Hamilton Hamilton Line B LRT | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx

Given that there's not one corridor that everyone can agree on for the Mountain, given that the trip generators are spread out (Mohawk, Lime Ridge, airport), I really think that BRT is the right choice for the north-south route, with buses branching out to Lime Ridge and Upper James at Mohawk or Fennell. However, this should be coupled with better service along Mohawk as well and improved feeder routes.

Below the mountain, King/Main is a no-brainer for LRT from Eastgate to at least McMaster, if not Dundas.
 
I would support BRT for the A-Line but it looks like the public and Public Works want LRT for both A and B-Line.

Perhaps have BRT from Limerdige Mall to the Mohawk terminal or somewhere along the A-Line route on Upper James.
 
Back when they were looking at ICTS for Hamilton, they picked Upper Wentworth as the best route with Lime Ridge Mall and (relative) proximity to the Henderson Hospital.
 
I just remembered under that latest white paper from Metrolinx they had a route called the T-Line going from Limeridge Mall to Meadowlands. That would be along Mohawk Rd based on the paper but on the map it looked like the route was going along the Linc. So that was a bit confusing.

But nevertheless that would be a good way to connect the A-Line to Limeridge Mall. For the T-Line I would rather have that as BRT, as that route would just be a connector.
 
Those cost estimates only plan for 20LRV's or 41 buses to cover both lines. That's vastly understating the necessary amount of equipment. Did they take into account the need for spares and to have vehicles out of service for repair?
 
Those are just estimates for the cost. For example recently during the information session Public Works announced that the LRT for the B-Line will extend to Dundas, but the estimates is only for Eastgate to McMaster, not to Dundas. Yes, Public Works slipped out saying LRT for B-Line instead of saying a rapid transit line. So they'll recommend LRT for the B-Line.

Also the tunnel idea appears to be ditched as they’ll look at Clairmount Access instead as the grade is not as steep and won’t require a tunnel along the Escarpment.
 
The problem with the Claremont access is that diverts northbound buses (or LRVs) away from the downtown core and the GO station. I guess it could be done if the A line forms a loop via Claremont, Victoria, King, James and Hunter back to the Access but that will require transit priority along that circut.

Jolley Cut is indeed a tight squeeze, but I'd at least like to see something to mitigate the diversionsrequired. A tunnel would have been ideal.

James Mountain Road up to 5th and Fennell and then over to Upper James might have worked, as it'd hit Mohawk as well.
 
From the Claremont Access there's a West 5th two lane off ramp. They could close that ramp down to cars and have South and North bound lanes for that ramp onto the Claremount Access. Northbound go down to Victoria and turn on King. Southbound go along James turn on Main and go up on Victoria to Claremount Access.

Doing this will eliminate one lane along Claremount Access that's used for the West 5th ramp and the one and only truck climbing lane. The city could install another truck climbing lane by removing the median in the middle of the Access.
 
Is a light rail transit system in Hamilton's future?

By Kevin Werner
News
May 16, 2008

An overwhelming number of Hamiltonians want the city to start constructing a light rail transit system as soon as possible, despite its multi-million price tag, two public meetings revealed.

Jill Stephen, manager of strategic planning for the city's public works department, acknowledged the majority of the estimated 150 people who attended two recently held public meetings favoured a light rail transit (LRT) system over a bus rapid transit system (BRT).

Ms. Stephen said a report being prepared for councillors next month will indicate the public's preferred choice. But she was reluctant to say if her department will recommend the city move towards a light rail transit system.

"We are still drafting the report," she said. "But it definitely appears to be light rail."

Based on the comment forms from people who attended the meetings at the Sackville Hill Seniors Centre and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board building, 92 per cent who responded supported rapid transit, and 68 per cent favoured LRT. About seven per cent of the people leaned towards BRT.

As part of its Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, transit officials are proposing to establish two rapid transit routes - an A-line along James and Upper James streets from the Hamilton Airport to the waterfront, and a B-line from University Plaza in Dundas to Eastgate Square.

Ms. Stephen said further research needs to be conducted on a LRT system, most critically on how much it will cost, and the economic development it will create for the city.

Preliminary costs of both systems reveal the LRT system is the most expensive with the capital cost projected at $15 million per km for a one-way street and $25 million per km for two-way streets.

The BRT system's capital cost is set at $6.5 million per km for one-way streets and $9 million for two-way streets.

A significant concern for residents about building a LRT system is to cross the Niagara Escarpment, two 6.5 m diameter tunnels would have to be constructed in the escarpment from St. Joseph's Hospital to Mohawk College. Other obstacles include the electricity for an LRT is limited for the system, and the bridges over James and King streets are too low.

In addition, LRT, which is a street-level rail system, uses overhead electricity for energy. Cities that are using the system include Edmonton, Alberta and San Jose, California.

Ms. Stephen said the plan is to settle on what rapid transit system Hamilton will be adopting and finalize its budget to accommodate Metrolinx's budget by this fall.

"We want to get into the first cut of the Metrolinx budget for 2009," she said.

Metrolinx has control over a $17.5 billion transportation fund to dole out to municipalities who have establish rapid transit projects.

Meanwhile, one of the questions residents raised during the public meetings was the economic development impacts a LRT system will have on the city. Ms. Stephen acknowledged little information is available for Hamilton.

But there is a direct correlation between improved economic development and LRT from Portland, Oregon, which has in place a LRT system.

"Light rail has been a catalyst for the economy and economic revitalization," she said. "There are also examples in other states."

The deadline for further comments that will be included in the report that will be sent to the public works committee next month is May 20.

If interested in sending a comment, the website is www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit; email at rapidtransit@hamilton.ca, or phone 905-546-2424, ext.1473.
 
As a Toronto resident I applaud these dedicated LRT lanes (A&B) in Hamilton.

I just want to say, as a city, if you want to have a good focus on Transit, you need to ignore the gas guzzling suburbanites. They are completely disconnected from the city and their world does not exist outside of their box... their box being their automobile.

Any dedicated streetcar lane is a pleasure to ride on. You will fly past the traffic. A good example of a streetcar lane that met a lot of opposition, but in the end turned out great is the St. Clair streetcar line in Toronto. I took this line the other day and it was easy to see how much quicker the route was. The street looks much cleaner with the dedicated LRT lane.

I hope Hamilton goes ahead with these lines. I believe the benefit will be great.
 
Perhaps the Hamilton Street Railway will actually look something like its name again.
 
Kiwi said:
Is a light rail transit system in Hamilton's future?

An overwhelming number of Hamiltonians want the city to start constructing a light rail transit system as soon as possible, despite its multi-million price tag, two public meetings revealed.
Click to expand...

Ya - instead of building a highway through Steeltown's last urban forest valley, they should have spent the money on this !

Kiwi said:
Jill Stephen, manager of strategic planning for the city's public works department, acknowledged the majority of the estimated 150 people who attended two recently held public meetings favoured a light rail transit (LRT) system over a bus rapid transit system (BRT).
Click to expand...

That's uderstandable - a bus is a bus no matter how you try to dress it up. No one likes taking the bus.

Kiwi said:
As part of its Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, transit officials are proposing to establish two rapid transit routes - an A-line along James and Upper James streets from the Hamilton Airport to the waterfront, and a B-line from University Plaza in Dundas to Eastgate Square.
Click to expand...

Imagine if Hamilton gets rapid transit to its airport before Toronto ...


Kiwi said:
Ms. Stephen said the plan is to settle on what rapid transit system Hamilton will be adopting and finalize its budget to accommodate Metrolinx's budget by this fall.

"We want to get into the first cut of the Metrolinx budget for 2009," she said.

Metrolinx has control over a $17.5 billion transportation fund to dole out to municipalities who have establish rapid transit projects.
Click to expand...

If the city of Hamilton were smart, it would get itself organised as a strong group and get a piece of the money pie now - with all the recent talks of improving transit, this is the best time to submit your wish list. Who knows when another government a la Common NONSense Revolution will be back in power !
 
Awesome news!

Public Works department is going to recommend council only support LRT for both A and B Line. You can report the report yourself......

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/95F12F1A-1E3F-4414-8328-BBFE94C48EFE/0/Jun16PW08043a.pdf

(a) That staff be directed to continue the Rapid Transit Feasibility Study (Phase 2) with a focus on Light Rail Transit;

(b) That staff be directed to report back to Public Works Committee in September 2008 with a proposed workplan for future studies, public consultation, design and construction;

(c) That staff continue discussions with Metrolinx to ensure a Hamilton Rapid Transit project is identified in their 2009 - 2013 rolling five year capital plan.

"Staff consistently heard that the time is now for LRT and that the City must seize the opportunity to move forward and to not miss out on the opportunity at hand to construct a rapid transit system the would compete with other world class cities, all of which have some sort of rail oriented transportation system, particularly with the Province supporting this initiative and proposing funds towards its capital costs. Those in support of an LRT system believe that by pursuing this option, Hamilton would be considered a leader through the development of an innovative system, particularly through bridging the gap between the distinct areas of the City, particularly lower Hamilton with the Mountain."
 
Coruscanti Cognoscente said:
Good for Hamilton. LRT is appropriate for a city that size.
Click to expand...

Nice to hear.

Now to Get Mississauga to do this and we have more riders on Hurontario than Hamilton single line. 25,000 plus now to go to 100,000+ over the next 20 justify LRT today.

Took Hamilton how long to look at doing this and Mississauga started their when? Sound likes a good transit group.

See the first section of my Hamilton-Toronto LRT line falling into place.

The big problem for this project as well other, where is the money to cover the upgrade and extension not in the 2020 plan going to come from?
 
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