A Vision for Transit in the 21st Century
Changing Transit Situation - Gas Tax Transfer
Gas tax transfer:
- Permanent, stable federal and provincial transfers to municipalities to spend on transit
- Currently used in Hamilton to offset transit tax levies and fare increases
- Paying for new HSR fleet radio/GPS systems
Changing Transit Situation - Places to Grow
Places to Grow:
- Provincial legislation to encourage intensification and "smart growth"
- Growth and development concentrated along transit corridors
- Cities that adopt Places to Grow will get more provincial support (and funding)
Changing Transit Situation - Metrolinx
Metronlinx:
- Provincial funding and new powers to integrate and improve regional transportation
- Planned merger with GO Transit
- More rapid transit connections between municipalities, including additional GO Trains to Hamilton
- Proposed new Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems, including B-Line and A-Line in Hamilton
- Common fare/pass system across GTA+Hamilton
Changing Transit Situation - Economic Crisis
Economic Crisis:
- Governments at all levels are committing to massive stimulus spending on infrastructure
- Ontario Government says its infrastructure priority will be transit
- Goal is to get money flowing quickly
- Metrolinx board (mayors and regional chairs) to be replaced by transportation planners and project managers
Hamilton Transit Today - History of Decline
History of Decline:
- HSR ridership fell from 30 million in 1985 to 20.6 million in 1994.
- # of buses fell from 284 in 1988 to ~200 in 1994.
- Real HSR budget dropped another 25% from 1994 to 2005.
- Ridership finally levelled off after 2005.
- 1 percent ridership increase in 2008 while other Canadian cities grew 3 and 4 percent.
Years of cuts have taken their toll on the system.
Toward a New Vision - Status Quo Leadership
Status Quo Leadership:
- Official goal is to double transit ridership (to 100 rides per capita per year) by 2020 - Transportation Master Plan
- Staff and Council have no strategy to achieve this, no coherent vision of transit beyond necessary social service
- North End Transit Survey identified need for a Wentworth-Wellington bus loop, adopted by HSR
- Light Rail Transit - strong community vision adopted by staff and council
Citizens need to take the lead.
Toward a New Vision - Grassroots Community Initiative
A Grassroots Community Initiative:
- Hold public visioning sessions to generate discussion and ideas
- Present to community groups
- Online transit vision survey: http://hamiltontug.com/vision/survey
- Transit Vision Report in Late October
- Encourage public input on city plans
- Encourage formation of citizen groups to promote new initiatives
Toward a New Vision - Developing a New Initiative
Developing a New Initiative:
- How does it work?
- What does it accomplish? (Attract new riders, improve transit experience, provide a new opportunity)
- How much will it cost, and how do we pay for it?
- Can you promote the idea to others?