Transit - HamiltonForward

IMPROVE TRANSIT

Hamilton should focus more time and resources on improving and growing the transit system to relieve traffic and encourage transit ridership.

1 #YesLRT and 'BLAST' RAPID TRANSIT

Hamilton has the rare opportunity to kick-start our rapid transit network with a 100% provincially funded B-Line LRT line. We must prioritize the signing of a construction contract and start work on this guaranteed investment which will improve travel for all areas of the city. After the B-Line LRT is built, the City should prioritize the construction of the rest of the BLAST rapid transit network and next seek to secure funding for the North-South A-Line LRT.

2 REPEAL AREA RATING

Our bus network has suffered for years under the strange and unfair system of transit area rating. Since amalgamation, our city has prioritized keeping property taxes low for suburban, auto-owning, homeowners by underfunding our transit. Despite flatlining ridership and service complaints, city council has yet to address to area rating. HamiltonForward believes that all of Hamilton should contribute an equal amount to our transit system, and supports elimination of area rating.

3 IMPROVE BUS SERVICE

City Council’s repeated decisions to delay improvements and cut funding to the HSR have resulted in lower ridership, service disruptions, and poorer service. Despite this, City Hall has used the lower ridership created by their policies to justify further cuts and mismanagement. Transit users who are subjected to yearly fare increases should be able to see tangible improvements on their routes, not further cuts and more unreliable service.

4 BRING TWO-WAY ALL-DAY GO TRAIN SERVICE TO HAMILTON

Hamilton is served by two GO stations, but neither are receiving all-day GO train service. Intensification is happening near both Hamilton GO Centre (The Connolly, 100 James South, and Corktown Plaza) and West Harbour GO (Harbour Condos on the Bay, West Harbour redevelopment, and Acclaimation Condos), but the long-promised transit improvements never arrive. A key transit priority of both the local and provincial government needs to be bringing two-way all-day GO trains to Hamilton.

5 EXPAND MOUNTAIN-to-LOWER CITY TRAVEL CHOICES

Currently, car and bus are the dominant and most accessible choices for traveling up the mountain from the lower city, and vice-versa. The city should study ways to create pedestrian, stroller, bike, and wheelchair paths alongside mountain accesses. The upcoming Keddy Access Trail on the Clairemont Access is a good start, and should be adopted on more accesses, like the Jolley Cut from the Downtown to Concession St.