Comment 29722

By Robert D (anonymous) | Posted March 25, 2009 at 15:49:30

I don't really buy the "it'll help Hamilton steel" idea too much for several reasons already mentioned.

However I don't think it would be approrpiate to write off the whole article for that reason. Light rail is an opportunity for Hamilton. It is, if anything, unfortunate that Hamilton ripped out their rail lines in favour of buses. Certainly there are some bus routes that have not changed in the past 10, 15 years - there was no need to convert these to bus routes. But the HSR decided buses were the modern way, and I'm kind of loathe to second guess the city council at the time. It was a different economy and different city back then.

On a going forward basis light rail is being increasingly recognized as the way to go in dense urban environments, and is appropriate for Hamilton - especially if we are serious about meeting our downtown density targets.

Hamilton should also be smart about planning expansion to the suburbs. Much of Hamilton's expansion has been haphazard and done in a way that doesn't make transit very convenient for many people on the south mountain. We have to stop this. New developments have to consider the ease with which the HSR can deploy transit to the area during the development stage. These mazes of cul de sacs and crescents which amount to you being four houses over from a bus stop but having to walk 20 minutes around your subdivision to get there does not encourage public transit. It simply encourages more cars. Same with these roundabouts in Ancaster - can buses even use them?

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