Local News Archive
Local rapid transit not on track till at least 2012, by Rob Faulkner - Hamilton rapid transit will likely appear in Year 4 or 5 of the Metrolinx 2009-2013 budget. (Wednesday, October 15, 2008)
Breaking: City Publishes Rapid Transit Feasibility Study Phase 2, by - Staff report concludes: build light rail, integrate with community and economic development policies, start with the east-west line, and move quickly and decisively to get priority fundingn from the Province. (Thursday, October 02, 2008)
Councillors offer early support for light rail, by Rob Faulkner - City council appears to be lining up behind Mayor Fred Eisenberger to support the bid for light rail transit. (Thursday, October 02, 2008)
Mayor: we must move fast on LRT, by Rob Faulkner - LRT is cheaper to operate than a bus fleet, it could change the entire city's image, and may bring Hamilton the kind of construction boom Charlotte saw. (Wednesday, October 01, 2008)
Metrolinx plan will 'transform' Hamilton, by Kevin Werner - During a recent four-day tour of Charlotte, Portland and Calgary, Mayor Eisenberger saw economic development along the cities' light rail transit corridors, blossoming downtown economies, and environmental savings. (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)
Hamilton will get on board with frequent train service, by - In an interview with the Spectator, Metrolinx chair Rob McIsaac talks about what The Big Move means for Hamilton. (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)
Why Hamilton craves light rail, by Andrew Dreschel - Bus rapid transit is cheaper and more flexible, but what it lacks is sex and snob appeal. (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)
Let's GO for it, by Terry Cooke - History will record that Hamilton came of age yesterday with a transit announcement made in a non-descript Toronto hotel ballroom. (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)
Time to make the Big Move, by Mark McNeil - Shovels should be in the ground to build the east-west rapid transit route by 2010, although we don't know what form this rapid transit will take. (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)
$50b transit plan targets Hamilton, by Rob Faulkner - The Big Move could be transformational, but it leaves unanswered whether Hamilton will have light rail transit or merely rapid buses. (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)
City: Regional Transportation Plan Open to Light Rail in Hamilton, by - Public Works staff "will continue to meet with Metrolinx officials to demonstrate that Hamilton is ready to implement light rail transit now." (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
Breaking: Metrolinx Releases Regional Transportation Plan, by - Here's a quick, high level summary of what the Regional Transportation Plan means for Hamilton. (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
Transit plan good news for city: Mayor, by Rob Faulkner - City staff want to start building a light-rail transit system in just three years. (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
A Little Farther Down the Line, by Ryan McGreal - After a busy summer, light rail is getting closer to reality for Hamilton. (Friday, September 12, 2008)
Public Consultation: Overwhelming Public Support for LRT, by Ryan McGreal - Over 1,600 people have responded to the rapid transit feasibility study's public consultation program, with overwhelming support for rapid transit and particularly for light rail transit. (Thursday, September 11, 2008)
Transit demand rises with gas prices, survey finds, by Nick Kyonka - Transit use is setting records, but governments need to commit to new funding so transit systems can grow to meet new demand. (Tuesday, September 02, 2008)
Route tweak boots B-Line off campus, by Rebecca Penty - B-Line express bus will no longer have any stops on McMaster campus. (Monday, August 25, 2008)
City transit to fill 'nodes' - Council to vote on airport link, by Rob Faulkner - A-Line express bus between downtown and airport expected to help create a more consistent transit network. (Monday, August 25, 2008)
Light Rail Should Live On, by Sarah Veale - A peek inside Hamilton's biggest transit choice and its ripple effect. (Thursday, August 21, 2008)
Enthusiasm for proposed transit system gaining momentum, by Rob Faulkner - City staff are urgently working on a bid to secure provincial approval and cash for a light-rail system. (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)
Hamilton pressing forward on light rail transit, by Dana Brown - Hamilton's goal is to submit a proposal to Metrolinx for inclusion in its capital budget in the fall (Monday, July 28, 2008)
Council Approves Rapid Transit Phase 2, by - City Council voted to approve the staff recommendation to move the rapid transit initiative to phase 2 with an emphasis on light rail and a sense of urgency. (Friday, July 11, 2008)
Merulla to Feds, Province: Fund Free Transit, by Ryan McGreal - Councillor Merulla calls on federal and provincial governments to fund a pilot project for free transit in Hamilton. (Wednesday, July 09, 2008)
No free ride for taxpayers?, by Dana Brown - City mulls HSR fare options amid calls for free transit. (Wednesday, July 09, 2008)
Help shape the future of Rapid Transit in Hamilton, by - Hamilton's Public Works Department is seeking your thoughts on the rapid transit initiative to shape a more sustainable future for Hamilton. (Monday, July 07, 2008)
Spectator Editorial: All Aboard LRT Opportunity, by Robert Howard - In Hamilton, light rail has the potential to transform neighbourhoods and revitalize commercial areas. (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)
City Rapid Transit Report: Focus on Light Rail for Phase 2, by Ryan McGreal - City staff recommend proceeding to phase 2 of the rapid transit initiative with a focus on light rail and the goal of committing to a plan in time for the first round of Metrolinx funding. (Thursday, June 12, 2008)
Realtors Association Endorses Light Rail, by Ryan McGreal - The Realtors' Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) has formally endorsed light rail transit. (Monday, May 26, 2008)
A Rapid Transit System for Hamilton, by Larry Di Ianni - The public is ready for LRT. I heartily endorse this choice. (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)
Is a light rail transit system in Hamilton's future?, by Kevin Werner - An overwhelming number of Hamiltonians want the city to start constructing a light rail transit system as soon as possible. (Friday, May 16, 2008)
We blew it in '81 on light rail transit -- let's not do it again, by Terry Cooke - Hamilton has a rare opportunity to go "back to the future" with light rail transit. (Monday, May 12, 2008)
City: Strong Public Support for Light Rail, by Ryan McGreal - In a summary of this week's rapid transit public information centres, the city's public works department cited overwhelming public support for rapid transit with a strong preference for light rail. (Friday, May 09, 2008)
Mountain residents ride light transit system idea, by Kevin Werner - An overwhelming majority of attendees to the May 6 city's rapid transit meeting applauded the city's efforts to improve Hamilton's transit system. By far they favoured light rail. (Friday, May 09, 2008)
Dundas added to LRT plan, by Daniel Nolan - Dundas has been added to a proposal for rapid transit lines in the Hamilton area. (Wednesday, May 07, 2008)
Rapid transit information sessions this week, by Eric McGuinness - Valuable ideas came out of Saturday's rapid transit brainstorming session sponsored by Metrolinx. (Monday, May 05, 2008)
People have to want to take transit, by Margaret Shkimba - HSR buses are bumpy and cramped. How about a modern rail system along King Street? (Monday, May 05, 2008)
Rapid Transit Public Meetings, by - The City of Hamilton's public works department is hosting two public information centres on the rapid transit feasibility study. (Thursday, May 01, 2008)
Clean, green and good for the city's future, by Paul Wilson - The Hamilton Spectator's Paul Wilson interviews Nicholas Kevlahan of Hamilton Light Rail. (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)
Analysis: Feasibility Study Biased Against Light Rail, by Nicholas Kevlahan - The rapid transit feasibility study is a one-sided analysis that overstates the cost of providing light rail and fails to identify or measure its advantages. (Thursday, April 10, 2008)
Quick Highlights: Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, by - Preliminary summary of the city's rapid transit feasibility study comparing opportunities and constraints for light rail or bus rapid transit. (Thursday, April 10, 2008)
Breaking - Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, by - The city's rapid transit feasibility study comparing the costs and opportunities of bus rapid transit and light rail transit is now available. (Thursday, April 10, 2008)
Metronauts: Brainstorming Solutions for Transportation , by Mark Kuznicki, Remarkk! Consulting - Metronauts Transit Camp initiative looks to public for new perspectives on regional transportation plan. (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)
Parents - Free HSR is a No Brainer, by Thom Oommen - Free transit is actually financially advantageous to one large group of Hamiltonians: parents. (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)
Bus pass benefits all, by Lee Prokaska - The Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) launched its new affordable bus pass program this week. Hamilton joins Waterloo and Calgary as Canadian cities with such programs. (Monday, March 17, 2008)
City launches Affordable Transit Pass Program, by - The City has launched its Affordable Transit Pass Program for employed residents living with a low income. (Tuesday, March 04, 2008)
Poor transit plan to set Ottawa back 10 years: experts, by Mohammed Adam - Cities that embrace new light rail projects are improving their competitiveness and future prosperity. (Tuesday, February 05, 2008)
Keith area will get a bus route at last, by Nicole MacIntyre - After hearing several passionate speeches about the desperate need for public transit, councillors agreed to add buses on Victoria Avenue and Wentworth Street North. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Hamiltonians like their cars, by Rob Faulkner - Hamilton's rate of car use is much higher than other medium sized cities. (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)
Brampton gets $95M for rapid bus service, by Tess Kalinowski - The Federal government has promised to invest $95 million in a new bus rapid transit system for Brampton. (Tuesday, January 08, 2008)
Free transit not so crazy, by Howard Elliott - We all know the value that efficient, environmentally appropriate transit can bring to any city, never mind one facing the kind of environmental and revitalization challenges facing our city. (Thursday, December 20, 2007)
Encourage use of public transit, by Lee Prokaska - The fact that transit fare increases don't generate much concern over voter backlash speaks volumes about the relative value of community members. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
We Need Better than Seat-of-the-Pants Transit Planning, by Roy Adams - Do city staff have the technology to make accurate assessments of ridership change or is it just guesstimating shaded on the positive side to quell the voices of protest? (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
HSR workers OK 3% yearly raise in new contract, by Rachel De Lazzer - Hamilton transit workers overwhelmingly accepted a tentative contract with the city yesterday. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Fare hike hits hard, by Carmela Fragomeni - Disabled, seniors and working poor are vulnerable to a transit fare increase. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
HSR fare hike would hurt the working poor, by Tom Cooper - Less than a week after edging precariously close to a public transit strike, the City of Hamilton's public works department is celebrating a settlement with the Amalgamated Transit Union by urging fare hikes for everybody else. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
HSR staff vote on latest contract offer, by Emma Reilly - Hamilton Street Railway drivers, mechanics and support staff voted on their latest contract offer from city hall. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
'It'll be cheaper to take a taxi' -- riders blast HSR fare hike, by Dana Brown - Transit riders are not happy about the prospect of having to pay more. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Fare Increase Vote: Transit Ridership Loses Out, by Ryan McGreal - At last night's Committee of the Whole (COW) on the 2008 HSR budget, councillors voted to implement the staff proposal to increase transit fares. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Hamilton council OKs second bus fare hike of the year, by - Transit users will be doling out an extra 15 cents to ride the bus in January. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Proposed Transit Service Improvements, by Ryan McGreal - As a counterpoint to its recommendation to increase transit fares, the Public Works Department is also presenting a Transit Service Enhancements Implementation Plan. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
More bus fare hikes, by CATCH - Councillors will decide on Monday whether to add another 15 cents to HSR fares. Staff are also proposing two new suburban bus routes and a pilot program to subsidize monthly passes for up to 809 low-income residents. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Staff Recommendation: Transit Fare Increase, by Ryan McGreal - Public Works is recommending the following fare price changes to achieve an average fare increase of $0.10. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Give HSR the extra wheels it deserves, by Don McLean - Let's stop starving the HSR and start using public transit to improve our local economy, reduce air pollution, fight global climate change and help Hamiltonians cope with rapidly rising fuel prices. (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)
Talks with transit workers to resume Nov. 1 (Hamilton Spectator), by - Contract talks between the city and the union representing HSR workers will resume on Thursday, November 1, 2007. (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)
Bus drivers, support staff vote 94.5 per cent to reject latest offer (Hamilton Spectator), by John Burman - Hamilton bus drivers, mechanics and support staff have strongly rejected the Hamilton Street Railways' latest contract offer. (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)
Transit workers vote on city's offer (Hamilton Spectator), by John Burman - Hamilton Street Railway drivers, mechanics and support staff want a pay raise above inflation and a washroom downtown. (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)
HSR fits 43 buses with bike racks (Hamilton Spectator), by Hamilton Spectator - The Hamilton Street Railway now has 43 buses fitted with bike racks and two routes that cross between the Mountain and the lower city that carry them. (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)
Some buses getting bike racks (Hamilton Spectator), by Hamilton Spectator - HSR will outfit eight buses with bike racks on the front bumper, which can hold up to two bikes. (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)
A five-year experiment in free transit, by Ian Taylor - Op-Ed: Prime Minister Stephen Harper could set the wheels in motion to support free public transit in cities. (Monday, January 21, 2008)
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