gave a really good explanation of PRESTO fare calculations. I'll mention here that you don't need a pre-programmed route (default) and you can get rid of it. Many commuters using GO never vary their trips and had their card set to a default route since it eliminated the need to tap off at the destination.

I have my Prestocard pre-programmed for travel between Hamilton and Toronto Union. I find it convenient because I don't need to go looking to tap off at the end of the trip, just tap on and go. Of course I can be forgetful and have had to clear up extra fare charges and a locked Presto card a couple of times as a result of missing the tap off, which is why pre-programming the train trip world for me.

The pre-programmed trip only works for train trips. If you take the GO bus you still need to tap on at the start then again as you get off the bus. For HSR, you just tap as you board the bus and it will take the HSR fare off automatically. Pre-programmed GO trips don't affect it at all. If you make a connecting HSR trip to and from a GO Transit route, the fare is just 50 cents.

Once I got accustomed to the Presto card I really appreciated its convenience. I also have it registered and set to autoload which works well with my zombie-like state when I commute.

[ScreamingViking]

Transactions performed online or by phone will expire in 30 days if you do not tap your card by using it to travel or using a Balance Checker. To reactivate an expired transaction, call 1-8-PRESTO-123 (1-877-378-6123) to reactivate it.

I've been back at school in Hamilton for the year and haven't used my Presto card since last March (and before that it was late 2012). According to my account my card is active and the balance is still available... I do all my transactions online, and use the autoload option. I did recently have to set it up again using their new online system, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I'll be heading into Toronto this week though, so I'll see what happens when I tap.

[thistleclub]

King St. transit-only lane to debut later this month: City
(CBC Hamilton, Oct 10 2013)

The transit-only lane on King Street will start Oct. 22

The north lane of the downtown artery will be closed from Mary Street to New Street to all traffic except transit vehicles for the one-year pilot project.

City crews are working to install signage and paint new lane markings ahead of the changeover.

Unless there are delays, the lane will be operational by Oct. 22, the city said in a Thursday news release. The lane was supposed to be in place at the end of September, but was delayed.

The transit-only lane will bump parking on the north side of King Street East to the south side. Businesses will also have to rely on the south lane for loading.

Only buses, as well as emergency vehicles, will be able to drive in the lane. Taxi cabs and DARTS vans will be permitted to stop on it briefly to drop off and pick up passengers.

Other vehicles will be only permitted to cross the lane to make a turn or to enter into a driveway.

The city said fines will apply for drivers who violate the new rules.

[coalminecanary]

Where do bikes go?

[Jon Dalton]

Hey we got one out of 5 lanes for buses, now cars only have 4. And you expect there to be room for bikes now? Don't push your luck, stick to the side streets. You should be riding on the sidewalk anyways. And where's your helmet?

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

Where do bikes go?

Need you ask? (Hey, it's technically "bike-forward".)

[matt602]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

Where do bikes go?

I would imagine to the right of the rightmost driving lane, beside the left side of the transit lane? Seems like common sense to me.

[markbarbera]

There are currently four lanes of one-way traffic here, not five. The right lane will become a transit lane. Parking will be relocated to left-most lane. The remaining two lanes will be for all other traffic (three during rush hour when parking is prohibited).


City of Hamilton rendering as presented on CBC's Hamilton website

[Pearlstreet]

This is so perfect! I suppose bikes will go on the front of the bus bike rack for now Planning a bike lane off a quieter avenue would be wiser, such as along York. Loving this so far... Lets see how it goes..

[KDP]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

There are currently four lanes of one-way traffic here, not five. The right lane will become a transit lane. Parking will be relocated to left-most lane. The remaining two lanes will be for all other traffic (three during rush hour when parking is prohibited).


City of Hamilton rendering as presented on CBC's Hamilton website

There's 5 in front of Jackson Square/ Commerce buildings. An added lane for on-street parking.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by KDP

There's 5 in front of Jackson Square/ Commerce buildings. An added lane for on-street parking.

While the are five lanes on King Street in this one block, the bus lane is not being placed there. It is running from Mary Street to just east of Dundurn, which is only four lanes wide.

[KDP]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

While the are five lanes on King Street in this one block, the bus lane is not being placed there. It is running from Mary Street to just east of Dundurn, which is only four lanes wide.

Sorry, how does the bus lane not run past this spot? The bus lane starts at Mary Street (aka East of Jackson Sq.) and runs to New St. (aka West of Jackson Sq.), so how does it not go past Jackson Sq.?

[markbarbera]

You are right, I misplaced Mary Street in my mind. I should have said, with the exception of one city block between James and Bay, this stretch of King Street is four lanes - until again just west of Locke, where it goes back up to 5 lanes for the three blocks leading to the Highway 403 interchange.

[coalminecanary]

whether it's 4 or 5 doesn't matter if we are discussing overcapacities since we only really need two lanes - and that's only an hour or two a day. The rest of the 22 hours we only need one.

[thistleclub]

A recent CATCH survey of HSR changes:

"Earlier this month rapidly-growing suburban Binbrook was added to the HSR’s trans-cab service that already connects residents of Mt Hope, Winona, the Twenty Road retirement villages and other outlying areas to the city’s regular bus system. For a regular HSR fare plus an extra 50 cents each way, residents can get a taxicab ride between their home and the nearest regular HSR bus stop.

For Binbrook residents, that connects them to the Rymal 44 bus that runs between Eastgate Mall and the Ancaster business park at Garner Road and Tradewind Drive. Today that service only runs Monday to Friday and ends shortly after 9 pm, but mountain councillors are pushing for it to run longer hours and on weekends.

The trans-cab change will mean higher taxes for Binbrook residents because its costs – like revenue shortfalls for the regular HSR – are covered through area rating charges, with amounts for each former municipality determined by hours of bus service received. Hamilton utilizes trans-cab where a regular HSR route is judged to be not financially feasible, but might be instituted in the future once rider demand increases....

Other recent changes to the HSR include more buses on the Barton, Upper James, Delaware routes and some Mountain routes, and an expansion of service to Dundas residents. The latter provides more off-peak and weekend service, including improvements along both ‘tails’ of the Dundas route on Sundays.

But rush hour service for much of the valley town remains at just once every 30 minutes, and the volume of students using transit in the west end of Hamilton continues to present challenges in passengers securing a seat or even being able to board some buses.

An additional HSR improvement has been extension of the hours of its GO Station centre – the only place that eligible users of the city’s affordable transit program can pick up their monthly passes. Since mid-August, the centre has been open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, excepting holidays."