The B-Line is a planned light rail line in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to operate along Main and King streets in downtown Hamilton. It is one of five planned rapid transit lines which form Hamilton's proposed BLAST network. It is a top 15 priority project in The Big Move, Metrolinx's regional transportation plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The 14 km, 17-stop route is to extend from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. It is fully funded by a $1 billion grant from the Government of Ontario and is expected to be opened in 2024.
Video B-Line (Hamilton)
Route layout
The western terminus is to be built on Main Street in front of McMaster University. The line will continue east until it crosses a newly constructed bridge over Highway 403 which will connect it to downtown Hamilton via King Street. At the King-Main intersection, the line will continue on Main Street until Queenston Circle and then Queenston Road until Eastgate Square.
Stops
- Notes
- All stops are located along the street's median except where noted below.
Maps B-Line (Hamilton)
History
The B-Line LRT is in the planning phase. A benefits case analysis was conducted, showing a net benefit for implementing LRT, and that it would be adequate dealing with long-term travel demand growth. An environmental project report was completed in October 2011.
On May 26, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced a shorter route between McMaster University and Queenston Circle, but also including a segment of the A-Line to provide a direct connection to West Harbour GO Station, as well as a pedestrian corridor to the Hamilton GO Centre. The capital costs for the project will be $1 billion, funded entirely by the province. For the B-Line LRT, procurement was expected to begin in 2017, and line construction is expected to begin in 2019.
On February 2, 2017, the province scrapped the A-Line spur altogether, announcing it would opt for bus rapid transit along the entire A-Line corridor from Hamilton's waterfront to the airport.
On March 28, 2017, Hamilton City Council chose to delay the crucial Environmental Assessment vote to April 19, 2017, citing they needed more time to read it for themselves. On April 19, 2017, City Council voted again to delay the Environmental Assessment, this time to April 26, 2017, claiming the plan at that stage (which was to build Phase 1 from McMaster University to Queenston Traffic Circle) was undefendable and unfit as it did not go from a destination location to a destination location.
On April 26, 2017, The Province announced with the money saved from removing the spur line from King and James to the West Harbour GO Station, they would work with the City to get the 3 km Eastgate Square Extension included in the capital funding. Later that evening City Council voted to submit the Original Environmental Assessment from October 2011 which covers the original route from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. The motion to submit the original Environmental Assessment was by Terry Whitehead, who was one of the project's harshest critics. The motion passed 10-5, with Cllr. Robert Pasuta away ill.
On August 4, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved the Environmental Project Report (EPR) Addendum for Hamilton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan.
Procurement
Teams shortlisted by IO and Metrolinx allowed to bid for the design, construction, equipment, financing and operations and maintenance of the project are:
- CityLine Transit Group including equity providers ACS, Aecon, CRH and TIAA.
- Ei8ht Transit including equity providers EllisDon, Fluor and Bombardier.
- Mobilinx including equity providers Astaldi, John Laing, Hitachi-Ansaldo STS, Transdev and Amico.
Metrolinx expects to award a contract in 2019.
Operations
- The B-Line LRT route is currently served by the 10 B-Line Express HSR bus.
- The trip is expected to take 32 minutes from end-to-end running at a frequency of every 6 minutes during peak hours.
- The 14 km route will include 17 stops placed approximately 600-800 metres apart.
- The B-Line will use a 30-meter light rail vehicle with a capacity of about 130 passengers. Platforms being built are 60-meter to support future trains of 2 light rail vehicles in length.
References
External links
- Hamilton Rapid Transit
- Metrolinx scheme plans
- BCA Consultation boards
- Hamilton Light Rail - Site for an advocacy group
- LRT is coming to Hamilton! on YouTube published by the City of Hamilton on May 2, 2016.
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments
