Elections
The City of Hamilton has committed to doubling transit ridership by 2020. Do you support this goal? If so, how would you realize it?
Responses to the question: "The City of Hamilton has committed to doubling transit ridership by 2020. Do you support this goal? If so, how would you realize it?"
In This Page:
44 Candidate Responses (top)
| Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Baldasaro, Michael James | Yes | I would move to create bus stations within each of the 7 Cities, connecting them to the Center of the G.H.A.
This would improve ridership in the outlying areas, Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Mount Hope and Stoney Creek and seeing as Bus Stations act as Community Centers, this would give us a place to meet for coffee and get to know one another as we wait to connect with our ride. More buses looping the 7 Cities and a line whose only purpose is connecting them all to the core on a regular daily basis. |
| Bratina, Bob | Yes | We need to re-examine the fare structure. Another City slogan might have been "best place to raise a Fare.". Transportation planning needs to incorporate things like cost of parking vs cost of a bus ticket.
I had asked for and received a report from staff on jurisdictions who had reduced or eliminated fares altogether. There are arguments in favour of this approach. Fares are just one component of ridership levels, but critical. |
| Butani, Mahesh P. | Yes | I support the goal of doubling transit ridership by 2020.
To acheive this goal, we will need to adopt a more holistic planning approach which aligns our economic development goals with transit design. A well designed transit network will increase ridership and drive operational sustainability. A similar question has been asked by CHML 900 in their survey today: "How do you see the future of transit in Hamilton?" (see Mayoral Survey at: http://www.900chml.com/News/Election2010/Candidates.aspx ) Below is my answer to this question, which also addresses the realization of doubling our transit ridership: "I believe that we need to evolve a holistic approach to our transit issue. We are presently dealing with a totally fractured transit system, that does not address our current needs, let alone our future needs. Our disconnected transportation system has retarded our city's growth and caused many serious environmental and economic problems - including the continuing dependency on automobiles for local commuting. [...] I will actively push to develop a holistic regional metropolitan Hamilton transit solution which acknowledges and embraces the divergent needs of all our urban and rural communities - and adopts innovations in transit planning solutions to meet our present and long-term needs. A good transit solution defines the city's identity, and gives it the basis for its economic growth and cultural vitality. Under my direction, Hamilton will begin to reconfigure its economy by deploying innovations in transit design and financing - with a view towards building a solid foundation for an economical, environmental & user friendly, and seamless multi-modal transit network. I specifically do not see this as a simplistic case of LRT v/s No LRT or bikes v/s cars v/s bus v/s trucks issue - as it is being made out to be in our media. Or transit problems have been historic in nature, and developing a holistic and comprehensive transit approach is the only way we will be able to overcome our economic and environmental problems." |
| Eisenberger, Fred | Yes | I support the goal of doubling transit ridership by 2010. I have made improving public transit one of my five main priorities as Mayor. Securing Light Rail Transit for Hamilton is the key goal under this priority. Under my leadership we have already acquired $3 million in funding from Metrolinx to undertake advance engineering work necessary for the project, the only municipality in Ontario to receive such funding.
Also under my leadership the city has already submitted its business case, ensuring that Hamilton is at the head of the queue for funding. During this campaign I announced I would create and personally lead a government relations SWAT team made up of civic and community partners to press other levels of government for LRT funding, with a goal of $850 million to $1.5 billion in necessary funding. This team will join me to take the case for LRT funding directly to the responsible ministers in Ottawa and Queen’s Park. As the same time, we are already doing the advance engineering work necessary to ensure that our community remains at the front of the line for funding. |
| Graydon, Edward H.C. | Yes | The easiest way to achieve this goal and to take in the issues that are surrounding poverty into account, are to lower the bus fares immediately back to $1.50. The issues surrounding poverty will not be tackled in any meaningful way unless action is taken. Rhetoric is so common place during election time, it matters not what mayor is elected to office, what matters is that action be taken. To me it makes very little common sense to be talking about LRT all while many Hamiltonians are living hand to mouth.
If I were mayor I would immediately lower the bus fares back to $1.50 with the goal of bringing the city closer to its goals surrounding the environment. If by lowering the fares brings ridership up and allows more money into the pockets of our citizens, all while improving the health and air quality of Hamiltonian's then I say implement change "now". At this time of year many politicians are all of a sudden bikers, but I question the timing, I truly believe that biking is a great way to get around with added feeling of freedom ,but for many the factor of time does not allow the luxury when holding down a job or two. All forms of transportation are needed ,but I suggest that we make access to some a little easier and cheaper in the short run ,not the long run. I rarely see Bob, Larry or Fred waiting for the bus and it is for this reason I suggest talk is cheap and action talks louder than words. |
| Haines, Andrew | Yes | How about we double the transit ridership by 2011 instead?
1st: Expand the service to the outlying communities forthwith. That means REAL transit service, NOT a single, almost empty bus driving around the perimeter of Waterdown, for example. REAL transit across the entire Greater Hamilton Area. 2nd: Lower the base fare to $2.00 and charge $0.25 for a 120 minute transfer. 3rd: Acquire a fleet of electric taxicabs and use them as HSR transit vehicles, providing value-added door-to-door service for less than a "regular cab" would charge. (doing so would ALSO lower the overall emissions from the HSR as a whole.) Basically: make it silly to NOT take public transit. |
| Hamilton, Glenn | Yes | I would support that goal by making the bus routes user friendly and have better shelters for winter months. |
| Leach, Ken | Yes | Transit revenues and ridership have been dropping for years, yet the city seem to be unable to respond. In mid-2010, HSR asked council for $3,000,000 to improve services, and council deferred the decision till the 2011 budget.
The creation of an arms-length transit corporation, although widely debated, that is in control of daily activities and answers directly to the council has been proposed. This transit corporation will be mandated to work closely with the communities and improve services, and efficiencies. Currently the net operating cost for a single transit ride is $6.27 (2009 stats.) nearly double the cost of 2008. The layers of government make it extremely difficult to ensure flexibility and cost effectiveness of routes. We must reduce the number of 'dead miles' and ensure that we place transit where and when needed. This can most effectively be done by a commission comprised of business leaders and community spokespeople from throughout our city. The implementation of the PRESTO pass in late 2010/early 2011 will also make it more convenient for citizens to utilize transit. |
| Marrone, Tone | Yes | Yes I support this goal. I'd also like to see us implement the bus rapid transit. Our buses are half empty because I believe the fares are to steep. I'm also an advocate for free senior bus passes at 70 not 80 and affordable teen bus passes. Taking the bus is great for the environment and promotes the sense of community. I'm all for it. |
| Waxman, Steven | Yes | Firstly, wew must have a 3rd party citizen review and consultation to deteermine what Hamilton needs and wants, create a plan and follow it. Accesibility and scheduling are key to ridership. You can't expect the use of HSR to connect to GO Transit when the 1st trains are leaving before buses are even making there way into the core on a regular morning schedule. |
| Ward 01 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| McHattie, Brian | Yes | I strongly support this target and was part of seeing the 100 rides per capita goal set during the preparation of Vision 2020 in 1993.
Fundamentally, Council needs to commit a larger share of the property tax levy to transit, funding this through a combination of a) re-allocating funds from other operating budgets (as much of the difficult costs are operating, that is the ongoing costs of new bus drivers versus the capital costs of buying the new bus) such as road repairs; b) tolling the Red Hill Creek Parkway (could start with trucks only and go from there), and c) lobbying other levels of government to provide operating costs for transit (and reinstate capital funding for bus replacement via the Province who have just cut back on that program). I suppose it goes without saying that we need to avoid any fare increases as they routinely reduce ridership numbers, especially with the double whammy of no new service. In the short term, I have requested that $3M from Provincial Gas Tax originally allocated for capital costs (noting that Prov Gas Tax is our only source of transit operating funding from senior levels of government) be replaced by $3M in Federal gas Tax funding (that can only be used for capital costs): this will come forward in the 2011 City budget process. We received a report on priority transit service options back in August of this year and the $3M would go a long way to solving the bypass issue on the east-west Main/King line and other needs. That report also speaks to the IBI report on transit rationalization outlining the tens of millions of dollars required to meet the 100 rises per capita goal. Transit offers many benefits (air quality, lessening road congestion, GHG reduction, safer streets with fewer cars etc.) and is one of the best examples of an elegant solution: accomplishing many goals with a single action. |
| Ward 02 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Caplan, Marvin | Yes | I support doubling the ridership on Transit. It can be done in several ways. If we become more efficient in other parts of our finances we can maintain prices which will also increase ridership. Expanding transit pass programs such as the ones at Mac & Mohawk. We should be assisting those on low incomes by reduced rate passes as well. Bus lanes and bus priorities will all help as well. |
| Casey, Paul | Yes | I absolutely support this, but we need to jump on it now. Efficient and inviting Mass Transit (I don't like the term Public Transit as it can infer it is only for citizens that do not have a choice but to use it, instead of describing a system that is built to effectively move people from where they are to where they want to go) is one of the cornerstones to the redensification of downtown, and will be the arteries of the city, particularly as gas prices rise and congestion gets worse.
I would motion for a pilot project to actually reduce transit fees by by 10% for 1 yr. Yes it would reduce revenue, however I believe that increased ridership would offset that and it would prove that people would return to an affordable transit system Cost is not the only thing however, we must push forward with LRT ASAP, increase the reach and frequency of service and make it scalable (more people at a transit stop than the bus/train can fit, another shows up within 10 minutes even if it is not scheduled for an hr) |
| Castle, John | Yes | Let's hope the light rail proposal (whatever that is) gets built. |
| Coleman, Shane | Yes | I support the goal to double transit ridership. As a society we need to expand our use of alternative transportation. I know through my downtown revitalization programs we will see a great increase in the number of people living downtown.
The trends are that many baby boomers are retiring, and they would like to live downtown if we could create a good environment. We have many international immigrants and students coming and they too prefer to live downtown. It is time we clean up our image and we will see Hamilton thrive once again.I will support the LRT program. It has proven very successful in Calgary. I however do not support the current councils idea of driving parking prices up to $20 so people will take public transit. That will just keep people away from the downtown. |
| Farr, Jason | Yes | Easy - gas will be through the roof in no time.. it's a welcome option - especially if we grow jobs and livability in the core. Also, the Green theme grows like corn in the summer of 2010, the youth are much wiser than we give them credit for - they are our future, and they are already respecting this planet at a level greater than any generation before |
| Geleynse, Martinus | Yes | Ridership of public transit should rise along with the much-needed increase in residential intensification in the downtown area. Implementation of the LRT is crucial, and would certainly go a long way in attracting both riders and increased investment in our public transit infrastructure. Furthermore, I would like to see a fare-free zone implemented in the downtown area - similar to the "Free Rail Zone" in Portland. This would allow riders to access public transit at no cost in certain areas, and subsequently encourage increased ridership. Finally, I would also like to see a decreased or eliminated fare option for people on OW and ODSP. By absorbing the semi-soft cost of increased ridership of people on OW and ODSP, we could encourage ridership while empowering people to break from the cycle of poverty through affordable/free access public transit. |
| Gentile, Matteo | Yes | I do support this goal. We need to get more people involved in mass transit to reduce emissions. We also need to get the HSR or LRT by then to be a self-sustaining entity. We cannot continue to fund its losses. Mass transit needs to be more affordable for seniors and students and needs to incent car owners to take it. We need to expand the grid making HSR more accessible to all areas of the city instead of the predominantly main corridors it now focuses on. |
| Ielasi, Pat | Yes | Yes I definitely support this initiative. To achieve this we must make public transit affordable, accessible, and timely....
First, Evaluate and assess the current Bus routes and schedules, rework those routes that are not self sufficient and relocate both personal and buses to other areas, including Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Flamborogh, and Dundas, and Binbrook so that every member of our community has access to public transit. Secondly, created a Public Transportation Hub the include the Go Train, the Bus Station, and City Busses, all stopping at a centralised location, This might elevate some of the almost 35,000 commuters that travel to the GTA Daily and greatly reduce the emissions from the congested QEW and 403 highways. If Public Transit is ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND TIMELY, people will be more likely to take it. |
| Janjic, Ned | Yes | Of course, I support this goal. Right now our transit system is perceived as a 'last resort' means of transportation. People should not have to make excuses for taking public transit. We've got to change that mindset to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads and make our core more of a destination, as it is in many other cities. |
| Jelly, Matt | Yes | The first task is a rethink of our transit service and routes. This is best achieved by talking to the people who use transit - what are their needs? And we must talk to the people who don't use transit - why don't they use transit? Only then can we build a transit system that reflects people's actual needs and not their perceived needs. Consistent with the use of open source data, I believe we need to open the HSR run time information and routing to the community. Let the community program the apps to assist transit users and to look at routing choices. I favour LRT and its immediate implementation.
I believe we need to support key transit users such as seniors, OW, and ODSP recipients with transit passes at no cost. Our social safety net must include additional funding for transit for workers as well so that the transition from support to independence isn't chewed up financially by the cost of going to work. I also favour transit support through employers so that they can provide transit subsidies to their employees - this reduces their parking requirements at their job sites. Finally, we must have long term sustainability of our pass program for post secondary institutions. |
| Ward 03 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Black, Bob | Yes | I feel that doubling the riders by 2020 is an excellent goal and if the new council is able to work together this is an attainable goal., but it will take working together in an honest and respectful manner. As well as strong promotion and lowering fairs to a more affordable rate. |
| McGrimmond, Wilamina | Yes | I gave my car away in the Red Hill Valley Struggle and let my licence expire as I believe in practice what I preach, Don MacLean also gave up his car and use a bike as where I take public transit or walk. That is two people....now let's see how many other people can do that? |
| Tetley, Paul | Yes | In principle I support this goal, but based on recent results I do not believe doubling ridership from today's level is possible by 2020. From 2005 to 2009, conventional transit ridership passenger trips on the HSR decreased by 1.2%. Our first goal should be reversing that four-year declining trend.
Increasing ridership needs to be addressed by bringing jobs back to Hamilton. A healthy local economy drives increased ridership. Jobs in our urban core and historic industrial areas, coupled with the increasing importance of the McMaster Innovation Park will drive ridership gains at a far greater rate than Greenfield, low density, and car centric development. There is also a need to address timetables to ensure efficient transfer points. This is required for transferring HSR to HSR and for connections with GO Transit. Efficient transfer points will create a transit system which is more appealing to people who currently use other means of transportation. Finally, affordability of our Public Transit system is required to drive ridership gains. Hamilton needs to ensure that transit is affordable to all residents, no matter their income level. The above will ensure transit ridership increases as we move forward in the 21st Century. |
| Ward 04 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Cicconi, Giulio | Yes | Yes I support this goal. We need to ensure that the Provincial Government will continue to contribute funding for Transit. Transit is an essential service and I don't believe in privatizing it. We also need to ensure that we make the right choices when it comes to future purchases of fleet and expanding bus service to underserviced areas. |
| Ward 05 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Bedi, Jaswinder | Yes | I support it. It can be realized if we are able to make our transit system more accessible to the people in the sense that we have more frequent service, better service and more cheaper service. WE have to reduce the operational costs of the transit, improve its efficiency and put in economical smaller buses or mini buses in economically not viable zones or times, increasing faster service like B-Line on some routes and making the whole transit system common man friendly. |
| Ward 06 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Behrens, Chris | Yes | Yes, I do support this goal; I feel that this commitment is not out of reach. First of all, we need to make public transit more affordable to those who need it most. Seniors and students; as a teacher, I see firsthand students who go hungry throughout the day because they need to spend their lunch money on transit for school. While canvassing senior housing apartments, many seniors expressed the need to make public transit more affordable for them. By 2020, we will have many more seniors than we have today, we really need to assist them in public transit fares. Shorter bus wait times, increased buses during peak hours, and a restructured bus route plan will also help with this goal. In order to afford this, we could replace large buses on low-ridership routes with mini-buses, use of gas taxes to subsidize transit, utilize bus and shelter space for advertising. We also need to pump up the benefits to the average person who drives to work every day. We need to educate the general public that they can relax and enjoy a newspaper and a Timmies on their ride home or to work, instead of a white knuckle drive through the city. Lastly, we see what smog looks like on a hot summer day in 2010, what will our air quality be like ten years from now if we continue to ignore the warnings about the environment? This is a great goal and I hope that we do achieve it. |
| Knowles, Steven | Yes | I support the plan to double ridership as I believe it is a goal that would go to benefit the people of this city. However the next government has to realize that this is no easy task and will need major planning and a redesign of the current transit structure. The current system is not working but it doesn't service all areas equally (ward 6 is a major issue). |
| Yan, Nathalie Xian Yi | Yes | The following is my preliminary plan for making the HSR more effective. Several route changes could more usefully give Hamiltonians much greater coverage and extension of access within the city.
Extend bus route #2: from Barton terminal to Gray's Road, then precede south bound on Grays Rd and along Queenston Road West bound to Eastgate Square, then north on Centennial Parkway Road back to Barton St., then proceed west to downtown. A second option for bus route 2: from Barton St. East terminal to Jones Road, then south up Jones to Queenston Road, then west to Eastgate Square, and then north on Centennial Parkway back to Barton St. and west bound on Barton to downtown Hamilton bus terminal. Extend bus route #3: departure from Roxborough Parking lot to Parkdale Avenue North turn left to South bound then proceed along Queenston Road East to the Eastgate Square, drive through then proceeds west along Queenston Road East turn to Parkdale Avenue North, back to Roxborough Avenue via Britannia Avenue to Downtown. The second option of #3: departure from Roxborough Parking lot to Parkdale Avenue North turn left to South bound then proceeds along Queenston East to the Eastgate Square then proceeds south bound on Centennial Park Way South and turn right at King St. E. proceeds along till turn right at Parkdale Avenue South, then back to Roxborough Avenue via Britannia Avenue to Downtown. Change #44 west: drive through Redeemer University proceeds East Bound along of Garner Road East turn left at Upper Paradise Road turn left at Stone Church Road West bound terminal at Meadowlands. Extend #44 East: bound along Rymal Road up to Upper Centennial along down to Centennial Parkway North, turn left at Van Wagner's Beach Bl. Turn back to East Bound of North Service Rd till the boundary of city Hamilton at 50 Road turn back through South Service Road till Centennial Parkway North turn left. Terminal at Eastgate Square. Cancell #9, extend #6, #7,#8, to cover route #9 and extend service to Waterdown and outreach Aldershot with more reasonable schedules and have them run yearly, daily or certain time zone. Cancell #55 Cancell #56 Extend #52A to cover all over Dundas Extend #16 to Garner Road E. pass Redeemer U. to fully service Ancaster Extend #58 to cover all Stoney Creek include Red Hill, Vincent and extend to Winona. Change of #11: Off Red Hill Parkway. From Mount Albion Road turn left at Greenhill Avenue. Drive to meet King Street turns right. Turn Right at Centennial PY. Turn right at Mud Street West to serve Heritage Green, Valley Park and Leckie Park area. Extend #33: down to Ancaster Meadowlands and back through Garth and Fennell proceeds to Upper Wellington to Concession St. turn right at Upper Ottawa and turn right at Brucedale Avenue turn right at Upper James St. throught Claremont Access down to Wentworth turn right at Delaware Avenue proceeds to Maplewood Avenue turn right at Gage turn right at Cumberland and turn right at Wentworth turn left at Stinson proceeds to Hunter St. E. terminal at Gore Park through Wellington St. Make #55 only server for McMaster University, downtown commute and Mohawk College. 1, In order to make "net" ready for "birds" land, ie, to increase ridership, the public transit need have speed limitation, at max 35-40k/h, could be slower, but never speedy. If designated stop has no passengers' board, the operator should adjust the speed to dilute the space of next bus coming. 2, bus should be off Red Hill High Way. 3, Garage buses should pick up anyone who still standing at any bus stops whenever their destination are going to the destinations. Make Hamilton HSR more humanly. |
| Ward 07 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Beck, Keith | Yes | I do support the goal to increase transit ridership and the consequential reduction in car trips. Three things I would like to do to pursue this goal is 1. See both the B and A line LRT plans built. 2. Re-evaluate comprehensively our transit routes. The city has changed and some of the older routes need to be rerouted to cover stops people commonly make. and 3. Thinking back to my time as a Mac student, I remember how convenient it was to have an annual pass. And having it made you think about using it more often to get the most value from it. I would like to see an annual photo ID pass for regular passengers available. Maybe even allow payment for it to be made by installment, or on property tax bills for homeowners. |
| Gallagher, John | Yes | If elected, I will move to convince city council to conduct an immediate review of all costs related to the collection and management of fares paid by transit users. The purpose of this review will be to confirm that there is a net surplus of income from paid transit fares.
It is my belief that transit should be deemed an essential service and every reasonable effort should be made to offer transit services on the same principles our government uses to justify all other essential services such as police, fire etc. There are myriad tangible and not-so-obvious benefits accrued to a municipality that acknowledges that every citizen has a right to access transit system, regardless of status or ability to pay. I look forward to working with council and other interested stakeholders to make our transit system available to all citizens. |
| Pettit, Trevor | Yes | This is a very noble goal and certainly one we should strive to achieve. We need to provide convenience at reasonable rates. More availability and scheduled stops during prime time. Safety and cleanliness that will make users feel comfortable and secure. Handicap accessability is paramount. Expanded service to the outer suburbs if the demand is there. Reduced rates for seniors - free ride for seniors over 70 and all armed forces personnel. Every effort must have a good business plan that understands the fiscal realities of the day. |
| Ward 08 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Jenkinson, Kim | Yes | Doubling transit ridership would be a minimum goal; yes I support this 100%. To reach this goal city transit needs to make sense. There are several problems with our current transit system.
Problem: Lack of connectivity. Gore Park is our central downtown HSR core, but the Go Bus is three blocks away and there are no parking facilities at the GO station. This does not make sense for commuters trying to use the busses and trains to get out of the city to work. These commuters are the primary target for increasing ridership, we must have seamless easy to use transit to attract these potential transit users and reduce the traffic on our highways and roads. Solution: A centralized bus/train/transit system with parking available. This would be a long term goal, but the city can plan for it and invest in transit to move the City in this direction. Problem: Transit is not reliable and not user friendly. The busses are not on schedule; HSR must let people waiting know when the next bus will get there. People report the bus can be anywhere from 10 minutes early to 20 minutes late. This would not be an issue on the East/West lines on King and Main, but it is certainly an issue on the Mountain routes. If busses are not on time and connections are difficult to make or are out of the way, the transit system is not user friendly. The lack of available scheduled busses is also an issue for many riders. Solution: The technology is available to add an app for cell phones that could tell you where the bus and/or each major bus stop should have the arrival time of the next bus on an LED board. Problem: Low ridership, in part because of all of the reasons above. The cost of transit is also a barrier to many people using transit. Solution: Freeze HSR fees at the current rates. Offer further discounts to seniors and subsidized passes to low income earners. These are low cost remedies, the bus system is already in place and is not running at capacity; why not make it affordable for people on fixed incomes to increase ridership? |
| Ward 09 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Fiorentino, Nancy | Yes | I do support increasing transit ridership. There are many ways to achieve this goal including but not limited to:
- reviewing current ridership trends on all routes and determining which routes are successful and which are not and why - assessing the demographics and the needs of the community in relation to service routes, transit fares, accessibility, and so forth - the marketing and advertising of transit - examining the frequency of stops that take place on average per route and assessing if the frequency of stops is contributing to a longer ride thus discouraging ridership. If so, one easy remedy is to add additional service to the popular route - time of travel. Assessing the duration of time between pick-ups In general, to increase ridership you need a transit service that is convenient, efficient, and priced fairly. |
| McMullen, Geraldine | Yes | I support doubling transit ridership by 2020. There are many considerations that need to be addressed to ensure that this commitment is realized. These include ensuring that budgetary funding is properly in place; programmes that assists those with reduced and fixed incomes are continued; and collaboration with stakeholder partners to address any potential problems is completed. Proper analysis of the of routes and the resources required will need to be assessed as well as ensuring that resources and services are improved to ensure everyone receives timely transit service. |
| Ward 10 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Bustamante, Jose Pablo | Yes | Doubling the transit ridership by 2020, make sense only if is supported by a master plan. The easy solution for people without creativity is always doubling things. Such as doubling taxes, fares or rides. Creative solutions require creative approaches and a master plan. |
| Josipovic, Bernard | Yes | I do support the goal of doubling transit riders by 2020. This helps the city in many ways: It keep cars of the road and neutralizes are growing traffic concerns. It also keeps cars of the road for the environmental issue o exhaust fumes entering our atmosphere in high volume.
I would realize this goal by working with Council on making transit more affordable and appealing to the citizens of Hamilton. This would be done with studies and a great advertising campaign. At the end of the day, traffic would be controlled and the air would be cleaner. |
| Ward 11 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Mitchell, David | Yes | I definitely support this, that is why we need Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the city which will increase ridership. |
| Ward 12 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Cox-Graham, Brenda | Yes | Yes I support this goal. We want fewer cars on our roads and cleaner air. Make it widespread as possible, especially to the suburbs and cheap as dirt so that cars become the most undesirable option. Failing that, link it to the suburbs with park and rides. Make it a desirable option with lots of room, frequent trips during rush hours and protection for women, the disabled and the elderly and accessible to all. |
| Ward 13 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Powers, Russ | Yes | It will be achievable, if and only if, two focused strategies are pursued, namely; a significant start on the implementation of the city-wide LRT system (only possible with an appropriate funding formula) and the introduction of additional collector routes that connect with the LRT at best locations in a timely manner. |
| Robinson, Glenn | Yes | Keeping fares as low as possible while improving convenience will create a better user experience and contribute to increased ridership. The Presto pass is designed to afford greater convenience and efficiency and is a welcome option; however, maintaining flexibility in fare payment options (cash, tickets, day passes, student passes, etc.) will ensure casual users are also welcome and easily able to access the system.
Flexibility in routing will improve access and thereby create more opportunities for citizens to view public transit as a convenient alternative to private vehicles. A transit system that provides linkages to local networks, such as GO, VIA and the potential LRT, will enhance the user experience and convenience and therefore ridership. In future, incorporating non-traditional modes, such as, trolleys, trams and cable cars can provide a new and unique method of transit. Using a cable car to carry passengers up and down the Niagara Escarpment would avoid further erosion of our escarpment. A cable car(s) would connect with HSR networks on the escarpment and in the downtown core. Cable cars could also be promoted as a tourist attraction with amazing views of the city, the harbour and beyond. |
| Scime, Danya | No | I have a hard time believing that this is possible within the next decade. For Dundas, the routes as they are, are not efficient nor addressing our Residents. I would propose that encouraging more ridership through darts and smaller busses in our Town. I watched yesterday, three busses go by King Street. The maximum people on board was 7. Possibly moving some of the stops to the seniors apartments and condos would be a more efficient use of the busses. I would love to see us partner with businesses in encouraging their employees to take public transit. Having the employers issue bus passes to the employees living out of the work area. If we can have the private corporations encourage bus usage by issuing passes to their employees as part of the benefits.
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| Tammer, Ron | Yes | I support any effort to increase transit ridership. I think the LRT will certainly work wonders towards this goal, as it can make it more "socially acceptable" to take transit. I find that in Hamilton, people are somewhat ashamed to ride the HSR; I believe if it is made more convenient and "fashionable", ridership can be increased to the level where the HSR is actually profitable. |
| Ward 15 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Gaspar, Brian | Yes | In efforts to increase ridership I must see the facts and the data to support the initiative.
We would require a benchmark of where we stand today so we can monitor growth and draw conclusions to determine what initiatives are required. Many Hamiltonians depend on this service so make it affordable, create a service that is value added cost effective that enhances ridership. Be creative in inviting pedestrians and tourist to ride are services. The creation of events that attract people to use the public transit provide necessary shelters drop points and focus on key attractions and grow the business and most of all keep it safe and clean. |
Response Summary (top)
| Brief Response | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 43 | 97.7% |
| No | 1 | 2.3% |
| Maybe | 0 | 0.0% |
39 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)
| Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Di Ianni, Larry | ||
| Filice, Pasquale | ||
| Speziale, Gino | ||
| Veri, Victor | ||
| Wozny, Mark | ||
| Ward 01 | ||
| Greco, Tony | ||
| Paquette, Raymond | ||
| Ward 02 | ||
| Chiarelli, Diane | ||
| Deans, Ian | ||
| Ferguson, Lloyd | ||
| Hess, Erik | ||
| Jones, Hoojung | ||
| Lescaudron, Dawn | ||
| Novak, James | ||
| Pipe, Charlie | ||
| Wright, Kevin | ||
| Ward 03 | ||
| DiMillo, Mark | ||
| Gibson, Sean | ||
| Morelli, Bernie | ||
| Ward 04 | ||
| Bulbrook, Norm | ||
| Merulla, Sam | ||
| Ward 05 | ||
| Collins, Chad | ||
| Rukavina, Frank | ||
| Stacey, Dave | ||
| Ward 06 | ||
| Febers, Michelle | ||
| Jackson, Tom | ||
| Pecyna, Ed | ||
| Ward 07 | ||
| Duvall, Scott | ||
| Ward 08 | ||
| Whitehead, Terry | ||
| Ward 09 | ||
| Clark, Brad | ||
| Mowatt, Andrew | ||
| Ward 10 | ||
| Pearson, Maria | ||
| Ward 11 | ||
| Chartrand, Ken | ||
| Johnson, Brenda | ||
| Ward 12 | ||
| Ferguson, Lloyd | ||
| Ward 13 | ||
| Zuliniak, Marty | ||
| Ward 14 | ||
| Pasuta, Robert | ||
| Ward 15 | ||
| Bos, Neil | ||
| Partridge, Judi | ||
