HSR

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Tuesday, November 5, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Downtown business owners singing the bus-lane blues

For SaleTwo weeks after the opening of a new bus-only lane through Hamilton’s core, downtown merchants say their worst fears have been realized.

Business operators have expressed a fear throughout the transit experiment that making it tougher for cars to navigate the core will keep people out of their stores — and that’s what they fear is starting to happen.

Barry Sobel, whose Rainbow Bridal has been a King Street fixture for 36 years, said he is already hearing from longtime customers that traffic congestion resulting from the bus lane is keeping them out of the core, especially on weekdays.

“Saturday isn’t so bad, traffic is moving well, but at 11 a.m. on a weekday cars will be backed up all the way to Wellington,” Sobel said in an interview Saturday. “During weekdays, traffic is backed up as far as I can see.”

Late in October the city launched a one-year pilot project to test the effect on traffic congestion in the core from converting one lane of King to transit-only. The far right lane of King between Mary and Dundurn streets is now buses-only except for cars trying to turn right.

The experiment is being viewed as a test of the impact of a proposed light rapid transit rail line through the area. Provincial transit agency Metrolinx has put $300,000 into the project.

Backers of the plan say it has the potential to increase business for core-area merchants by slowing traffic, giving drivers a chance to look around and maybe discover a downtown shop they didn’t know existed.

“It gives people a chance to see that dress in the window or that guitar in the pawnshop,” said downtown Councillor Jason Farr. “This plan was well thought out but it’s also a pilot project and we know that means it will have to be tweaked a little.”

Sobel, however, wonders how potential customers are going to see the perfect wedding dress in his window if they drive Hunter or Cannon streets to avoid congestion in the core.

That also worries pawnbroker Troy Thompson, who operates G.W. Thompson Jeweller and Pawnbrokers with his father, Gord.

“It’s bad now and it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “We’re starting to hear a lot more horns honking through the week because people are getting frustrated and they’re starting to take the back roads around downtown.”

Sobel’s store, between Catharine and John streets is right at the start of the restricted lane while Thompson’s is east of the start. Farther west, at Rolly Rocket’s BBQ at King and Locke, owner Roland Dube said the restricted lane has created some confusion among his customers who were used to parking on the north side of King. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Friday, October 25, 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, October 25, 2013

No bus-only tickets issued, says red-faced McHattie

For SaleHamilton police did not ticket anyone in the city’s new bus-only lane, a red-faced councillor now says.

Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie announced at Wednesday’s council meeting that police had incorrectly ticketed 20 to 25 drivers that day, as the new transit-only lane launched on King Street. He says he got his information from an anonymous call he didn’t confirm before making a public statement.

It turns out police handed out 26 educational pamphlets to drivers using the bus-only lane — but not a single ticket or demerit point.

“It seems someone tried to lead us astray,” said the recently announced mayoral candidate, who admitted jumping the gun by publicly announcing the allegations as fact.

“I guess I was thinking you want to get on top of an issue like this, if it’s true,” said McHattie, who noted anxiety has been high among some councillors and commuters over the bus-only lane experiment.
“But in this case I moved too fast.”

McHattie said police Chief Glenn De Caire called him Thursday morning after investigating the allegations. While six tickets were issued on King, none was related to the bus-only lane.

“I’ve apologized to the chief,” he said. “This has kept him jumping.”

McHattie said an anonymous person left a message with his office staff alleging he had received a $200-plus ticket and two demerit points. The message also alleged between 20 and 25 people received the tickets.

McHattie said Wednesday night his staff had checked with police over the figure. On Thursday morning, he clarified his staff had not received confirmation from police. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday October 24, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 24, 2012

Mac report illuminates issue of LRT for city

Senior Hamilton bureaucrats are carefully studying a report produced by McMaster University researchers that suggests that light rail transit has the potential to succeed in Hamilton but will be a “long, challenging and costly process.”

The study looked at successful and failing LRT systems across North America in terms of their ability to attract riders and new development.

It will be a big part of a staff report coming to councillors that will definitively recommend whether the city should forge ahead with building an LRT line for Hamilton, said city manager Chris Murray.

“It will speak to all the things we need to do to take advantage of the growth opportunity Hamilton is enjoying.”

The university report, produced by the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics and commissioned by the city, is “good advice to staff and council on how to move ahead with LRT,” said Murray.

Though he stopped short of saying LRT is now a city target, he said Hamilton has “already invested heavily” in LRT.

“I don’t think the feeling is out there that LRT isn’t worth pursuing.”

But Mayor Bob Bratina has repeatedly shot arrows into the hearts of those pining for B-line LRT stretching 13 kilometres between McMaster and Eastgate. It’s projected to cost between $875 million and $1 billion to build. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)