01-13-2017, 09:11 AM
There are a number of news stories the last few days claiming that the provincial government and Metrolinx intend to change the LRT plan in Hamilton, eliminating the spur up James Street to the new West Harbour station. The funds saved from that elimination may be used to pay for BRT up the Mountain along Upper James, to the airport, which is served by an express bus now.
Also rumoured (this all seems to be only a little better than rumours) is that Metrolinx is doing better than expected with negotiations with CP, and it may be able to provide all-day Go train service one day to the TH&B Station on Hunter Street- if that were true, that be a real argument against the West Harbour station spur.
If any or all of this is true, it’s probably good news. 1)The spur up James North didn’t make a tonne of sense, and wasn’t met with broad positivity. 2)Funding BRT up the mountain would make for a better network, distribute the benefits of the investment more broadly, and maybe win the support of a few suburban councillors.
It’s worth noting that the added cost of the spur line was originally the excuse for terminating the line before it reached Eastgate Plaza, the natural terminus (and current terminus of the B Line express bus). I guess that isn’t in the cards any more, which is a shame.
Changes again to Hamilton’s LRT plan might not be a very good sign, especially as it’s important for them to get the RFP out before the next provincial election. But eliminating the spur line is probably a sound move.
Also rumoured (this all seems to be only a little better than rumours) is that Metrolinx is doing better than expected with negotiations with CP, and it may be able to provide all-day Go train service one day to the TH&B Station on Hunter Street- if that were true, that be a real argument against the West Harbour station spur.
If any or all of this is true, it’s probably good news. 1)The spur up James North didn’t make a tonne of sense, and wasn’t met with broad positivity. 2)Funding BRT up the mountain would make for a better network, distribute the benefits of the investment more broadly, and maybe win the support of a few suburban councillors.
It’s worth noting that the added cost of the spur line was originally the excuse for terminating the line before it reached Eastgate Plaza, the natural terminus (and current terminus of the B Line express bus). I guess that isn’t in the cards any more, which is a shame.
Changes again to Hamilton’s LRT plan might not be a very good sign, especially as it’s important for them to get the RFP out before the next provincial election. But eliminating the spur line is probably a sound move.