[SteelTown]

Province gives city transit funds

By Kevin Werner

Hamilton's bank account just got bigger this week after the provincial government announced it will give the city over $7.5 million.

The provincial grant, which will be provided to the city by the end of March, will be earmarked for transit capital projects.

Councillors were scheduled March 5 to approve a bylaw accepting the money. The city had until March 21 to pass the bylaw.

There is some indication by politicians the money will be used to accelerate the construction and relocation of a new downtown bus depot on Hunter Street near the GO Station from Gore Park.

Downtown councillor Bob Bratina has been pushing to remove the buses on King Street along Gore Park from the area and eliminate problems they create for area merchants.

But there are about 19 other high priority transit capital projects that have already been identified for funding by a citizens' group.

Last September the Gas Tax and Transit Master Plan subcommittee proposed funding this year to expand transit service in the Waterdown-Burlington area, establish a peak transit service along Rymal Road and Garner Street.

Other projects that were not selected, but will be funded from the city's gas tax revenues over the next few years include expanding transit services to the Hamilton Airport; boosting transit service in the West Hamilton area from McMaster University to Ancaster; the Main West service from Dundas to downtown; improved Parkdale, Ancaster, Mohawk and Stone Church transit services, and upgrading the transit services' reliability.

[raisethehammer]

HOW ABOUT IMPROVING SERVICE IN THE EAST/WEST LOWER CITY???
Friggin Rymal Road...what a joke. It should be number 37 on the priority list. Not 2nd, behind Waterdown - sprawlville. Brutal.

[DC83]

HOW ABOUT IMPROVING SERVICE IN THE EAST/WEST LOWER CITY???
Friggin Rymal Road...what a joke. It should be number 37 on the priority list. Not 2nd, behind Waterdown - sprawlville. Brutal.

to be fair, rth, there is a LOT of new development along Hwy53 (aka Rymal Rd), and if we want the people up there choosing Public Transit over cars, we need to give them decent service. Provide them with an alternative. So I can see why the city wants to start a route up there.

Improvements to service levels for the current system IS needed, 100%... but so is a permanant route along 53 (Rymal).

[go_leafs_go02]

pfft..lower mountain service is soo much better than up here..really..i got to wait anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour in order to get somewhere here. It is frustrating, and definitely wish service is upgraded here, especially a route on rymal would be nice.

[flar]

I had to take a bus to Upper Gage/Rymal area from Dundas once, and another time to Mohawk Park from McMaster. I think it took over an hour. Nobody with other options would ever do that.

[go_leafs_go02]

The 08xx models have arrived!!

three buses so far, 3 more by the weekend!

[matt602]

Yep. They look spiffy :)

[oldcoote]

TheSpec.com

The Ontario government will soon introduce new legislation directing a portion of its budget surplus to build roads, bridges and public transit, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced this morning.

The Investing in Ontario Act would mean that any "unintended surpluses" of more than $800 million would result in a minimum of $200 million going to infrastructure, after the first $600 million is used to pay down debt.

The maximum amount municipalities could receive under the plan would be $2 billion, in the highly unlikely case of the province recording a $2.6-billion budget surplus.

The new bill would lift a restriction that forces the province to use such surpluses to pay down Ontario's debt, which now stands at more than $160 billion.

"Investing in municipal infrastructure not only addresses the capital needs of our communities, but it also creates more jobs in the short term and prosperity in the long run," Duncan told a Queen's Park news conference.

Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion hailed the move.

"It's a step in the right direction," said McCallion, urging Ottawa to follow the province's lead.

Association of Municipalities of Ontario president Doug Reycraft said the plan would help address the province’s $40-billion deficit in infrastructure spending.

[HAMRetrofit]

Fantastic!

[BrianE]

A little late now, but still a good idea. The next 2-3 or 4 years are going to be pretty lean so don't expect any budget surpluses at any level of government for the next little while.

Someone should have thought of this policy in 2003-2004 just before the big budget surpluss years we've had lately.

[SteelTown]

Projected surplus this year will be $750 million. So no money this year.

If this was done last year would have gotten $1.5 billion. Cost is spilt based on population so that's a bonus for us.

[raisethehammer]

funny how the cutoff is $800 million and it just so happens that the projected surplus is $750mil. wow. what a crazy coincidence.

[hamiltonguy]

I think this is a good idea as the provincial government should be involved in infrastructure funding.

However I always get annoyed when people say the federal government should directly fund vast infrastructure programs.

In my opinion the federal government should restrict itself to the following:

1) Transferring the Federal Gas Tax to the provinces based on Population for the Provinces to use on infrastructure (either keep it or transfer it to Municipalities along with Provincial Gas Tax)

2) Strategic National Infrastructure ( The Gateway Programs etc.)

3) Transfer of some of the revenues of a future federal Carbon Tax.

[raisethehammer]

next Wednesday (the 19th) at 11:30 the new replica trolleys will be unveiled down at Pier 8 by Williams Coffee.
They are painted in the old HSR colours of burgundy and cream and have the vingate logo.
there is a ringing bell at the front and wood slat seating on the inside.
They will be used for the downtown-waterfront shuttle in the summer.

[markbarbera]

Projected surplus is always underestimated. Actual surplus will easily be double the projected $750 mil.

[DC83]

next Wednesday (the 19th) at 11:30 the new replica trolleys will be unveiled down at Pier 8 by Williams Coffee.
They are painted in the old HSR colours of burgundy and cream and have the vingate logo.
there is a ringing bell at the front and wood slat seating on the inside.
They will be used for the downtown-waterfront shuttle in the summer.

That's so kewl! I can't wait to see/use them (although I usually rollerblade all the way down to the bay).

Do you (or does anyone) know the route? Is it sticking with the original seasonal route (I believe along Bay), or will it be going down James North?

[raisethehammer]

same as last year....James North to King, west to Honest Lawyer stop. Up Bay to York to James and back up James.

[hamiltonguy]

next Wednesday (the 19th) at 11:30 the new replica trolleys will be unveiled down at Pier 8 by Williams Coffee.
They are painted in the old HSR colours of burgundy and cream and have the vingate logo.
there is a ringing bell at the front and wood slat seating on the inside.
They will be used for the downtown-waterfront shuttle in the summer.

How long ago was Burgundy and Cream? That sounds like either the old Trolley Bus scheme or the old Interurban Scheme. The Street Car Scheme was two-tone green (Dark on the bottom, and creamy green on the top)

[raisethehammer]

sounds like it was from 1950-70's.

http://www.trolleybuses.net/ham/ham.htm

may have even been before 1950.

[SteelTown]

http://www.trolleybuses.net/ham/jpg/can_m_ham_brill_732_garage_19710924_ghl.jpg

[raisethehammer]

steeltown...your link doesn't work.

[go_leafs_go02]

From a reputable source.

The dupont trolleys will be running starting next Wednesday around noon from the waterfront (Pier 8). They'll be unveiled there.

EDIT: OH screw it, RTH beat me by 3 hours :P

[hamiltonguy]

That sucks, I like the Maroon and Cream, but since they're supposed to look like "trolleys" as in streetcars not trolley buses, it's the wrong scheme.

http://ca.geocities.com/hsrstreetcars@rogers.com/NSC_files/hsr540.jpg

This is what I mean by two-tone green (I apologize for the crummy photo, but it's hard to find good colour photos of them).

There is a very good video out on Hamilton Streetcars though. It's called "Hamilton Transit: The Electric Years" by Ray Neilson, produced by GPS videos.

[LikeHamilton]

next Wednesday (the 19th) at 11:30 the new replica trolleys will be unveiled down at Pier 8 by Williams Coffee.
They are painted in the old HSR colours of burgundy and cream and have the vingate logo.
there is a ringing bell at the front and wood slat seating on the inside.
They will be used for the downtown-waterfront shuttle in the summer.

I have a formal invite to this! Maybe I can get a ride on it. I'll try not to forget my camera.

[HAMRetrofit]

I saw these in action in Cleveland I was quite impressed.

The frequency of bus service downtown Cleveland is quite amazing. Some of their buses say on the side "best public transit system in North America". Perhaps something to stride for in Hamilton?

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/119122843862110.xml&coll=2

[DC83]

by the way, I sure hope these new bus stops at King/Dundurn and Main/John aren't the wave of the future.
They have openings on all 4 sides. The snow was drifting up to my knees the other day in one of these stupid things during the storm. What's the point of having walls at all...just stick up a roof if we're going to have huge openings on all 4 sides.

Well the Main/John one was gone today. Nothing left but the slab of concrete. THANK GOD! I guess that means the new ones are soon-to-be-built!?

[miketoronto]

I saw these in action in Cleveland I was quite impressed.

The frequency of bus service downtown Cleveland is quite amazing. Some of their buses say on the side "best public transit system in North America". Perhaps something to stride for in Hamilton?

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/119122843862110.xml&coll=2

While not the worst and better then most American cities; Cleveland's public transit still has a lot of improvments to make, before it is the best.

The system for one has very low ridership levels. In an area of about 2 million, the system carries about 155,000 riders a day. That is very very very low.

On top of that, a large majority of bus routes do not have frequent service, and the rail network also suffers from very low ridership levels. Infact the HSR KING Bus route, I believe carries more people then Cleveland's Shaker Heights Rapid, which carries something like 11,000 people a day.
And the red line which is full rapid transit carries about 19,000 people a day.

Beyond Shaker Square, LRT service is every half hour outside of weekday rush hour periods.

While you can survive in Cleveland without a car for the most part. There is as I said, lots of room for improvments.

[HAMRetrofit]

^ perhaps you should inform the American Public Transportation Association that you know more then them. My experience, as a guest in the city, was a positive one. Sure there is room for improvements, but at least they are being acknowledged for their efforts.

[mishap]

Do you (or does anyone) know the route? Is it sticking with the original seasonal route (I believe along Bay), or will it be going down James North?

same as last year....James North to King, west to Honest Lawyer stop. Up Bay to York to James and back up James.

The Waterfront Shuttle really should pass through (or in front of) the GO Station. I would think that the shuttle is not just for locals, but visitors as well. Since the latter may not be familiar with the city, you would want to make it easy to find the shuttle. Sure, it should be easy to notice if a trolley is running the route, except it takes its layover in front of the Honest Lawyer. Not only is it not near the GO Station, it's not even in the line of sight of Gore Park. A better Waterfront Shuttle routing would have it stop by GO or Gore. Or if feasible, both.

[raisethehammer]

yep...I emailed the HSR with route suggestions as you've mentioned.
The replied that money is the reason they can't extend it yet.

Maybe the HSR should paint the trolley to look like a transport truck flying along a highway...then they'd get gobs of money.

[mishap]

yep...I emailed the HSR with route suggestions as you've mentioned.
The replied that money is the reason they can't extend it yet.

I don't see how that's really an extension. I've seen it sit at Jackson Square. Instead of turning at King (and that turn can take a while), go south on James to the GO Station. Come back up John past King if that turn will take too much time. Circling Jackson Square isn't the most direct route, either.

Can't make the trip in 30 minutes? Fine, move to a 40-minute schedule.

[raisethehammer]

i know...standard bull crap from a system that has been too isolated and full of cronyism and politics for decades instead of doing a good job.
It runs from Pier 8 to King and James and back with stops at the north end, Barton, Cannon, York and JS. You're telling me they can't do that trip in 15 minutes??? I can do it in 5-7, especially if they remove the right hand turn at King/James as you've mentioned.
they should come up James, go left at Main, right at John, right at Hunter, right at James and back up to the waterfront that way.

[miketoronto]

I have taken the Waterfront Shuttle. It took like 6min to go from the waterfront park to King and James. It is not a long ride at all. Infact, the service is very good. We really enjoyed it, and the parks at that :)

[raisethehammer]

wow...those new trolleys are friggin cool! I'd love to see a batch of them ordered for regular, year-round service.
anyone get any pics?

[coalminecanary]

is this an open air trolley? can i bring my dog on it?

[raisethehammer]

i have no clue.

Chad Collins was on the radio and said they are planning an outdoor ice rink for the west harbour as one of the next steps forward.
Hopefully for next winter.

[SteelTown]

CH was at Pier 8 at noon and Matt Hayes showed everyone the trolley but by the time I watched it they switched to the studio, SOB! lol

[LikeHamilton]

The new HSR Waterfront Route 99 Trolley’s.

Bus number 70 & 71

This will be a free service to the waterfront and back.

They begin service on June 22, running every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 4.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2341/img4242qj8.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6649/img4244tw5.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4948/img4225lt8.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8117/img4218oh0.jpg

Inside the Trolley’s

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5962/img4219dq2.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6369/img4220yn2.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7984/img4221wo0.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1006/img4237nw2.jpg

Inside the trolleys are old pictures from the streetcar days of the HSR in Hamilton.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/808/img4238gs1.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6554/img4239fq9.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9130/img4240bs6.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5743/img4241nq2.jpg

The mayor begging for transit money!

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6734/img4226ai3.jpg

The waterfront trial trolley.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6026/img4245mb4.jpg

Old pictures from the display inside the Marine Center.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9223/img4231gw2.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4939/img4232qq8.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4314/img4233kf2.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/983/img4234sc0.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5765/img4235jv0.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3149/img4236gm1.jpg

[flar]

Those are great!

[SteelTown]

I love it! Even has a bell on the front. Super cool

[chris k]

Yeah very nice

Free? very interesting...

[go_leafs_go02]

I love, really like.

Is there a schedule out? I kinda want to go and ride one just for fun, and looks like I'll be out of here in a few weeks moving back to London for the summer, depends on employment.

[matt602]

Awesome. I'll be sure to ride it this summer. The interior is really awesome, I love the gold poles and nostalgic posters. These things will look awesome downtown. Should get some heads turning, especially if they use the bell regularly.

[coalminecanary]

man, i wish these went to the hunter station... if we end up with two terminals, it would be cool to have these as a shuttle between, arriving every few minutes or so :-)

[chris k]

man, i wish these went to the hunter station... if we end up with two terminals, it would be cool to have these as a shuttle between, arriving every few minutes or so :-)

Thats a great idea

A nice little hop on the trolley idea....

:cheers:

[raisethehammer]

dang...awesome pics!
we REALLY blew it by ripping up the tracks and tearing down the wires from the old streetcars.
Man, that one pic looks like Vancouver with all the wires criss-crossing overhead.
someday we'll get it back....
for now, these trolleys will certainly suffice. I only wish the route was a little more substantial. It'll be good for downtown office workers, but doesn't really connect to southern downtown neighbourhoods like Corktown and Durand which could really benefit from the service. Perhaps in a future year.
Great job by HSR here. Another nice step forward.

[DC83]

Awesome! Thanks for the shots, LikeHamilton!

The HSR is really doing a good job at re-branding itself recently: new B-Line designs/signs, new Eastgate Terminal, now the Waterfront Trolleys! Comin up next... LRT!!!!

speaking of 're-branding', they've REinstalled the B-Line Mega Shelter at Main/John. And it's NOT so ghetto anymore! haha They pretty much painted all the metal the B-Line Blue and put both ads on the east side of the shelter. Looks better than before! hahaha

[SteelTown]

McGuinty hints at budget windfall for municipalities

March 19, 2008
By Robert Benzie

Torstar news service

Ontario cities and towns can bank on a financial windfall for new roads, bridges, and transit this summer, the Liberals suggest.

On the eve of Tuesday’s provincial budget, both Premier Dalton McGuinty and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan are dropping hints of some good news for municipalities.

“We are investing heavily in infrastructure,” Duncan told reporters Wednesday, noting the province will “fill in the holes” left after federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s recent budget.

Echoing that sentiment, McGuinty pointed out the province is proceeding with its ambitious $17.5 billion Move Ontario 2020 transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area – even though Ottawa has yet to commit to its share of the project.

“We’re going to fill in for two-thirds of that. We’d love to have the feds join us for the final one-third. We won’t wait for them," the premier said.

Earlier this week, Ottawa announced it is giving the Toronto Transit Commission $303.5 million to buy almost 700 hybrid buses. The federal funds, first promised in 2004 by the then-Liberal government, match the $303.5 million the province committed in 2005-07 for Toronto transit improvements.

Because the Ontario budget surplus is expected to exceed $800 million by the time the public accounts are finalized this summer, the floodgates of money should open for cash-strapped municipalities.

That’s thanks to a new Liberal plan to earmark a chunk of surpluses for civic capital projects.

If the surplus exceeds $800 million, the first $600 million would go toward paying down Ontario’s $163 billion debt with the remaining $200 million being given to municipalities based on population.

While the government’s most recent data forecasts a budget surplus of $750 million, below the threshold that would trigger the windfall for municipalities, sources say corporate, income and retail sales tax revenues are higher than anticipated.

“This province is still growing, its economy is growing in spite of challenges in the manufacturing and forestry sector,” noted Duncan.

[SteelTown]

My prediction is that Hamilton will get $27.3 million, that's money for A-Line, B-Line ($17.4 million), and a new GO/VIA Station at James St N.

[mr.x]

I figured some of you Ontarians might be interested in this, about Vancouver's Translink:





MTR OF THE WEST: Translink's $1.5B real estate empire
Authority to buy properties along rapid transit routes and form partnerships with developers

Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Metro Vancouver's transportation authority is launching a real estate division that could produce up to $1.5 billion in revenue over the next 10 years, modelled on an agency that has reshaped Hong Kong.

Under the plan, enabled by 10-week-old provincial legislation, TransLink will purchase land along new rapid transit routes and around stations and ramp up the value of the land through denser zoning and partnerships with land developers to create high-density commercial and residential developments.

Early estimates of the revenue stream from real estate transactions were in the range of $30 million per year over 10 years, TransLink CEO Pat Jacobsen told The Vancouver Sun's editorial board Tuesday.

But new TransLink chairman Dale Parker said he expects to generate four to five times that much. (that's up to $150-million a year)

"That figure is ambitious, but I think we can do it," Parker said.

TransLink has hired Phil Christie as vice-president of real estate to head the new division. Christie has managed publicly owned real estate for the provincial government for more than 25 years.

A great deal of density is going to go in around the SkyTrain stations, Parker said. "We are going to have to benefit from that."

"It means getting involved to a greater degree in real estate development."

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has told the new, appointed TransLink board to consider the business model used in Hong Kong in their decision-making processes.

Hong Kong's MTR employed a public-private partnership model to develop skyscrapers around subway stations so successfully that the real estate arm of the public transit system is now a publicly traded company.

With a $14-billion public transit plan just announced by the provincial government to fund, and public anger over property-based levies to fund operations, the board's need for a substantial revenue source couldn't be more pressing.

Under the provincial plan, which includes three rapid transit lines -- the Canada Line, the Evergreen Line in the northeast, and a Broadway line west of Commercial Drive -- about 1,000 new buses and a third SeaBus, TransLink is expected to pay $2.75 billion in capital costs while it expands bus service in the Fraser Valley.

Parker admitted that opportunities to generate real estate revenue on the Canada Line were missed and that the Evergreen Line will be the first real opportunity to leverage the value that rapid transit creates in any meaningful way.

Before this year, TransLink was legally empowered only to buy the land necessary for SkyTrain operations. Under new legislation, TransLink can now buy land around stations and along the right of way.

"It will take a lot of discussion with the municipalities, but the signals that we are getting from the mayors is that they know a lot of density is going to come with the line," Parker explained.

The scheme will fast-track high-density nodes in residential neighbourhoods along new rapid-transit routes, likely adding fuel to already raucous public hearings over proposed track alignments and station locations.

But Parker said that without revenue from real estate, building the rapid transit lines "will probably not be a top priority."

To build three rapid transit lines in a decade, TransLink will need to secure high-density zoning from municipalities to feed ridership and create opportunities to profit from the real estate appreciation, Jacobsen explained.

To acquire the land cheaply and beat out developers and speculators, TransLink will have early discussions about alignments and station locations and then quickly and quietly buy the land where stations are to be built.

Some of TransLink's real estate holdings may have to be sold to finance land purchases, Parker said. Translink owns land at Oakridge and False Creek in Vancouver as well as park-and-ride lots in other municipalities.

"Once you monetize those properties, you can invest in a station and the surrounding area," Parker said.

TransLink is likely to secure its first private-sector development partners within three months, he said.

rshore@png.canwest.com


© The Vancouver Sun 2008

[SteelTown]

I heard these new trolley buses don't start service until June, is that true? Why not start first week of April? Why so late?

[coalminecanary]

If it were up to me, this would run year round from hunter GO, up James, over to the park, back to John and down John back to Hunter. I don't understand it running on Bay, there's not much going on there but residential... if it used James and John, then it would put eyes on both of those streets and perhaps convince some businesses to develop along both streets...

something like this... (google map link (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13956524153588221143,43.253458,-79.869215&saddr=Hamilton+GO+Centre%2FToronto,+Hamilton+%26+Buffalo+Railway+Museum++%4043.253458,-79.869215&daddr=hunter+and+james+to:james+and+strachan+to:Bayfront+Park,+Canada+to:john+and+strachan+to:john+and+hunter+to:Hamilton+GO+Centre%2FToronto,+Hamilton+%26+Buffalo+Railway+Museum++%4043.253458,-79.869215&mra=pe&mrcr=5&sll=43.467132,-79.827633&sspn=0.649846,1.2854&ie=UTF8&ll=43.260862,-79.863224&spn=0.020377,0.040169&t=h&z=15))

When the waterfront development picks up, then something like this would be cool to hook up with the marine discovery ctr... (google map link (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13956524153588221143,43.253458,-79.869215%3B10015532140541290847,43.274150,-79.859960&saddr=Hamilton+GO+Centre%2FToronto,+Hamilton+%26+Buffalo+Railway+Museum++%4043.253458,-79.869215&daddr=hunter+and+james+to:james+and+strachan+to:Bayfront+Park,+Canada+to:Guise+St+E+(Marine+Discovery+Centre)+%4043.274150,+-79.859960+to:james+and+strachan+to:john+and+strachan+to:john+and+hunter+to:Hamilton+GO+Centre%2FToronto,+Hamilton+%26+Buffalo+Railway+Museum++%4043.253458,-79.869215&mra=pi&mrcr=7&sll=43.263565,-79.865215&sspn=0.040752,0.080338&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14))

Or maybe up john and back down james would make more sense for traffic flow, and the trolley could go behind the station instead of out front. But theres something about it stopping right at the front door of the hunter station that just feels right.. Ding ding!! :-)

[SteelTown]

I believe these trolley buses goes up and down James Street North.

[DC83]

I heard these new trolley buses don't start service until June, is that true? Why not start first week of April? Why so late?

"They begin service on June 22, running every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 4."

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/342211

[DC83]

All aboard ... for a trip back in time
Free trolley service

http://media.hamiltonspectator.com/images/14/10/75a9301f4730990112c4a9d70e99.jpeg
Barry Gray, the Hamilton Spectator


March 20, 2008
Katie Mercer
Special to The Hamilton Spectator

It's back to the future.

The city unveiled two replicas of horse-drawn streetcars from the late 1800s at the waterfront centre yesterday.

The trolleys -- retrofitted buses designed inside and out from the original streetcar plans -- will offer free shuttle service from downtown to the waterfront during the summer.

"They're reminiscent of the good ol' days when the trolleys used to run around our city," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The new trolleys aren't just for waxing nostalgic, though.

They're an attempt to draw Hamiltonians and visitors down to the waterfront.

"We've been able to make this more of a people place -- ensuring that people are coming down here," said Councillor Chad Collins.

Members of the St. Elizabeth Villa Coffee Club were given a test ride from their retirement home on the Mountain to the waterfront.

"Besides the wonderful buses, it is the idea to bring people to enjoy the beautiful city we have here," said Helen Liaukus, 74.

"I'm definitely going to bring my family here now when they come."

The city dished out $300,000 for each specially designed bus, the average cost for a vehicle in the Hamilton Street Railway fleet.

They begin service on June 22, running every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 4.

History of the HSR

1874 to 1892 -- horse-drawn cars

1892 to 1932 -- incline railways on the Mountain

1892 to 1951 -- electric streetcars

1951 to 1994 -- trolley buses

1980s to 1990s -- natural-gas fuelled buses

1990s to current -- hybrid buses

[raisethehammer]

maybe down the road we'll see a downtown area loop route that is a full-time HSR route using these buses. would be sweet. and would get a lot of downtown area folks out of their cars knowing they have a free trolley service to downtown hotels, attractions and the waterfront.

[SteelTown]

Part of the A-Line is to eventually extend the service from downtown to the waterfront.

Perhaps during winter/fall/spring have the A-Line go from waterfront to Airport and than during the summer just downtown to Airport (trolley bus used instead).

[coalminecanary]

I believe these trolley buses goes up and down James Street North.

Ya but they jog west at king and use bay for part of the route which seems weird. shouldnt they be going more into the core instead of the other way? anyway it's cool to have them for now, I just hope that they can revisit the route sometime soon!

[raisethehammer]

I was on the B-Line today and the driver was calling out all stops through the intercom. Felt like I was riding a train or something! I hope they do this all the time.

[DC83]

I was on the B-Line today and the driver was calling out all stops through the intercom. Felt like I was riding a train or something! I hope they do this all the time.

There was one driver when I was in High School that used to call out every (B-Line) Stop! Maybe it was the same guy? I haven't had him as a driver in YEARS tho! Apparently (from what I remember) he used to be a GO driver or something!? That info was given to me in High School so could be inaccurate.

[SteelTown]

Ah good! Seems like someone made a complaint to HSR about blind people not being able to get off at the right stop.

In other cities they are installing automatic voice to signal what stop is next. I hope HSR places those on B and A Line.

[raisethehammer]

no kidding...such a simple step, but a very handy one.
Imagine a highway with no exit signs?? people wouldn't hear of it. transit has a long way to go in Canada to be treated as real mode of transport.

[matt602]

Calling out the stops really should be made mandatory. It's not just incredibly helpful to those who are visually impaired but it gives a better sense of community just to hear those familiar street names called out. Doesn't feel like you're just on a metal tube with wheels zooming towards home, you actually know the entire time "Hey I'm in Hamilton." Going one step further and announcing possible connections and major shopping/tourist destinations would be great too: "Parkdale Ave - Transfer to 11 Parkdale North to Burlington Bus Terminal or South to Valley Park Loop" or "King and James - Jackson Square, Copps Coliseum"

Yah. I know. I'm being WAY too optimistic here. Took the TTC long enough to implement as it was.

[raisethehammer]

Ontario to put $1B into roads, transit


Higher-than-expected tax revenue will also be used for affordable housing, McGuinty says
Mar 21, 2008 04:30 AM
Robert Benzie
Queen's Park Bureau Chief
There will be an additional $1 billion for roads, bridges and transit in Tuesday's provincial budget, Premier Dalton McGuinty promises.

Breaking with the tradition of budget secrecy, McGuinty scooped Finance Minister Dwight Duncan yesterday to make the surprise announcement at a Downsview GO Transit garage.

In a hastily organized move, the premier crashed Transportation Minister Jim Bradley's scheduled announcement that the first of 22 Scottish-built double-decker GO buses would soon hit the road.

"In our budget we will be investing $1 billion in infrastructure to reach every Ontario community – from Windsor to Whitby to Wawa to Walkerton," the premier said.

"We're going to improve public transit, we're going to invest in roads and bridges and we're going to invest in affordable housing," he said.

"These kinds of investments will help create about 10,000 construction jobs and we'll get better housing, better homes for our families, and we'll have more choice – roads or transit – when it comes to getting to work."

The cash windfall is the result of higher-than-expected revenues from corporate, income and retail sales taxes. There's so much money flowing in that McGuinty also pledged new "strategic supports" for industry in the budget, but declined to elaborate.

Beyond the $100 million toward affordable housing that McGuinty announced last Monday, the premier could not say how and where the additional $900 million would be spent.

The money is over and above any funds that would be available to cities and towns if the budget surplus exceeds $800 million when the province's financial statements are finalized this summer.

Toronto Mayor David Miller welcomed McGuinty's move.

"While we will have to wait until the provincial budget for more details, I am encouraged that we will be able to continue to work with the province to make important infrastructure investments in Toronto's public transit, public housing, and roads," Miller said in a statement.

Rob MacIsaac, who chairs Metrolinx which oversees Great Toronto Area transit, called the investment "outstanding."

"We obviously have lots of needs. I think characterizing this as a start is the right way to put it," said MacIsaac, who couldn't say how great an impact the funding would have on the planned $17.5 billion MoveOntario 2020 GTA transit plan.

Progressive Conservative MPP Tim Hudak (Niagara West-Glanbrook) warned that Ontario's slowing economy needs a bigger jolt.

"We are a province of tremendous talent and entrepreneurial spirit and great potential, suffering under (the Liberals') outdated, high-tax and runaway (spending) policies," said Hudak.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton blasted the Liberals for touting the purchase of Scottish buses the same day as they voted down a New Democrat private member's bill to mandate that 50 per cent of all transit money be spent in Ontario.

"The New Democrats believe in `buy Ontario.' What we're seeing from the McGuinty Liberals is `sell out Ontario,'" Hampton said.

The government released a new policy later yesterday, saying that transit vehicles bought with provincial cash must now have at least 25 per cent Canadian content.

The edict does not affect the new Scottish-built GO buses, which will operate on Highways 403 and 407, between Oakville GO station and York University.

[FairHamilton]

Yah. I know. I'm being WAY too optimistic here. Took the TTC long enough to implement as it was.

The only reason the TTC implemented their electronic audio and visual system was they had no choice. They lost a lawsuit launched against them by a man who's blind.

And it's still not 100%. I was on the York Mills 95B bus last night and the electronic sign was off, with no audio stop announcement. Of course the driver didn't call out a single stop, nice..........

All bus drivers should be made to call out stops as part of their job, period.

[FairHamilton]

"In our budget we will be investing $1 billion in infrastructure to reach every Ontario community – from Windsor to Whitby to Wawa to Walkerton," the premier said.

I guess there are no cities/towns starting with a "W" east of Whitby....................

[SteelTown]

Tuesday sounds like an exciting day for public transit money.

[raisethehammer]

I'll believe it's "new" money when I see it.

[SteelTown]

You've seen money for B-Line buses, trolley buses, future downtown terminal, hybrid buses, replacement buses, Lakeshore GO rail improvement and McMaster GO terminal. Probably the best Premier for public transit since Bill Davis.

[miketoronto]

The only reason the TTC implemented their electronic audio and visual system was they had no choice. They lost a lawsuit launched against them by a man who's blind.

And it's still not 100%. I was on the York Mills 95B bus last night and the electronic sign was off, with no audio stop announcement. Of course the driver didn't call out a single stop, nice..........

All bus drivers should be made to call out stops as part of their job, period.

You went right by my house if you were on the 95B :)

As for the announcements. Don't get me started on those. Drivers are suppose to announe the stops if the automated system is not working or on the bus. However most don't do it. I actually overheard one bus driver talking to another bus driver, and her words were
"what do they think I am, a babysitter having to announce stops for people".

[thistleclub]

man, i wish these went to the hunter station... if we end up with two terminals, it would be cool to have these as a shuttle between, arriving every few minutes or so :-)

The Waterfront Trolleys seem to be intended for tourists –- which explains the fare-free incentive, the starting point by the Sheraton/Hamilton Place/Convention Centre/AGH, the operating window (June-September are the city's 20°C+ months, brunch to sunset the time most would visit the waterfront) and the limited route stops. I don't think that the city looks on this as promoting ridership in the larger sense, more in adding appeal for out of towners. Whatever. It's a nice addition. I can easily imagine another of these servicing Van Wagners Beach/Confederation Park.

[markbarbera]

While the trolleys are overall quite attractive, a better job could have been one with the interior seating. The mix of wood benches and moulded seating looks kinda silly. Better to have splashed out a bit more gone with all wood seating along the back end and on the frame of the folding chairs by the accessible area.

[SteelTown]

Youtube clip of the new trolley buses, you can hear the bell ringing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n20gGDWsa3g

[mishap]

All bus drivers should be made to call out stops as part of their job, period.

It would be nice if all drivers knew all their stops, but that won't happen. Regular drivers would. But a spare driver thrown into service might not know a single stop name on their first day. What they have to do is include a list of the stops with the timetables when they send the drivers out. And that's only good as an interim measure, as it's just another piece of paper blocking their panel.

The other problem is how to make the calls. Do the drivers shout it out, or use the intercom? The latter is currently a bad option, as it would require the driver to have a hand off the wheel for a longer period of time. If drivers can't use cell phones, should they be expected to be on the handset all the time?

I'm not against the idea, but drivers have enough distractions, and if they are expected to do more, they better have improved equipment. This doesn't just apply to the HSR. Newer technology like the impending GPS systems and possibly headsets would help out with this.

[matt602]

No new paint scheme for the '08 buses any more. The HSR decided the gold looks stupid and is repainting the ones that were already delivered with it (and New Flyer is painting the un-delivered ones in the old scheme as well).

Bit of a waste of money. Would be nice if they'd do a demo bus in the gold/blue/yellow like the articulated buses if they're gonna dork around with the paint anyway. You'll never know how it looks until you try it...

[raisethehammer]

yea, it did look stupid. I like having colours in public transit vehicles, especially in our climate.
the gold was too boring and dull.

[SteelTown]

So tomorrow is Budget day. They'll be $1 billion set towards infrastructure and it's rumoured that it'll be spilt based on population so Hamilton should get a good chunk of the infrastructure money. Hamilton is top 4 in Ontario.

So we're like what 5% of Ontario's population? That would be $50,000,000. Imagine what that kind of cash could go towards.

There's suppose to be a separate funding for Metrolinx, which they requested Hamilton get around $20 million (A-Line, B-Line and GO/VIA).

[raisethehammer]

So tomorrow is Budget day. They'll be $1 billion set towards infrastructure and it's rumoured that it'll be spilt based on population so Hamilton should get a good chunk of the infrastructure money. Hamilton is top 4 in Ontario.

So we're like what 5% of Ontario's population? That would be $50,000,000. Imagine what that kind of cash could go towards.

There's suppose to be a separate funding for Metrolinx, which they requested Hamilton get around $20 million (A-Line, B-Line and GO/VIA).

is this money for 'infrastructure' or 'transit'?? big difference in Hamilton. we'll spend most of it filling potholes unless the government requires it to be spent on transit.
unless eisenberger has managed to change anything at city hall, don't expect the city to voluntarily spend much of this on transit.

[SteelTown]

I think it's towards infrastructure therefore giving cities to determine what goes towards what. Likely some of the money will go towards new sewer lines, pedestrian bridge, possible streetscape (perhaps King St), downtown transit terminal, and transit funding.

But there's likely more dedicated money strictly towards transit from funding Metrolinx.

[HAMRetrofit]

I think Hamilton should contract a private infrastructure development firm to develop subway from Centennial Parkway to Dundas. Start thinking outside of the box and revolutionary things will happen.

[SteelTown]

I don't think a subway will work in Lower Hamilton because of a couple of underground creeks. Think there's an underground creek somewhere near James St. It'll have to be above ground for Hamilton.

[flar]

Transit is handled by private companies in other countries, I'm sure they could find a way to profit. With proper marketing inspired by the profit motive, someone could probably convince people to use transit and pay good money for the privilege. The only thing stopping anyone from trying it here is the massive expenditure to build the network.

[HAMRetrofit]

I don't think a subway will work in Lower Hamilton because of a couple of underground creeks. Think there's an underground creek somewhere near James St. It'll have to be above ground for Hamilton.

They can be rerouted.

[HAMRetrofit]

Transit is handled by private companies in other countries, I'm sure they could find a way to profit. With proper marketing inspired by the profit motive, someone could probably convince people to use transit and pay good money for the privilege. The only thing stopping anyone from trying it here is the massive expenditure to build the network.

Perhaps they can bring labor and equipment from those countries to reduce the expenditures.

[raisethehammer]

I'm not sure about a subway. I know they are great in places like New York or Paris, but Hamilton could use the street-level inspiration of modern light rail zipping through the city. Putting LRT in it's own lanes with traffic signal controls gives it the same running time as subways, but without all the cost of underground construction and stations.

[coalminecanary]

...Plus the benefit of visual exposure for businesses along the route. In my mind, subways are kind of a workaround to have great public transit without compromising ANY car capacity. We have so much lane capacity in Hamilton, that I think it's fine to compromise two or three lanes total in order to squeeze in two-way surface rail.

[HAMRetrofit]

I would like to see Hamilton maximize more street parking area so that more surface lots can be developed into buildings.

[SteelTown]

$400 million towards public transit for the GTA and Hamilton from the $1 billion infrastructure fund.

[SteelTown]

$400 million for roads and bridges outside Toronto.

$497 million for public transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton.

[raisethehammer]

any idea of how much of that will be earmarked for the Hammer?

[SteelTown]

- $33-million for bus route improvements along Hamilton's King, Main and James Streets, and a new train platform at James Street North Station.

[raisethehammer]

frig...I was hoping for LRT money.

[SteelTown]

We got $5.7 million more than Metrolinx orginally wanted to give Hamilton, $27.3 million.

From Metrolinx
Hamilton A-Line, James-Upper James corridor and Airport connector - $6.9 million
Hamilton B-Line, King-Main corridor - $17.4 million
Hamilton James Street North GO/VIA Station - Gateway to Niagara - $3.0 million

[SteelTown]

frig...I was hoping for LRT money.

That money will come with MoveOntario 2020 which the federal government haven't committed to 1/3 funding yet.

Today's announcement is considered laying the groundwork for the government's $17.5 billion MoveOntario 2020 rapid transit plan.

[SteelTown]

From the Budget.....

Hamilton B-Line Improvements, King-Main Corridor - $17.4 million

A-Line Improvements, James-Upper James Corridor with service to Hamilton International Airport - $12.4 million

James Street North GO/VIA Station Gateway to Niagara - $3.0 million

A-Line got more money than Metrolinx orginally requested, $6.9 million.

[raisethehammer]

17 million for the B-Line. hmm, I wonder what that will buy?? stations? more artics?? I guess that's good for now....it will all be useful later on even with LRT. artics can be re-routed to new routes and the stations can be used for LRT, although I'd like it all on Main St, not King and Main.
Signal light enhancements too maybe??
probably most of that is for new buses.
Any timelines or is that up to the snails-pace HSR?

[SteelTown]

Think for B-Line it includes 12 new artic buses and improvements.

I figured why A-Line went up, last fall Premier Dalton already announced funding for new artic buses so this is for even more artic buses and improvements like shelters.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Appster/goham.jpg

[SteelTown]

So if it cost $5.5 million for six new articulated buses, that's $916,666 for each.

B-Line - 12 new artic busues - $11,000,000, the rest of $6.3 million for improvements.

A-Line - 6 new artic buses - $5,500,000, the rest of $6.9 million for improvements. Though I think the city may request more buses.

$5.5 million for city transit
Upper James corridor getting six buses to link downtown, airport

Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
(Dec 13, 2007)

The government will announce $5.5 million to finance upgrades to bus transportation along the Upper James corridor between the downtown and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

A government source said the $5.5 million will finance six new articulated, diesel-electric hybrid buses

[matt602]

That would be a total of 25 Hybrid Artic's (we have 7 already) for service on 2 routes. Seems pretty good. Assuming the routes won't be running on weekends, the artic's can go to the King as they already do, as well as the Barton and possibly the 25/26 and 27.

[HAMRetrofit]

These connections to John C. Munro really show the priority the province has for the airport to be the next regional international airport.