Posted May 18, 2013, 8:34 PM
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Politicians put the brakes on bus-only lane for King Street
(Hamilton Mountain News, Kevin Werner, May 16 2013)
Hamilton’s public works committee created a large pot hole in front of a proposed bus-only two-kilometer lane along King Street that has been championed by city transit staff.
“I just don’t see the big win,” said committee chair Lloyd Ferguson. “We are screwing up businesses. I don’t get it.”
Ferguson, along with councillors Chad Collins and Scott Duvall opposed the $300,000 project that would see the lanes painted on King Street from Mary to Dundurn streets by August. Councillors Brian McHattie and Sam Merulla supported the project, which already received the go-head by council last February when politicians approved the city’s Rapid Ready transit report. But four committee members were absent during the May 16 meeting. They were Robert Pasuta, Terry Whitehead, Tom Jackson and Russ Powers.
The recommendation is scheduled to be voted on at the May 22 council meeting.
The bus-only lane, which would be a one-year pilot project, would relocate on-street parking only on the south side of King Street, and allow two general travel lanes until Lock Street, where the road expands to accommodate four travel lanes. Christine Lee-Morrison, manager of mobility and special projects said there will be no net loss of parking spaces.
Lee-Morrison acknowledged it is difficult to determine if there will be better transit times for users. She said overall the project will improve the image of the city, especially if the bus-only lane idea is expanded to other roads and over longer corridors.
“You may not see a great improvement,” said Lee-Morrison, although buses may be able to move faster, with more reliability.
Ferguson and other councillors found the benefits of the bus-only lane difficult to accept. Duvall pointed out there could be potential safety issues for passengers using taxis, and for delivery personnel unloading trucks.
“I think we are going too quick, too fast,” said Duvall.
Collins said congestion could increase along King Street with the removal of one lane. He said already, especially during the rush hour, traffic is backed up daily between James and Caroline streets. And with one lane blocked off nearHess Streetto accommodate construction, the congestion is onerous, councillors said.
But Ward 2 councillor Jason Farr dismissed any idea the bus-only lane will create further problems along King Street.
“I have every faith after seeing the measurables it will be a success,” he said.
Meanwhile, councillors did agree to spend $1.4 million to build up to a dozen new pedestrian facilities along the A and B transit lines.
City staff is currently examining 16 possible locations at James and Mohawk, James and Stone Church, Queenston and Nash, Main and John, Main and Longwood, Main and MacNab, and Queenston and Parkdale streets for the new facilities.
These new pedestrian amenities will include shelters, benches, waste receptacles, bike storage areas, local maps, and transit information.
City officials are targeting these facilities to be completed by the end of the year.
The funding is part of the $29.8 million Metrolinx provided to the city in 2008 to use for capital projects to improve ridership along the A and B lines. Other projects that have already been approved include the Mohawk College Transit terminal, the Mountain Transit Centre park-n-ride, the bike share program, and the MacNab Terminal passenger information at a cost of about $11 million.
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