[LikeHamilton]

I could not fine a spot for this so I started one.

This is from the Public works agenda. This is on top of 18 new articulated buses that are in and going in service at the end of the summer and 17 - 2009 40 - foot buses being delivered later this year. Selected quotes from the document.



RECOMMENDATION:

That the 2010 Capital expenditure for the purchase of 17 replacement Conventional (HSR) Transit Buses at an estimated cost of $8,838,290 be pre-approved and funded from the following fleet replacement sources: Ontario Bus Replacement Program; Transit Provincial Gas Tax Reserve 112204; and HSR Vehicle Replacement Reserve 110030 as identified in the Financial Section of this report.

In 2007, the City of Hamilton was offered the opportunity to participate in a joint procurement of 40-foot Transit buses with the Province of Ontario and other Ontario municipalities. The City Of Hamilton joined this procurement agreement in 2008 under Council’s approval for acquisition of the 2008 Transit replacement Fleet.

A subsequent tender for the years 2009/2010 was issued by the Province of Ontario, now in the proprietorship of Metrolinx. Council has previously approved Hamilton’s participation in this joint procurement. The 17 replacement buses for 2009 have been purchased under this agreement. These buses will begin arriving in September 2009.

This report recommends Council’s pre-approval of 17 replacement 40-foot conventional transit buses for 2010 through the Provincial Procurement bid award. For 2010, there will be a price increase of $10,000 per bus. This increase can be avoided through issuing a Purchase Order in 2009, at 2009 pricing, for delivery in 2010 that will result in a cost avoidance of $170,000 to the City.

It is necessary for the Vendor (New Flyer Industries) to receive a Purchase Order as soon as possible to ensure delivery of the buses to the City early in 2010.

Currently, over 80% of the HSR revenue fleet consists of buses manufactured by New Flyer Industries. This percentage will increase to over 90% with the arrival of the 2009/2010 bus orders.

[matt602]

Thanks for the post. I'd like to add that the 18 articulated buses and 17 40 foot buses will be in the 9xx numbering series. They were originally supposed to be in the 09xx series (carrying on from the last order of buses in the 08xx series) but either due to a change of mind at the HSR or numbering screw up at NFI, they became 9xx instead (the number series previously taken by GM New Look buses which were retired in 1999). Another order for 2010 of 40 foot buses is also scheduled, which is supposed to be in the 10xx series.

[SteelTown]

You can see all the new articulated buses if you drive by. They are all shiny. Too bad they couldn't change the exterior of the bus for the A-Line. Guess that would be too much since the buses will likely switch from A and B-Line.

With all these new buses I wonder when they'll expand the Mountain Terminal Centre. Probably really soon, probably will cost up to $20 million alone. I think they are trying to reloate DARTS somewhere else to free some space.

[matt602]

There was an article in one of the local newspapers on the mountain about overcrowding issues at the Mountain Garage. Apparently they're quickly approaching capacity and looking at solutions. As usual, the HSR wants to leave the current location and build a mega garage, more than likely somewhere on the mountain again. Why operations can't be split between the mountain garage and Public Works yard on Wentworth is beyond me. It would reduce the travel time for buses assigned to the lower city, decreasing fuel costs.

[SteelTown]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if they waited until LRT for the B-Line. I read somewhere they want to have a garage for the LRT some where near the CN Yard by the waterfront. Perhaps they'll merge the bus terminal centre with the LRT garage.

[mishap]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if they waited until LRT for the B-Line. I read somewhere they want to have a garage for the LRT some where near the CN Yard by the waterfront. Perhaps they'll merge the bus terminal centre with the LRT garage.
Funny, I heard that they were looking into building a train yard on the Dundas/Hamilton boundary. It would certainly explain why they're so gung-ho about taking rapid transit to University Plaza.