bike lanes for Greensville Hill?

NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE
IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY 8, PARK AVENUE TO BOND STREET
MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

FOR full announcement and a map of the area, follow the link: http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/08FA836A-19C5-4B52-9D78-20D6C5433030/0/aysJan29_2010.pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
THE STUDY
The City of Hamilton has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process to examine infrastructure improvements to Highway 8 between Park Avenue and Bond Street (see Location Map). This study is building on the recommendations made in the City’s Transportation Master Plan (May 2007), and the Cycling Master Plan (December 1999, update ongoing).

The purpose of this study is to examine roadway improvement alternatives from Hillcrest Avenue to Park Avenue (shown in dark hatching), such as bike lanes and sidewalks, and including intersection improvements at Highway 8 and Brock Road. From Park Avenue to Bond Street (shown in light hatching), the improvements to examine include cyclist facilities and repairs to culvert deficiencies.

LOCATION


THE PROCESS
This project is being planned as a Schedule C project under the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (October 2000, as amended in 2007). Project Schedule will be confirmed, and refined if required, once a preferred alternative is identified.

A Public Information Centre (PIC) has been scheduled to present the existing conditions and constraints, infrastructure alternatives, evaluation criteria and next steps. At the completion of this study, an Environmental Study Report, or Project File Report will be prepared and made available for public review.

PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE
The following PIC will be held to provide further information and to receive public input:
DATE: Thursday, February 11, 2010
TIME: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Christ Church Flamboro, 92 Hwy 8, Greensville ON

PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED
There is an opportunity at any time during this process for interested persons to review outstanding issues and bring concerns to the attention of the Project Managers. If you have any questions or comments or wish to be added to the study mailing list, please contact:

• Melanie Jajko, B.ES, Project Manager, E-mail eplanning@hamilton.ca
• Mike Bricks, MCIP, RPP, Project Manager, E-mail mbricks@ecoplans.com

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

This Notice issued January 29th and February 5th, 2010

TLC on the TMP

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC)
A working group of OPIRG McMaster
Box 19, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
905.525.9140 ext. 26026

June 17, 2007

TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, Attention Jill Stephen

We are writing on behalf of "Transportation for Liveable Communities" (TLC), a working group of the Ontario Public Research Interest Group (OPIRG) McMaster.

TLC members have thoroughly examined the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and were happy to identify important positive elements. These include:

1. An ambitious proposed REDUCTION of half a million daily car-kilometer traveled by Hamilton residents by 2011 and one million daily car-kilometer traveled by 2031 in spite of the projected population growth over this period (Section 2.4).

2. The proposed immediate addition of a senior alternative transportation staff and extension of the TDM position (Section 7.3.4).

3. A proposed six fold increase in funding for active transportation.

Overall, however, TLC members find the TMP fundamentally flawed because it does not provide a realistic framework for achieving its goal of REDUCING automobile travel as outlined in Section 2.4. We thus request that the TMP will be subjected to substantial revisions before it is adopted by the city.

Below we outline key suggestions that could substantially improve the TMP.

GENERAL

Currently, the major impediment to alternative transportation is an auto-focused infrastructure that is dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists. To change this, we suggest that the TMP:

1. Adopt a formal city policy of the following transportation priorities on all city streets: public transit, pedestrians, cycling, automobiles.

2. Recognizes service level "D" during peak hours as acceptable on all city streets to allow better accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists.

3. To address intersections over-built to accommodate traffic at the expense of pedestrians, adopt tighter standards of turning radii in intersections (5 m of less.)

4. Allow for a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h on city streets and a maximum of 40 km/h on Main, King, Wilson, Cannon, and Barton and other streets with heavy pedestrian traffic.

5. Main, King, Wilson, and Cannon should be converted to two-way traffic as soon as possible as both a speed-control measure and a means of promoting pedestrian activity and thus street life. Such two-way re-conversions should also be carried out on north-south routes. Finally, consideration should be given to "road dieting" and other redesign measures on all these streets.

6. Another aspect of the auto focus infrastructure is an overabundance of car parking. This should change by giving consideration to removing the requirement for car parking spaces (which cost $25,000 to $30,000 each to build) for new buildings. The revised parking regulations should also include requirements for indoor and outdoor bike parking.

BUSES

The proposed Bus Rapid Transit is an excellent development that TLC enthusiastically endorses. We suggest, however that:

1. The BRT in lower Hamilton would be integrated into 2-way street design (i.e. Main and/or King) and that decision about the BRT route will be made soon so it could influence development along the chosen corridor.

2. The BRT should extend westbound into Dundas.

3. The BRT route on the mountain should include Mohawk Rd rather than the LINC. In general, city buses should travel through dense residential areas.

4. The BRT as well as all other city buses should be equipped with bike racks YEAR ROUND. The current plan of seasonal bike racks does not assist nor encourage year-round cyclists. The idea behind the bike racks is to allow a dramatic increase in the effective area served by a bus route. Seasonal bike racks will not achieve the goal of shifting commuter car trips to bike/bus combination year around. Overall, seasonal bike racks may receive lesser use as they do not provide a year-around transportation alternative.

5. Whereas the TMP briefly discusses the regional bus and rail system, there is insufficient planning for integrating the regional mass transit system with local transit and active transportation. This part of the TMP needs strengthening.

CYCLING

The TMP includes an impressive list of proposed bike routes, which TLC enthusiastically endorses. The overall plan regarding cycling, however, is weak and is insufficient given the official goal of the TMP of a dramatic increase in cycling. We suggest the following:

1. Implement a safe, accessible and well connected route within 500 m from each Hamilton resident. Such routes should be either shared (on calm residential streets) or dedicated (on busy streets). They should include proper traffic calming and visible, consistent signage.

2. Major bike routes should be designated as dedicated snow routes to allow safe, reliable cycling year round.

3. All rural roads should include paved shoulders to enhance safe travel by bikes.

PEDESTRIANS

The TMP is exceptionally weak on pedestrian needs. We request that this part of the TMP be re-written by people with the necessary knowledge in the field. Specifically, we suggest that revised standards will include:

1. Marked pedestrian crosswalks on all four sides of signalized / signed intersections.

2. Curb extensions at pedestrian crossings (to replace the current common practice of road extensions at intersections).

3. Major traffic calming on residential streets utilizing engineering such as marked pedestrian crossings, mini-roundabouts, chicanes, raised medians through intersections and stop signs.

In the interest of a sustainable and liveable future, TLC looks forward to your response,

Reuven Dukas
Catherine Beattie
David Cohen
Randy Kay

(for TLC)

Another TLC meeting!

Transportation for Liveable Communities will meet at 6:30pm Wednesday, June 6 to finalize comments on the city's Transportation Master Plan . All are welcome to attend. We are in Room 220 of the McMaster Student Centre.

Directions

Bus Tickets available upon request.

tlchamilton.blogspot.com

TLC Meeting Wednesday, May 30, 2007

TLC invites people interested in drafting a response to the city of hamilton's Transportation Master Plan to meet Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at McMaster University Student Centre room 224 - Please read the TMP at the city web site before the meeting.

Directions

bus tickets available on request

MARCH MEETING

TLC meeting, Monday, March 19, 5:00pm at McMaster University Student Centre room 229.
Agenda - Discussion and input on the City of Hamilton Transportation Master Plan

Rural Trail Development: Letter to council

Dear Councillors,

Transportation for Liveable Communities is a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster.
TLC's mandate is to advocate for and support local sustainable transportation initiatives promoting cycling, walking, transit as viable alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle use.

We understand that the City of Hamilton staff has spent considerable amount of time and tax payer money preparing the Hamilton Trails Master Plan and the Transportation Master Plan - Class Environmental Assessment (PW07022), both readily accessible on the useful City of Hamilton web site.

The documents have been presented after extensive public consultation, in which many TLC members have participated over the past few years.

We thus were surprised to learn that councillor Dave Mitchell, in the February 19 public works committee meeting, apparently brought about the premature demise of over 70 kilometres of proposed new multi-use trails from the Transportation Master Plan.

TLC desires to see the integrity of the public process already undertaken supported and not undermined by what, unfortunately, presents itself as personal fiat.

We do not dismiss Mr. Mitchell's concerns outright, but opt for a process that would provide necessary safeguards required by our valued local agricultural sector.

We could point to the pleasant experience of cycling through farm country along the wonderful Hamilton to Brantford rail trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail that links our community to a national network of trails, and is a highly valued tourist attraction.

We support careful evaluation of a trail designated for a specific hydro corridor, which we trust can readily be done via the 30-day public comment period. However, we strongly disagree with the sudden removal of 70 kilometres of new multi-use trails from the Transportation Master Plan. This elimination bluntly violates the principles underlying the plan.

In conclusion, we hope that councillor Mitchell will join us in seeking equitable solutions on the issue of rural trail development. There is a great deal of potential to increase quality of life for Hamiltonians and visitors to the city by having an integrated trail system that showcases the many facets of life in Hamilton, urban and rural alike.


With kind regards,

Reuven Dukas
for Transportation for Liveable Communities
tlchamilton.blogspot.com
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
tlchamilton@gmail.com

These cowboy boots not made for walking...?

Got this from Citizens at City Hall:

"CATCH News – February 19, 2007
Rural cycling and walking trails strenuously opposed by Mitchell

A proposal to use rural hydro corridors as cycling and walking trails was forced off the table today by Glanbrook councillor Dave Mitchell. The move could eliminate up to half of the new multi-use trails called for in the city’s transportation master plan.

“There’s no way I want people riding their bikes or just thinking they can free willy walk across there,” declared Mitchell. “I can’t take my skidoo or ATV on their front lawn and rip the hell out of it, so I don’t want them walking across farmland either.”

The expanded trail network is intended to meet a target in the plan of “increasing the share of daily trips that are made by cycling or walking from the current level of 6% to 15% by 2030” by providing safe routes and promoting active transportation.

The plan presented to public works committee today promises 143 kilometres of new multi-use trails, with over 70 kilometres earmarked for hydro corridors.

But it enraged Mitchell who said he had previously told staff to remove them and had been promised that would happen.

“You cannot dictate to the agricultural community that in 2031 or whenever it is that you’re going to have paths going through the middle of prime agricultural land,” Mitchell declared. “I asked for them to be taken out before. I am led to believe they got put back in by mistake, but they should not go out to the public with them in here because it’s hugely misleading.”

Director of capital works, Gerry Davis, agreed that they were “supposed to be deleted” and promised to ensure that happened before the plan is released for a 30 day public comment period required by the environmental assessment process. However, further questioning by committee chair Margaret McCarthy revealed that the trail proposals have been before the public for several months.

“It’s out there in draft from the public meetings in September,” confirmed Davis.

To fulfill the requirements of the class environmental assessment process, the amended transportation master plan will now be released for a 30-day public comment period.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CATCH (Citizens at City Hall) updates use transcripts and/or public documents to highlight information about Hamilton civic affairs that is not generally available in the mass media. Detailed reports of City Hall meetings can be reviewed at www.hamiltoncatch.org. You can receive all CATCH free updates by sending an email to info@HamiltonCATCH.org.

[end]

NOTE - This is the same councillor who blamed environmentalists for causing damage in Red Hill Valley by walking on trails - while he supported the building of the red hill creek expressway.
-r