About Us | Aerotropolis | Sustainability | Provincial Planning | City Planning

Getting Around

Changing Our Mode of Transportation

The transportation system described in Vision 2020 is one where the car is no longer the dominant mode of transit.

Transportation planning, instead of accommodating an increasing number of single occupancy vehicles, will promote a combination of techniques such as, self-propelled transit (foot and bicycle), buses, ride-sharing, and proximity (working and playing near home), to complement the role of the automobile. Preference is given to modes of transportation, such as, walking and cycling, that promote human scale interaction and do not contribute to air and noise pollution.

Throughout the entire public involvement process, the Task Force heard people voice dissatisfaction about current opportunities for cycling, walking and using public transit. Many people felt too much emphasis has been placed on accommodating the automobile, resulting in serious air and noise pollution and loss of land.

Although it is recognized that the private automobile cannot be eliminated, transportation planning needs to go beyond the car. A linked land use and transportation plan is needed for Hamilton-Wentworth that promotes the use of low-polluting, energy efficient forms of transportation and which would have the flexibility to integrate pedestrians, cyclists, public transit, goods movement and private autos.

Benefits to a shift in focus:

There are a number of benefits to a shift in the focus of transportation and land use planning. These include:

• Reduce air and noise pollution and its negative effect on the environment;
• Creation of a more liveable urban environment;
  Decreased consumption of non-renewable resources;
• Development of a more efficient and cost-effective public transit system;
• Reduced municipal expenditures in road maintenance and construction and subsidization of public transit; and
• Improved personal health and reduced public health care costs.

Access to transit for people with disabilities:

In addition to this concern about the mode of transportation, many public submissions expressed concerns about access to transit for people with disabilities. Although Hamilton-Wentworth (now the City of Hamilton) has a transit service for people with disabilities, it is limiting because people must book rides days in advance. Accessible transportation is needed if people are to have access to employment, education and recreational facilities. Many people pointed out, that other communities (i.e. Vancouver) have made their regular transit system wheelchair accessible, thereby providing these people with access to same level of transit service as provided for the general population.