1. Recently much attention has surrounded Clr. Green’s efforts to insist that LRT is run and maintained by the HSR. We note however, that you brought this matter up much earlier in the process. From your perspective, what was the fate of your efforts and why do you think it ended that way?
2. Do you still believe that HSR should run and maintain LRT?
3. How would you account for the sudden resurgence of emphasis on this matter?
4. Is there anything else you’d like Hamiltonians to know about your views on LRT at this juncture?
The Clr. replied through his office, as follows:
In responses to your questions below, Councillor Jackson has asked that I relay to you that as he stated in his April 26, 2017 LRT speech submitted as one of his stipulations in support of the project, he does support the operation of the LRT ultimately being run by the City of Hamilton's HSR.
Thanks to Clr. Jackson for engaging with Hamiltonians via The Hamiltonian.
Great to see Tom here. I support what he said and glad that you reminded us of it.
ReplyDeleteMountain
Just as long as we all understand that the cool professionals working in Toronto on building a functional public transit system that works from Niagara Falls to Belleville will have nightmares about the Hamilton part of that grand strategy being run by Hamilton. Our ridership is reducing. Our fleet is deteriorating. Our share of federal tax dollars for transit is diverted to roads for private automobiles. If we want HSR to operate that 10B$ system, we will have to earn that through performance.
ReplyDeleteYes, our ridership is declining. So let's do this on a hope and a prayer.
ReplyDeleteNever should have gotten into this future or otherwise. The car culture will continue on.
Just saying
I respect Mr. Jackson, and I accept this is an example of his belief that he is placing the benefit to the many ahead of the detriment of a few.
ReplyDelete(it is also my belief he has failed to use a similar lens when considering the project in it's entirety)
I believe that Jackson rightly voiced his concerns during deliberations on the MOA. Who knows what may have happened had Green demonstrated vocal support for Jackson's concerns at this stage. I would bet they could have collectively forced Metrolinx' hand. Sadly, unity seems to be absent, even for those with similar if not identical goals.
Correcting the issue "after the fact" is better than not correcting it at all, but barely. And it will remain a metaphor for the hap-hazard manner in which this vision has unfolded.
So enlightening to hear the list of demands from a councillor who doesn't support LRT, that will make him support it. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteCulture of Low Expectations
well looky here. reporting by cbc
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/province-says-hamilton-s-lrt-plan-can-move-forward-1.4234188
"Also at that meeting, councillors are scheduled to discuss a motion from Coun. Matthew Green to have HSR, rather than a private company, operate Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) system.
'
If councillors agree, the city will ask Metrolinx to include it in a legally binding master agreement due before the end of the year. And it will, Green says, keep transit along the 14 kilometre route public, rather than giving up control to a private corporation"
So regardless of what "every decision has been made and set in stone and the ATU/HSR are %100 out of the lrt business" crowd says, the hope is very much alive.
Thanks Councillor Green.
Stompin Cam
Yes, Unifor should be able to bid on the O&M of Hamilton LRT. As should Bombardier, who currently hold the GO Train contract (though the ATU reps its workers).
DeleteGelfling
and now some are proposing replacing union workers with union workers from somewhere else.
DeleteThat is certain to make everything nice, peace in the valley.
Makes sense.
Buzz
The ATU has workers experienced in rail operation and maintenance. Why wouldn't they offer the position to experienced members before inexperienced members? Would you take our Tesla to a Lada dealership to get it serviced?
DeleteGelfling
I would take it to those contracted to provide the service.
DeleteBuzz
yes the petition has grown to almost 1,500 supporters already, generating more support than the LRT petition could muster, in a fraction of the time.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of those supporters live in Ward 3? I bet I am not the only one to wonder.
Thanks Councilor Green.
Billygoat
Hilarious that the ATU's agenda is so transparent that some take this petition to be an anti-LRT gesture. By all means, upload municipal transit. Then the ATU can stick to what it does best -- drive buses -- and leave the politicking to lobbyists. The boilerplate fearmongering I have heard from ATU flyer hawkers at the MacNab Terminal is so weak that the advocate doesn't even seem to believe it. Stand for transit 24/7/365. Advocate for transit 24/7/365. This 11th hour Hail Mary stuff just comes across as amateur. The rapid transit debate has been ongoing for 10 years, and the ATU/HSR has apparently been awake for one of those.
DeleteRimshot
Around 225 of the last 300 signatories aren't Hamilton residents, and if this petition were presented in a less partisan, less misleading way (ie. tge call to action suggests that the Ontario Liberals are privatizing all transit across the province) it might have a very different profile.
DeleteJust Saying
261 out of the last 300 signatories identify as Hamilton residents, while others claim to be from Stoney Creek and Ancaster,( or Hamiltonian's who do not want to be Hamiltonian's.)
DeleteYes, there is broad, widespread support, from throughout the Province, and only one anonymous comment has cast it in a negative light.
The reality is this petition has garnered considerably more support than the "pro LRT" petition, in a fraction of the time, and that is certainly meaningful.
The rapid transit debate has been going on for 10 years, and advocates have excluded the City's own transit agency from any official capacity.
And now they have had enough.
Thanks Councilor Green.
Billygoat
And all the decisions have been made and lrt is coming 1005 as there is no way to stop it.
DeleteStompin Tom
if Councilor Greens motion is successful, the procurement phase would have to be reset to accommodate the revised terms and conditions for the RFP which has already been issued to the short list of qualified bidders, placing the project behind schedule and into uncertainty as to whether any bidder will remain interested.
DeleteThere is plenty of time, and many ways. More will be revealed, soon.
Billygoat
Presently at 1537 signatories, or around 10% of ATU members in the GTHA (or 2.5% of average daily HSR riders).
DeleteNon-Hamiltonians (ie not from any of Hamilton's suburbs or Hamilton proper) in last 400 signatories: 199 (mostly Toronto residents).
Kramden
261 out of last 300 signatories identify as Hamiltonian's.
DeleteFar more support than the "pro lrt" petition generated, in just a fraction of the time.
Norton
many ways at looking at an issue, but 1,500 votes is far more than enough to swing the results of voting in Ward 3 in a very different manner.
DeleteAnd Matthew has noticed exactly that...
Billygoat.
"there is no way to stop it"
DeleteConfidence, now sounding desperate.
Any chance you are confusing light rail with some sort of tsunami?
Demi
Keep claiming that the petition math is 90% Hamiltonian. Only those who look at the signatories will know the reality. It's all a pose anyway.
DeleteKramden
You misunderestimate the cunning of the anti-LRT crowd, whose number magically keeps pace with anonymous postings.
Deletejim graham
The same HSR that predicted system-wide ridership would climb by 166,000 in 2015 & 2016, when it fell by around 750,000? The same HSR that has conceded ground to "tax crusaders", allowing budget cuts in every transit budget for the last 30 years? Yes, they're pretty much synonymous with quality and customer satisfaction. Would be interested to see what happens when they answer to a real government.
ReplyDeleteRimshot
yes the HSR slashed it's own budget to accommodate tax crusaders.
DeleteNow that makes sense.
Swish
They haven't slashed their budget. They've just refused to fight for the funding they need to operate effectively. It's less work and you get paid the same.
DeleteRimshot
I'd be interested to see what happens when they get the funding you seem to believe they are entitled to.
DeleteSwish
Evegreen headlines that fit every budget cycle...
DeleteAug 2010: Fixing HSR problems on hold intil next year
[HSR Director Don] Hull notes new spending on the HSR over the last decade has been “marginal” and what has taken place has come entirely from senior levels of government. He told councillors last week that Hamilton really needs to add $80 million a year to the HSR budget to achieve the ridership levels of cities like Ottawa and meet the goals of council’s approved ridership goals.
“$30 million is just what it would take over the next five years to keep moving towards the Transportation Master Plan,” he explained. “The $3 million that we’re asking for in alternative to the $30 million is simply what we feel we need in the very short term to prevent the public satisfaction with this program from deteriorating.”
http://hamiltoncatch.org/view_article.php?id=811
HSR's bold budget request? One tenth of what we need to meet the performance metrics laid out in the Transportation Master Plan.
Rimshot
The TMP, it is worth noting, that council crafted and endorsed. The HSR has been giving council an out on council's strategic priorities.
DeleteRimshot
the Transportation Master Plan is a fantasy which will never be realized. If one did not know better, you could conclude it's author(s) were likely the same crew who fashioned a worthless Business Case Analysis for the King LRT.
DeleteSuggesting HSR requested less money for their budget in order to somehow undermine service levels is absolutely ridiculous. Suggesting they somehow work less, while receiving the same as a result is inaccurate and inflammatory.
They took what you and I gave them, and tried to provide the best service possible, and I believe they have done a commendable job.
Expecting anonymous advocates to finally step up and become accountable is clearly not a reasonable expectation. Has not happened yet, unlikely to occur any time soon.
Demi
One would hope that the TMP serves a practical policy document, because it has consumed subtantial financial and temporal resources (i.e. untold millions in staff hours) and impacts far more than just public transit — it deals with advancement of public health objectives, facilitation of age-friendly development and family-friendly neighbourhoods, addresses urban, suburban and rural interests and lays out a framework for infrastructure investment.
DeleteMoreover, the TMP is now in its third round of mandatory official review and public consultation since its inception at time of amalgamation (ie. five-year reviews in 2006, 2011, 2016). If you characterize the TMP as "worthless" and "a fantasy which will never be realized," what manner of immutable authoritarian edict do you think best exemplifies best practices on the municipal policy front?
Rimshot
@Rimshot. There is no mystery about the munipal policy front. It all comes down to this; the development community wins each time. It does not matter about people, communities and neighbourhoods- any expressed concern is just for show. Our council obeys developers and tries to do silly things like develop on greenbelt lands.
DeleteOnce you understand how Hamilton works, you'll also realize why it is best described as the culture of low expectations.
Just saying
the TMP that Council crafted and endorsed, the TMP that Council ignores every budget, rendering it useless and completely incapable of achieving it's own stated goal(s) One might hope...two might cross their fingers.
DeleteA "master" plan that dismisses it's own transit operators as irrelevant, never inviting that collective experience to the table. A transport plan that concludes making driving automobiles-the preference of the majority of transport users- more difficult, is the only way to achieve increased usage of public transit. (without any meaningful input from that majority itself)
A fantasy.
"Look boss, a train"
Demi
with terms and conditions concerning "operations" now clearly defined and submitted to the short list of qualified bidders in order to frame proposals, Greens motion-if successful-would force a "reset" on the entire procurement component, and push the project behind schedule.
ReplyDeleteThanks Councilor Green.
Why does anyone think that the keeptransitpublic campaign is being led by the local? Clearly it's the mothership calling the shots. But at least they've stopped claiming that the Liberals privatized the 407.
ReplyDeleteFawkes
ok, so you won, big deal.
ReplyDeleteNow the Province will come back and say "ok, no problem, if that is what you want, HSR can operate LRT.....at a cost"
And the cost will be in the neighborhood of 150 million...which the taxpayers will now have to eat.
But they wont.
And that is the end of that, 10 years of planning down the pipe.
Thank-you Councilor Green.
orangemike