Pubdate:April 16, 2008
By Erika Engel
Rapid transit is coming to Hamilton. There are two options
for a new transportation system; rapid bus transit (RBT) and
light rail transit (LRT).
Some North American cities have already been using these systems
for years. Here's how it works for them.
Minneapolis
Population: 3.2 million
LRT since 2004
* 26.4 kilometres of track
* In 2007, 9.1 million people rode the LRT system
compared to 7.9 million in 2005, according to a survey
by Metro Transit.
* 27,000 people ride the train on a weekday.
* 80 per cent of people riding the train are
car owners.
* 34 per cent of riders make approximately $70,000 a
year.
* 49 per cent of weekday riders take the train
five days a week.
* 45 per cent of the riders are between 35
and 54 years old.
According to Bob Gibbons, director of customer services at Metro
Transit, the light rail system in Minneapolis cost $715.3 million
to build.
Operating costs are projected at $24.3 million for 2008. $9.2
million comes from fares, $5.3 million from the state, $5.3
million from the county, $3.7 million from car sales tax
and the remaining $800,000 from advertising.
Portland, Ore.
Population: 2 million
MAX LRS
The first light rail system opened in 1985. There is
now almost 100 kilometres of track.
* 34 million people rode the light rail system in
2007.
* 104,200 people ride the light rail system on a
weekday.
* A two-car light rail vehicle carries 266 people.
Since the 1980s when the rail was first built, there
has been more than $6 billion in development within walking
distance of the LRT stations.
"Developers like the permanence of a rail when investing millions
into a building," said Peggy LaPoint, a transit public information
officer.
Calgary
Population: 1.1 million
Rapid bus transit since 2003
Light rail transit since 1981
* 36 stations along 42.1 kilometres of track.
* 270,000 people take the Calgary LRT system on a
weekday.
* Ridership on the LRT has doubled in the past
10 years.
According to Rob Collins, spokesperson for Calgary Transit, more than
90 million people used the Calgary public transit system last
year.
The rapid bus system was a cheaper way to boost
transit in the city, but Calgary is replacing the buses
with light rail service as it receives the funding for
it.
Ottawa
Population: 1.2 million
Transitway rapid bus transit
* 240,000 people ride the Transit bus system on a
weekday.
* 175 buses run per hour.
* During peak hours, as many as 10,000 people will
ride the bus.
* 95.6 million people used the public transit system in
Ottawa last year.
Ottawa has eight kilometres of light rail track and plans
to expand, said Vincent Patterson, manager of performance at OC
Transpo, which runs the transit system.
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