Light Rail Streaming from Hamilton City Hall

Trendy in 1970

We're still trying to undo the damage. 

The future was 1941...

Local historian Brian Henley blogs today about gasoline rationing as reported in the Hamilton Spectator in 1941. Three key ingredients to a more sustainable future are contained within the full article, including, trading the car for bicycles, driving slower to cut fuel consumption, and electric vehicles, apparently an old and efficient technology. It's too bad that there isn't the same recognition of our need to change how we get around today. Check out the entire blog post with more photos at http://henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/summer-of-1941-gasoline-rationing-begins/

“THE BICYCLE IS HERE TO STAY — There is one family in this city that took to heart the government’s request to conserve gasolene and oil. They are Mr. And Mrs. Henry Reseigh, 219 1/2 King Street East, who sold their car when the new gas regulations came into effect and bought these bicycles. They are pictured with their six-year-old son, Billy, as they were leaving yesterday for a picnic to Albion falls. The lunch may be seen in Billy’s carrier. They have gained a healthy hobby, they are being patriotic, and they are “having a better time than they ever had driving a car.”

The Hamilton Spectator. July 24, 1941.

Countdown Downtown

 A very short video of a pedestrian crossing signal in the downtown core of Hamilton Ontario. The very short walk phase (7 seconds) is followed by a 20 second "Don't Walk" phase.

 Pedestrians are not supposed to start crossing during the don't walk phase, meaning that they would conceivably have to wait 19 seconds of a "don't-walk" phase for the light during the traffic green-phase, then the entire red-phase of the traffic light, before being able to make their crossing.

 A countdown timer would give pedestrians access to accurate information about the timing for the crossing, and enable them to make an informed decision about crossing. There are a few countdown timers in various parts of the city, like Bay and King, and Cootes at Sanders. We need more.

Transportation as Social Justice Issue

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/01/04/hamilton-commuter-study.html

Kids in low-income areas at higher risk of being hit by commuters, prof warns

By Kaleigh Rogers, CBC News 

Posted: Jan 7, 2013 7:04 AM ET 

Last Updated: Jan 7, 2013 12:35 PM ET 

Read 7comments7

Children living in downtown Hamilton may be at a higher risk of pedestrian injury, according to a new study out of McMaster University.

The study shows a link between high-levels of commuter traffic — as opposed to local traffic — and higher levels of pedestrian child injury.

Geography professor Nikolaos Yiannakoulias studied Toronto neighbourhoods and compared local traffic (drivers coming from that neighbourhood), arriving traffic (drivers arriving at their destination in that neighbourhood) and flow-through traffic (drivers passing through the neighbourhood on their way somewhere else).

'It [commuter traffic] is definitely a concern to many people living in lower Hamilton. They're scared to let their children walk to school.'—Nikolaos Yiannakoulias, McMaster University

He discovered certain neighbourhoods, especially lower income areas, with higher levels of flow-through traffic also saw higher levels of pedestrian child injury.

However, areas with high levels of local traffic did not see the same levels of injury. Even if the neighbourhood had very high volume of traffic, if it was local the levels of injury did not increase, the study found.

"It may be that drivers going through a neighbourhood may not know where children are or where schools are," Yiannakoulias explained. "Their decision to commute or not commute has an impact on everyone."

Yiannakoulias said he plans to continue the research to identify exactly what the connection is between commuter traffic and pedestrian injury. He hopes to expand the research to other cities, especially Hamilton, where Yiannakoulias says many similar issues exist.

"There are major East-West throughways in Hamilton with schools very close," he pointed out.

"There are kids walking to school and many are having to cross these major streets where there is a lot of traffic going fast and this is the same kind of commuter traffic we saw in Toronto."

Winter Wondering?

The City of Hamilton is looking for input on winter snow clearing on selected bicycle lanes:

Dundurn at Jones, January 5, 2013

"During the 2012 - 2013 winter season a pilot project will continue to test enhanced maintenance activities for a specific section of the "on-road painted" bike lanes to measure the benefit and cost of extending availability of bike lanes further into the winter season. The enhanced activities include additional inspection, ploughing, anti-icing, and street sweeping when warranted and feasible (excluding snow removal for the specific benefit of the affected bike lanes). This pilot project includes the bike lanes on Sterling Street, Longwood Road, Dundurn Street, and Sanders Boulevard. The pilot will be assessed and recommendations developed for future consideration. The pilot was initiated last winter, but the mild conditions have us continuing the pilot this winter.

To provide feedback on this project please access the web survey. You can complete the survey multiple times as conditions vary and please share it with other people."

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/winterbikelanemaintenance

Why some cyclists stop riding in winter

King Street West bike lanes, December 3, 2012

The lack of proper snow removal in winter creates conditions that undermine cycling infrastructure like these new bike lanes in West Hamilton.

The city is supposed to be prioritizing walking and cycling over cars, yet with snow comes the truth: cars get the full treatment, while sidewalks remain the responsibility of individual home-owners and businesses, and bike lanes, well, you can see for yourself. Snow and ice on the sidewalks and bike lanes while the roads are clear and dry.

Of course there are still winter cyclists braving the spotty paths to and fro, but how many more would still be riding if there was the same level of service offered to cars?

High Numbers: Impaired Driving Up in Hamilton and Province

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/01/03/hamilton-drunk-driving-numbers.html

• Hamilton police made 538 impaired-driving arrests in 2012, five more than in 2011, a 15-year-high
• 166 of arrests came as a result of citizens calling in on 911 to report suspected drunk drivers
• A record of 228,315 drivers were stopped in RIDE programs (170,000 vehicles in 2011)
• The Ontario Provincial Police charged 693 people across the province with impaired driving between Nov. 24 and Jan. 2., an eight-year high according to the OPP
• The OPP laid around 8,000 impaired-driving charges in 2012, about the same as 2011's total
• There were 72 alcohol related fatalities, up from 60 the year previous

STOP! Is this Hamilton's first bike-traffic light?

Some nice new cycling infrastructure in Ward One, including improved physically separated two-way bike lane over highway 403 (Ministry of Transportation Ontario), and a new extension of the two-way cycling lanes west of Macklin to Paradise (with a further extension to come in the spring) courtesy the City of Hamilton and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie (also some credit must go to McHattie for using a participatory budget process for his ward which identified cycling lanes as a priority).

The above photo reveals the first bike-specific traffic light in the city, newly installed to address the two way bike traffic on a one-way street. 

The other innovation is the raised bike lane with a newly relocated bus stop. A sign and pavement markings warn cyclists to yield to pedestrians who will cross the cycling lane to board and disembark the bus. 

Roads all the Rage at Province

A call for updated thinking around transportation from the Spec:

The Spectator’s View: A government obsessed with highways

What’s the best way to deal with growing congestion in the Golden Horseshoe? Back in the ’50s and ’60s, the answer was simple: Build more roads. Apparently, things haven’t changed much, at least not in the mind of the Ontario government. 

This week, Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli outlined the latest “highway expansion options” for the Hamilton and Halton areas. The good news is that Queen’s Park seems to be leaning away from a new superhighway cutting through Halton, up the escarpment and across to Niagara. The bad news is the province can’t see past roads. More lanes from Hamilton to St. Catharines, a new highway between Highway 406 and Fort Erie, widening Highway 6 and widening to 10 lanes or even adding a second level to Highway 403 through Hamilton. 

No mention of rail. No mention of where an expanded GO might fit into taking cars off highways. Sooner or later, the government needs to recognize simply adding more highway won’t solve the problem. We need future thinking, not rear-view vision. 

Howard Elliott

December 21, 2012

Ward One Improvements to Cycling

The City of Hamilton has now completed a two-way bike lane on the north side of King Street between Macklin St and Paradise Rd. There are plans to continue the bike lane network on both sides of King between Paradise and Cline Ave. N. (by the TD Bank). This work will be completed in the spring. 

This link is part of the plan outlined in Shifting Gears Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan.

See http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/CommunityServicesRelatedPoliciesAndGuidelines/Cycling/shiftinggears.htm for more details about the plan.

A map showing the Ward 1 cycling network is at http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/95D5B06A-32D2-46E0-839D-E25C3D52E1DF/0/FinalShiftingGears2009May1611lrgprintChp5.pdf.

Burlington Lakeshore - Left Turn or Bike Lanes?

"This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it."

CONTACT INFO FOR BURLINGTON COUNCIL: http://cms.burlington.ca/Page110.aspx

LITTLE: Lakeshore bike lane pilot both costly and frustrating

Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 20/12

A pilot project would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side of Lakeshore Road, writes columnist Joan Little.

Any Burlington driver who ever uses Lakeshore Road will be left gasping in amazement at the latest hare-brained scheme for it.

There’s already frustration about its unnecessary narrowing at Brant Street, and resultant congestion, but wait till you hear about a “pilot project” from late summer to early fall in conjunction with the 2013 regional water main replacement from Torrance Street to Guelph Line. The pilot would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side. The cost for painting lines on the new configuration is $35,000.

Councillor Jack Dennison wants the pilot extended easterly to Walkers Line. That would add $45,000 and be all summer — spring to fall. Tourist season. More bike lanes? Great! But bike lanes that totally disrupt traffic flow?

Fortunately, thanks to Councillor John Taylor, there’s a reprieve. This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it.

[NOTE: Ward 2 Councillor opposes the pilot project]
[Mayor asks for comments on bike lanes at his blog]

A bit of background: Burlington approved a cycling master plan in 2009. It directed staff to investigate widening Lakeshore Road to Burloak, “maintaining two narrowed travel lanes and a narrowed two-way left-turn lane,” and to begin design work. [I couldn't find any reference to this in the plan; see below for the actual recommendations in the cycling plan - rk]

walk into a great city

"The reason we’re not making that much progress is that our cities, day by day, are not being designed by their leadership. They’re being designed, street by street, by the public works director, who believes he is doing his job by responding to public sentiment — and the biggest complaint you hear in American cities, day after day, is about traffic."

http://grist.org/people/foot-forward-walkability-is-the-key-to-fixing-cities/

TDM McMaster

Tuesday, 18 December, 2012

Dear President Deane,

Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Hamilton is very interested in the potential for McMaster University to institute a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) scheme to address university parking issues.

A TDM policy would address future growth scenarios on campus by taking an integrated approach to reducing parking demand. Freeing-up space for new buildings and reducing traffic-related problems by enhancing transit, cycling and pedestrian environments will be a net benefit for the campus, the surrounding neighbourhoods and the city transportation network in general. These goals align with municipal and provincial policy guidelines like Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan and Ontario’s Places To Grow, and as we will see, McMaster’s own planning documents.

For at least a dozen years, McMaster’s administration has been encouraged to institute measures related to TDM, starting with McMaster’s “Balanced Transportation Strategy” in 2000. McMaster’s Campus Master Plan (2002, updated 2008) recommends an 18 point TDM strategy, McMaster University’s Sustainable Policy speaks to the issue of transportation, McMaster Masters student Jessica S. Becker’s thesis, "Understanding Commuting Decisions: a case study of student and staff at McMaster University" 2007, made recommendations regarding TDM.

Overall, it seems that while McMaster has instituted some of the recommendations, there are many that have not been implemented, like the faculty and staff bus pass[i]. Winning a “Smart Commute Hamilton Employer of the Year” from Metrolinx is an indication of movement in the right direction, but we feel McMaster needs to do more. It appears to us that the parking issue is not being managed in a way conceived of by the university’s consultants, i.e. as part of a comprehensive TDM strategy. Instead, the Parking Office in 2012 appears to manage current parking with an eye to keeping as much parking space as possible[ii]. This despite the University's Campus Master Plan’s mandate to provide “’less than average’ parking facilities.” [iii] Yet with a different emphasis, toward sustainability, the Parking Office could just as well reorganize to institute a TDM.

Research indicates that “many universities and colleges have found that it can be less expensive to accommodate travel in modes other than the single-occupant vehicle.[iv]” The same researchers helpfully suggest,

“[taking] a comprehensive look at parking and transportation together, comparing their costs per trip accommodated and their resulting traffic impacts. Rather than: How much parking is required? The question then becomes a far wider one: What is the optimum mix of new parking and investment in alternative means of travel to meet an institution’s transportation needs and contribute to wider institution and community goals?[v]”

Modal splits advertised on the Sustainability Office web page reveal room for improvement, especially along the staff and faculty side of parking, with 65 percent of staff and faculty choosing to drive compared to 24 percent of students, and according to another study, over 1/3 of staff are parking permit holders living within 5k of campus[vi], a distance considered optimal for alternative modes of transportation.

Whatever the actual methods to achieve lower parking demand, TLC believes McMaster has a responsibility to make the shift toward sustainability with regard to parking. Fortunately McMaster has some guiding principles to refer to as we move forward. The Talloires Declaration, the Campus Master Plan, Forward with Integrity, along with the Sustainability Office mission all apply, even Facility Services[vii] has a mission in line with this vision.

We would like to point out that other universities have successfully applied TDM strategies with measurable positive results: Cornell University increased parking prices for a 26 percent reduction in demand; University of Colorado Boulder’s faculty/staff bus program frees up 350 parking spaces; and Stanford University instituted transportation strategies to maintain trip levels constant in the face of campus growth[viii]. The University of British Columbia created a Strategic Transportation Plan (STP) in 1999 and renewed it in 2005. They were influential in initiating a class time shift to reduce the transportation demand, investing in cycling infrastructure and creating the U-Pass program, which has been adopted by other Canadian universities, McMaster included. Over the past thirteen years they have met or surpassed their goals and are in the process of updating their STP.

McMaster is fortunate to have relevant expertise on campus for such a project through the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics (MITL).

With these things in mind, TLC requests the following of McMaster University:

Mandate the Parking Office to implement a TDM strategy with stated goals and objectives, through discussions and work with stakeholders such as MITL, TLC, and other relevant departments and agencies.

We would appreciate an opportunity to hear what McMaster University is planning in regard to the issues we’ve raised, in the interest of moving forward together on these long-outstanding issues.

Thank you on behalf of TLC,

Reuven Dukas and Randy Kay

tlchamilton@gmail.com

tlchamilton.org

Climbing Up on Greensville Hill

TLC members will recall taking part in an Environmental Assessment process to look at the plans for cycling and pedestrian access up the Highway 8 hill between Dundas and Greensville, back in 2010.

The City Cycling page contains this statement: "Hwy 8 crossing the escarpment - between Greensville (Park Avenue) and Dundas (Bond Street), a study is finalized for future implementation," however, the "a study is finalized" link leads to a page with no final study, just references like:

"Due to public input and study scope changes this project is no longer following a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. It is now referred to as "Highway 8 Bond Street to Park Avenue Study"

There doesn't appear to be any information on what is being planned for this site. I e-mailed the project leaders and they got back to me right away.

"The study’s website will be updated when we’ve finalized the last documentation. Basically the study has changed since its inception, due to public feedback. The projects identified/changed by the study no longer require/trigger EA process to be followed so we are not going to be following this process as originally planned. We have finalized the last planning concepts with the input from the Community Liaison Committee and will be sending out a newsletter in the New Year 2013. The study scope has changed and study area increased to accommodate transportation as well as drainage issues. 

We have you on the mailing list for this project and so you will receive a copy of the newsletter when it’s been sent out. Once you have received it please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. 

 Thank you, Margaret Margaret Fazio, B.Sc., C.C.E.P., MCIP, RPP

I have as many questions now as when I contacted them. Why and how the study has changed remains a mystery at this point. What was the public feedback? Who is the Community Liaison Committee?

Looks like we will wait for an update in the New Year, and hope that pedestrians and cyclists concerns are addressed as part of the new finalized study.

The city cycling plan "Shifting Gears" has two projects marked for this area:

162. Bike Lane

Highway 8 from Brock to Hillcrest. Includes road reconstruction: $69 000.

176. Multi-Use Path

Hwy 8, Bond to Hillcrest, multi-use path on south side
$654,000

It remains to be seen how these projects will do given the unknowns before us.

Good News for Governor's

Reporting on the recent tragedy on Governor's Road in Dundas, the Dundas Star news article quoted a Hamilton traffic staffer with some news TLCers will be happy to hear:

"Gallo said he does not anticipate the city acting on the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan recommendation to widen Governor’s Road.
“It’s dependent on future need, and that can change,” Gallo said. “It would need another environmental assessment because it’s been five years (since the DDTMP). It’s not as simple as saying it’s approved and it happens.”

This is a huge relief, since widening would only compound problems on this road, as TLC noted in comments on the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan in 2008 and 2010.

Now is the time to implement long-delayed (and low cost) improvements to the walking and cycling environments in keeping with Dundas's small town character. We would go further today and suggest a road diet for Governor's for the stretch where there is an extra lane (between Ogilvie and Creighton) and turning it into bike lanes on both sides of the road, as called for in the city's Shifting Gears Cycling Plan.

More on this area in the near future.

Lift Bridge Detour

Not sure what the alternative route is for cyclists and pedestrians using the waterfront trail, if anyone has an idea on that aspect of the closure please share in the comments.

"The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge will be closed to all traffic effective Monday, December 10th at 12:01am and until approximately Friday, December 14th at approximately 6:00 AM for emergency bridge repairs. The HSR has been informed that the closure may be extended if the weather does not co-operate.
During the closure '11 Parkdale' will be detoured from Beach at Van Wagner's along the QEW until the Eastport Drive exit. As such the route will not service Beach Blvd between Van Wagner's Beach and Eastport. During the detour the HSR will be operating a special beach shuttle between Eastport Drive and Glow at Woodward..."

Read the details at: http://hsrtransit.blogspot.ca/2012/12/lift-bridge-closure-december-10-13.html

Governing Governor's

Another pedestrian fatality on Governor's Road in Dundas, near the location of previous fatalities at Ogilvie/Governor's, according to a CBC news report.

If the city has their way, they would widen Governor's, making the crossing for the large population of seniors in the area all the more dangerous by allowing room for increasing traffic speed, passing, and an extra lane to cross.

For TLC's response to the Dundas Transportation Master Plan, follow this link.

Governor's Road at Ogilvie, Dundas ON

UPDATE: The Hamilton Spectator is reporting that the woman was 87 years-old and was crossing near Overfield Road:

View Larger Map

One, Two Launch

Public Meeting to Launch One-Way to Two-Way/Complete Streets Study Group

Monday, November 26, 2012, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Council Chambers at City Hall, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton

On September 12, Council approved a motion to establish a Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3  One-Way to Two-Way Street Study Group.  The motion was moved by Councillor McHattie and seconded by Councillor Farr at the September 6^th GIC meeting.

See http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/C68F1C81-3E15-4AB7-990B-A5796BE07882/0/Sep06EDRMS_n345288_v1_9_1__Motion___McHattie___Establishment.pdf.

Councillors Farr and McHattie invite you to a public meeting to introduce the concept of the one-way to two-way/complete street study group and invite Hamiltonians to participate.  They are looking for a broad group of community stakeholders to help study the conversion of Cannon Street and Queen Street into complete streets.

The meeting will by emceed by Councillor Jason Farr and include presentations by the following speakers:

·        Ryan McGreal, editor of Raise the Hammer, will introduce complete two-way streets.

·        Peter Topalovic, project manager, transportation demand management with the City of Hamilton, will talk about balanced transportation.

·        Sharon Mackinnon, public health nurse with the City of Hamilton, will explain the public health benefits of complete streets.

·        Steve Molloy, project manager, Transportation Master Plan implementation with the City of Hamilton, will discuss the Transportation Master Plan and EA process.

·        Councillor Brian McHattie, will introduce the community stakeholder study group and explain how it fits into the process of converting an existing one-way street into a complete street.

The session will include an hour of Q and A with the panel of speakers.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for more information or to join the study group of Queen and/or Cannon.

Bike Snobs Unite!