Bus or LRT? Ontario will soon reveal the results of its transit study in Hamilton
Matthew Van Dongen
Wed., Aug. 12, 2020
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...-hamilton.html
It’s not yet clear how much say Hamilton council will have in choosing a new provincially funded rapid transit project.
Hamilton’s back-to-the-future LRT debate will rev up again this fall after the province completes yet another study comparing light rail to rapid bus transit.
The latest study to measure rail-versus-bus benefits was commissioned after the Progressive Conservative government cancelled Hamilton’s LRT project in December over budget concerns — despite having already spent $180 million, purchased 60 properties and forced dozens of resident to relocate.
Facing backlash, the province formed a task force to study how to spend the $1-billion project budget — and that five-person body recommended either light rail or bus rapid transit on the King-Main corridor. IBI Group is heading an ongoing “technical review” of those recommendations for the province.
The review findings should be ready this fall, said Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly, who added the government’s original hopes to go public with results in September were slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s not an intentional delay,” she said.
Skelly described the review as a “cost-benefit” evaluation of light rail and bus rapid transit, which typically involves express buses running in separated lanes with platform stops.
Don’t worry if the study sounds familiar.
Provincial transit agency Metrolinx did a benefits case analysis of the two options that helped convince Hamilton to pursue its original light rail transit project, which was funded in 2015 by the previous Liberal government.
An internal Metrolinx update in 2015 — only made public in a critical auditor-general’s report — made a stronger case for BRT just months ahead of the original $1-billion funding announcement.
It’s not yet clear how much say Hamilton council will have in choosing a new provincially funded rapid transit project. But Skelly said local residents “will have to be given the opportunity to weigh in” on any project that could contribute to tax hike.
She repeated the government’s contention that just to operate the LRT would cost the city $1 billion — an estimate questioned by critics who have suggested the province fudged the numbers for the entire project. In cancelling the project, the Tory government cited an overall cost prediction of $5.5 billion.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he is “anxiously awaiting” news about the technical review. But he and other LRT supporters say revisiting bus rapid transit on the Main-King corridor would be a step backwards.
Eisenberger argued the ridership, economic and development benefits of fixed rail transit have been “repeatedly well-demonstrated” over time. “The only thing that has changed is that COVID has happened,” he said. “And now there is an even higher need for economic stimulus and shovel-ready projects.”
Chamber of Commerce head Keanin Loomis pointed to comments from federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna that LRT is Hamilton’s only “shovel-ready” transit project ahead of planned pandemic stimulus spending.
He said reconsidering BRT risks years of delay to do new or updated studies. “We’ve got LRT teed up and ready to go right now,” he said. “I think throwing an either-or scenario back at council would be a huge setback.”
Retired Hamilton transportation manager Ted Gill argued the original Metrolinx comparison study between bus rapid transit and light rail was not “impartial” and contained “pretty significant errors.”
A later, less-publicized update report suggested a better benefits-to-cost ratio for bus rapid transit. The update still noted ridership, climate and long-term development advantages for fixed rail.
Coun. Brad Clark, who previously ran for mayor on a pro-BRT platform, said he feels past studies were “skewed in favour” of LRT. “And I don’t believe for a minute there is federal money ready and waiting for (a resurrected) LRT,” he said.
Gill suggested a “fulsome, fair” transit comparison is overdue — and wouldn’t necessarily derail a timely building project.
He argued BRT would travel the same route, require the same right-of-way and similar station stops as the planned LRT, so a “fast-tracked” project assessment might be possible.
What is it?
True “bus rapid transit” is usually defined as express bus service in dedicated, physically separated lanes. Stops can be similar to LRT platforms or stations. Metrolinx sometimes refers to “BRT-lite,” a mix of dedicated lanes and buses moving in regular traffic.
What would it cost?
In the past, building a Main-King corridor BRT was pegged at $265 million. Operating (ie. staffing) costs are generally assumed to be higher for BRT, because a light rail car carries more people than a bus.
Where would it go?
The city is currently focused on a rapid transit line for the B-Line corridor — Hamilton’s busiest — running from McMaster University to Eastgate Square.
What are the pros and cons?
Affordability and flexibility are often cited by BRT fans. Light rail transit supporters point to higher ridership and development opportunities linked to fixed rail. LRT is championed as a clear climate winner, too — but electric buses could narrow the gap for BRT.
Prev
Linear Mode
