BRIEF- HSR Resuming Pre-COVID Levels of Service in New Year
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Hamilton’s public transit agency, the Hamilton Street Railway, states they will resume pre-COVID levels of service on many routes beginning on Sunday, December 27, 2020.
HSR Now Charging Fees for Road and Lane Closures on Bus Routes
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The new policy was implemented in the past few weeks, surprising developers and City planning staff. The policy is not on the City website, and no staff in the Development Industry Liaison Group meeting were able to explain it.
Farr to Metrolinx: Resume QEW Express Service Between Hamilton and Toronto
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Farr calls on Metrolinx to resume pre-COVID service levels. Farr has not made a similar call for Council to resume full HSR service.
HSR Announces Further Service Reductions Beginning June 28
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City Hall is reducing HSR service further beginning on June 28, with 14 bus routes seeing service reduced with many of the cuts focused upon evening and night service.
Council to Decide if Students Continue Paying For HSR UPasses During COVID Closures
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With student U-Passes representing approx. 17% of HSR’s annual revenue, Council faces a growing municipal deficit due to COVID-19.
Flamborough HSR Bus Service Cost Now Split Between Waterdown and Hamilton Ratepayers
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With the change, the $538,000 annual operating cost of the 18-Waterdown HSR bus route is funded 68.8% by Waterdown ratepayers and 31.2% by Hamilton ratepayers for approximately $370,000 and $168,000 respectively.
Coleman’s Notes: HSR Shortening the 34-Upper Paradise Routing Downtown
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This is not a rider-centric change, quite the opposite. Instead of providing needed bus service to Redeemer University College, Mayor Fred Eisenberger has once again shortchanged the HSR and its riders.
Provincial Student Fee Announcement Could Cost HSR over $7-Million in Revenue
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The HSR’s 2018 revenue forecast was $42.4-million, of which $7.1-million was from McMaster and Mohawk U-Passes, 16.7% of the HSR’s overall revenue.
Council Exploring Local Solutions to Metrolinx HSR-PRESTO Requirements
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Hamilton City Councillors are hesitant to accept terms imposed by Ontario’s Provincial transit oversight agency Metrolinx for the use of the electronic PRESTO fare system. Under new terms of use being imposed by Metrolinx’s on the 905-belt municipalities, local transit systems must generate a minimum amount of commission revenue to PRESTO or face clawbacks in their provincial gas tax funding. Gas tax revenues projected to double to $21-million by 2021-22
For Hamilton’s local public transit agency, this means going from paying $422,039 at a 2% commission rate to $4,098,005 at a 9% commission rate in 2027. Metrolinx is regarding that 80% of HSR revenue by from PRESTO media by 2021. To reach 80%, HSR must discontinue paper tickets and passes.
Joe Kipp, King of 1-King, Retires Friday after Nearly 40 Years Driving HSR Buses
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Whoever said everyone is replaceable never met HSR’s bubbles chocolate bus driver.