Parts of Hughson Street will close to vehicles in a new LRT world
Plan also includes an underpass at train tracks in central Hamilton and a west-end maintenance facility
New light rail transit (LRT) plans show Hughson Street will change dramatically once the new system is in place, becoming a one-lane, tree-lined street in some places and closing to vehicle traffic in others.
We're... taking away a lane of vehicle traffic and giving it back to pedestrians.- Danielle Bury, city's senior project manager of LRT planning
Plans for the $1 billion Metrolinx system show a tree-lined pedestrian walkway along Hughson Street from Gore Park to the Hunter Street GO station.
Under the new plan, Hughson from Hunter to Main Street East will be one way, with one lane for vehicle traffic and the other for pedestrians.
"What we're doing is taking away a lane of vehicle traffic and giving it back to pedestrians," said Danielle Bury, the city's senior project manager of LRT planning.
And the street will close to cars altogether between Main and King, with a portion open only for service vehicles. Hughson will end when it gets to Gore Park, and traffic will then have to travel around the park to get to the other side.
The LRT is being designed to integrate with GO, and the plan always included a pedestrian walkway from the new line to the Hunter GO station, Bury said. The city also looked at MacNab and James streets before deciding on Hughson.
I felt inspired.- Dennis Hall, 87, of Greensville, who changed his mind about LRT at the meeting
The plan is included in the $1 billion the province has allocated to Metrolinx to build the service, Bury said.
Residents viewed this plan and others on Monday evening at McMaster Innovation Park, the first of seven LRT public information meetings.
Other highlights:
An underpass near East Bend Avenue
Metrolinx plans to build an underpass on King Street under an industrial railway line near East Bend Avenue. About five freight trains travel that line every day, said Andrew Hope, director of Hamilton LRT for Metrolinx.
Having the LRT train cross over it creates a safety concern, he said, as well as a scheduling one. Some of the industrial area-bound trains take several minutes.
(It's) the stupidest idea I've ever heard in my life.- Dominic Sorbara
"You can imagine during peak periods, when we're running LRT trains every five minutes, they could be stacking up," Hope said. "It would take the rest of rush hour to recover from something like that."
The plan is to have vehicles continue to travel at street level, but create an LRT underpass. Hope said this will fit within the $1 billion budget.
An LRT maintenance facility near Longwood Road and Aberdeen Avenue
Metrolinx is negotiating with McMaster University and business owner Albert Samee to acquire nearly 20 acres of land for an LRT maintenance facility.
Metrolinx landed on that property after looking at every site bigger than 10 acres within a kilometre of the east-west LRT line.
"It was incredibly difficult to find a site large enough," Hope said.
We want to be able to explain to people exactly what is being planned and proposed.- Andrew Hope, Metrolinx
That plan includes upgrading the Longwood bridge, which is nearing the end of its life span. The LRT plan also includes a dedicated bridge over the 403.
Hope said the plan is to fit both of these within the $1 billion budget.
Who was there
More than 100 people attended the session. They were from various areas of the city and had varying opinions on LRT.
Dennis Hall of Greensville arrived at the meeting against LRT, but when he left, he was in favour.
"I felt inspired," he said of the plans.
At 87, Hall doesn't expect he'll be around for the 2024 opening. But he likened this to the start of Toronto's subway system.
"This is the start of some growth," he said. "It's winning me over."
Josie Chambers, meanwhile, lives on Concession Street and has taken transit since 1989. She's opposed to LRT.
She worries that snow and ice will cause mechanical problems. "If (the car) is not heated, that's going to be all gucked up under there," she said.
Dominic Sorbara of Pearl Street was also opposed, saying Hamilton has bigger problems to worry about.
LRT is "the stupidest idea I've heard in my life," he said.
Doreen Hannon of Ancaster is pro-LRT. She said she's been on LRT systems in other Canadian cities, and "I thought they were fantastic."
Hope said the meetings are designed to answer people's questions and get public input on station locations and pedestrian crossings.
"We want to be able to explain to people exactly what is being planned and proposed," he said.
The planned LRT line will run alternatively on Main and King Streets from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, and down James Street North from King to the West Harbour GO station.
Future meetings
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 13
Time: 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Hamilton city hall council chambers and level two lobby, 71 Main St. W.
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: LIUNA Station, Continental Express Ballroom, 360 James St. N.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 15
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Dr. John Perkins Centre, room A and atrium, 1429 Main St. E.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 20
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Battlefield House Museum, Jackson House Cellar, 77 King St. W., Stoney Creek
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 21
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Sackville Hill Senior's Recreation Centre, Fireside Lounge, 780 Upper Wentworth St.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 22
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Dundas Town Hall, second floor auditorium, 60 Main St., Dundas