Here's an article from the Hamilton Spectator about their plans. This column advocates LRT, instead of the busway which seems to be what is meant by rapid transit. Also, the GTTA finally has a
website.
Transit plan on the right track
Robert Howard
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 16, 2007)
There are few things that can literally transform a city. Hamilton's share of the $17.5-billion transit plan announced yesterday by the province has the potential -- particularly with a push for an "upgrade" -- to do that.
By the time children now in kindergarten are in university, they may be able to move through Hamilton -- at least through what we call the old city -- on fast, smooth, seamless and environmentally friendly rapid transit lines. One line would run east-west between Eastgate Square and McMaster University; the other would cross the Mountain face, connecting King and James to Rymal Road.
The province's MoveOntario 2020 plan comprises 52 transit-upgrade projects on almost 1,000 kilometres of new or improved transit lines. Hamilton gets a big part of that.
But what Hamilton really needs is the next step up -- the 21st century solution. The proposed rapid-transit lines for Hamilton would essentially be dedicated routes for better or larger buses. This is the time for Hamilton to push the province, and the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority charged with implementing the plan, to consider light rail transit (LRT) lines for Hamilton that would replace some buses with quiet, environmentally friendly electric trains.
It helps that Hamilton has a friend in high places. Former Burlington mayor (and freelance Spectator columnist) Rob MacIsaac is now head of the Transportation Authority and has the smarts, experience and perseverance to lead this multifaceted plan from concept to completion.
Within Hamilton and through the Golden Horseshoe, MoveOntario could make a real difference to the way people live. The average car commute between Toronto and Hamilton is now an hour and a half each way, projected to rise to three hours by 2021. That's three (rising to six) hours a day lost from home, family and other activities.
Investment and jobs are lost to southern Ontario because of inadequate transportation corridors and the resulting human and business costs.
At the same time, traffic congestion is a major contributor to smog and carbon dioxide emissions.
If the projections are right (and it's true that the best positive spin is being put on the plan), the combined projects will result in 800 million new transit trips a year, taking 300 million car trips off roads and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 10 megatonnes. By any standard, and even if the full goals are not immediately realized, that's huge.
In Hamilton, the two rapid-transit lines could take cars and buses off the city's main roads and significantly reduce commuting time across the city -- making it much easier for Hamiltonians to live in one corner of the city and work in another. LRT lines would exponentially improve on that.
Hamilton has been between a rock and a hard place for many years -- trying to find a balance between relatively fast arterial routes such as Main and Cannon streets that carry large amounts of people and goods, and deliberately slowed main roads such as King Street through the core that provide for a more people- and business-friendly traffic flow. Rapid transit lines will help, but LRT lines could find the true middle ground -- quiet, emission-free and enabling riders non-stop runs across the city.
Connections to GO Transit's Lakeshore rail line -- also to be improved -- would enable faster commutes between Hamilton and the GTA. The Rymal Road terminus of the north-south line would be close to Hamilton airport, so a connecting link could be easily accomplished.
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MoveOntario 2020 is the sort of megaproject that only government impetus and public money can make happen. It is the sort of revolutionary project we should expect from government -- and should have seen decades ago. The phrase "better late than never" does come to mind.
Yes, indeed, this is campaign season. Yes, there's a clear connection between this and Liberal hopes in the next election, particularly locally.
So be it. If it takes an election to flush out big ideas and grand plans, we can live with that. But transit should be free of partisan politics. Leaders of the opposition parties will have to be absolutely clear as to where they stands on supporting this project.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Hamilton council should make a case -- soon -- for upgraded LRT funding. Failing that, Hamilton council will still need to ensure the city's interests are not made subservient to Dalton McGuinty's aspirations for a second term.
At the same time, Hamiltonians should expect their council members to put aside any partisanship so that they can grab hold of the opportunity this seems to be with both hands. This cannot become another missed chance to further the city's fortunes.
By the time the next municipal election comes around in 2010, these projects should be well under way. If Hamilton politicians have not worked to their utmost to take advantage of this provincial initiative, they will, we hope, be held accountable.
The smart move in this provincial plan, furthered by a greater public demand for environmentally friendly public policy and spending, is to not use transit expansion and improvement as a carrot to encourage future growth that may or may not happen. This is modern transit where it is needed -- where people live, work and commute now.
The province is asking Ottawa for a total of $6 billion -- a significant but not unrealistic amount -- toward the plan, and says it will cover the remaining two-thirds. Queen's Park says it will cover continuing operating costs through the provincial gas-tax program. A sharp pencil and a calculator will be needed to check whether that will be adequate or whether Hamilton will be left holding the bag.
The GTTA is to report back early next year with a detailed implementation plan. A big part of MacIsaac's work will be to build and keep momentum on the projects.
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Hamilton has been "on the cusp" or "seeing promising signs" for far too long. A lot of good work, good intentions and incremental projects and initiatives have pushed the city forward, but never to the point of breakthrough, of the reinvented city that Hamilton can be.
The Hamilton components of the provincial plan can be the driving force of that breakthrough. Two LRT lines (reminiscent of the radial-line railway and Mountain inclines of Hamilton's glory days) would really open up Hamilton to its residents, to businesses and to visitors.
