The future of Hamilton's public transit - Page 67

markbarbera · #**1321** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 11:13 AM**

IMO this human rights complaint is a bit of a sham. Why issue a complaint when the HSR is already mid-way through implementation of the automated stop-calling system the complaint is demanding? Where is the benefit from all the financial costs of issuing a complaint demanding a system be in place within 30 days, when it is already being implemented and on track for completion within 60 days anyway? Sounds like the only people that stand to gain from this complaint are the tribunal lawyers fighting to implement something that's already being implemented. Utter nonsense!

SteelTown · #**1322** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 11:20 AM**

HSR called out on stops

July 08, 2009
Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/596102

The head of Hamilton transit says it is unreasonable to train all city bus drivers to call out 20,000 stops for bus passengers.

As an interim measure. For a month.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission obviously disagrees. The commission this week filed complaints against Hamilton, Sudbury and Thunder Bay for failure to call out stops for bus passengers. The commission is asking the Human Rights Tribunal to order the municipalities to begin calling out stops on all routes within 30 days.

Hamilton expects to have a new $3-million fully automated call-out system in place on all buses by September.

Hamilton transit director Don Hull was surprised Steeltown was included in the complaint. Hamilton has been working full-out to get its new system in place.

"For us to put 400 operators through training to do manual call-outs... for us it's an issue of reliability. For us the manual system simply will not be reliable. We're making 20,000 stops a day. It's like a bylaw that you can't enforce because you can't be there all the time.

"The only thing that is going to be close to 100 per cent reliable is a fully automated system. We're going to work with the commission and we're optimistic we'll get something sorted out.

"We take these issues seriously and we've demonstrated our commitment. It's not like we've been dragging our feet.

"We feel we've made a commitment above and beyond quite frankly to get this system up and running at the fastest possible time," he said.

Hull said a little perspective is needed. While the call-out stop issue is important, the HSR has less than a dozen complaints over the issue.

"The operators have been very good in the past. The operator will ask the person to take a seat where they can see them. And then advise the person as they're coming up to the stop. That's been common practice here for years."

In 2008, all of Ontario's 38 public transit providers assured the commission that call-out service would be in place by the end of the year. This year the commission learned that several transit providers were well behind that deadline.

BrianE · #**1323** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbarbera

IMO this human rights complaint is a bit of a sham. Why issue a complaint when the HSR is already mid-way through implementation of the automated stop-calling system the complaint is demanding? Where is the benefit from all the financial costs of issuing a complaint demanding a system be in place within 30 days, when it is already being implemented and on track for completion within 60 days anyway? Sounds like the only people that stand to gain from this complaint are the tribunal lawyers fighting to implement something that's already being implemented. Utter nonsense!

The entire Human Rights Comission has become a sham, IMO. It's no longer functioning the way it's supposed to, it's been hijacked.

matt602 · #**1324** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 9:51 PM**

The OHRC is very much a sham. A corrupted sham that works out of the pockets of certain groups and types of people. Don't need to get into that here though.

SteelTown · #**1325** Posted **Jul 21, 2009, 7:03 PM**

Hamilton feels transit pinch
2 per cent ridership drop costs $600,000

July 21, 2009
Nicole MacIntyre
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/603976

Hamilton’s job losses are also hurting the city’s transit system.

Ridership is down 2 per cent — a $600,000 budget hit.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s connected to the economy,” said transit director Don Hull.

Increased unemployment means fewer people travelling in general, he said, noting other cities with high job losses have also seen a ridership dip.

If cities haven’t seen a drop, it’s likely because they’ve had new service come on line, noted Hull.

Toronto’s ridership, for example, is up nearly 3 per cent. Observers point to service enhancements that started in the last year.

Across the country, it appears transit ridership is holding steady, a welcome surprise given the poor economy, said Michael Roschlau, president of the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

He also credits service improvements and suspects the figures would be much worse without recent investments.

The association is still waiting for firm numbers, but has heard anecdotally from many communities, he said.

Roschlau cautions against cities slashing services to make up for the budget shortfalls. Cuts now will only leads to further ridership losses and mean a longer recovery, he said.

“You start to get in a downward spiral.”

Hull said the city has no plans for cuts, but hopes savings from lower gas prices will offset the lost fare revenue.

drpgq · #**1326** Posted **Jul 21, 2009, 8:24 PM**

And yet, gasoline consumption reached it's highest level ever in Canada despite the economy. The HSR couldn't raise ridership last year when oil was at $145, so I'm hardly surprised at this. Hell, they can't even look after their fares properly.

Heather Scoffield

Last updated on Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2009 12:57PM EDT

Nothing seems to shake Canadians' desire to drive.

As the global recession and relatively high gas prices have eroded Americans' gasoline consumption and forced changes in their commuting habits, Canadians have kept on trucking.

This April, Canadian consumption of gasoline rose to an all-time high, even as the recession was still eating away at economic activity and gas prices were creeping up.

“We don't scare easy,” said Philip Cross, chief economic analyst at Statistics Canada.

Gasoline consumption was about 3.6 per cent higher in April 2009 than a year earlier, according to new data from Statistics Canada that are adjusted to eliminate price effects and seasonal factors. In those terms, Canadians spent $1.893-billion to fill their engines that month – the most ever.

Canadians weren't completely immune to the effects of the global recession and high gas prices. Last summer, drivers did cut back as the recession took hold in Canada and gasoline prices soared.

But consumption climbed again last fall and stabilized during the darkest days of the recession. And as soon as the labour market slowed its free-fall this spring, gasoline consumption resumed its upward track – even though gasoline prices have been climbing since the beginning of this year.

It's another sign that the global recession has not been nearly as corrosive in Canada as in the United States, Mr. Cross said, and that employment and incomes are not declining as much here.

Indeed, he notes that auto sales have picked up because of increased purchases of trucks – not the more gas-efficient cars that would fit with the pattern of a recession-weary consumer.

realcity · #**1327** Posted **Jul 21, 2009, 10:51 PM**

Yep. blame it on the recession and not poor management. It seems obvious to me that in a times of job losses the car goes into park first and mobility must be kept so transit it would seem to be one of those things that goes up in a recession.

Don Hull is an idiot. How long has he been in charge?

SteelTown · #**1328** Posted **Jul 21, 2009, 11:21 PM**

Transit ridership has gone down pretty much all over Canada, I believe Missy ridership went down in double digits. Ridership also went down during the early 90's as well and that was the last recession.

coalminecanary · #**1329** Posted **Jul 22, 2009, 12:38 AM**

Why is it so clear cut to them that it's job loss causing the ridership decrease and not fare increases?

If rides were a buck, I bet we'd see an increase. And since ridershop is obviously tied directly to employment rate, that increase would translate to more jobs!

logic hurts brain!

markbarbera · #**1330** Posted **Jul 22, 2009, 11:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

Why is it so clear cut to them that it's job loss causing the ridership decrease and not fare increases?

If rides were a buck, I bet we'd see an increase. And since ridershop is obviously tied directly to employment rate, that increase would translate to more jobs!

logic hurts brain!

Why is it so clear? Because ridership went up 1% in 2008, despite a fare increase in January of 2008. During the first four months of 2009, ridership is down 2%, despite the fact that there was no increase in fares during that time period. There was, however, significant job loss in Hamilton during this time.

Logic does hurt brain!

go_leafs_go02 · #**1331** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 9:20 PM**

is the A-line still starting up next month? Honestly haven't heard a single thing about it in months....

SteelTown · #**1332** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 9:39 PM**

Changes for HSR on September 2, 2009.....

* A-Line will be introduced
* 18-Waterdown will be introduced
* 44-Rymal will be introduced
* Voice/next stop/GPS will be up and running

mic67 · #**1333** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 9:58 PM**

When does King/Main become 24 hour?

mic67

SteelTown · #**1334** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 10:00 PM**

One of the goals for the B-Line is to have 24/7 service. Push your councillor for support and funding.

mic67 · #**1335** Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 11:46 PM**

With just a b-line operating on King/Main for a 24 hr service you would probably only need 2 buses that are on 1/2 hr freq.
From Eastgate to James St.

But wait is Ham. the 3rd largest city in Ont?
Is the city the 3rd or 2nd largest employer - in the city?
Is the vegetation that is growing between the curb and sidewalk considered a greening of the city? Or that cleaning the streets is a luxury?

I guess it is sort of like the fact that in TO - not having an LRT from Pearson airport to downtown.

If there isnt a date for 24hr service already - then asking for it is redundant. 24hr service on the b-line is more relevant than the improvements to be implemented. An LRT would very likely mean no 24hr service for this city. They dont have a (uber basic)24hr service and they want an LRT? LOL...ya OK

mic67

go_leafs_go02 · #**1336** Posted **Aug 12, 2009, 12:54 AM**

they're introducing service within a week of when it's supposed to start up?

You'd think they'd announce schedules and routing well in advance. I'm returning to Hamilton for school, and living on the Mountain, and wondering if I should plan my transit trips to school using the A-Line or not.

SteelTown · #**1337** Posted **Aug 12, 2009, 2:50 AM**

A-Line won't be going anywhere near Upper Paradise or Garth St. From the Escarpment it'll go along West 5th, tour around campus, along Fennell and turn up to Upper James to the Airport.

go_leafs_go02 · #**1338** Posted **Aug 12, 2009, 3:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

A-Line won't be going anywhere near Upper Paradise or Garth St. From the Escarpment it'll go along West 5th, tour around campus, along Fennell and turn up to Upper James to the Airport.

I knew roughly it was an Upper James routing. I'm returning, but to a different location. Upper Wellington near Stone Church.

markbarbera · #**1339** Posted **Aug 23, 2009, 12:22 PM**

A-Line express bus route and timetable now available on HSR website. Service starts week of Sept 6.

SteelTown · #**1340** Posted **Aug 23, 2009, 4:22 PM**

Takes 36 minutes to complete the entire route.

I'm assuming A-Line will terminate at the GO Centre? I notice a stop at King, which I thought HSR and the City wanted to eliminate.