Anticipated Traffic Impacts of Light Rail Transit (LRT) on Hamilton

“Challenge:
How might the LRT project affect traffic on the LRT Corridor and alternative routes, the economic growth of the downtown core, and provide health and environmental benefits to the community?”

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Student Names:
Anastasia Soukhov, Cole Bondarewski, Chris Leung, Amanda Reale, Mike Wang, Julian Riano, Stanley Qian, Andrea Giampuzzi, Justin Lawrence, Andres Alvarez

Staff Member:
Kris Jacobson, Acting Director, LRT Project Coordination

Instructor:
Moataz Mohamed

Course and Department:
CIVENG 4T04 Transportation Engineering II: Modelling, Transit, and ITS

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The Hamilton LRT project is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to expanding transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. This project presents a great opportunity for students to study the effects of the LRT on different aspects of the community. Questions surrounding projected traffic congestion, property values, anticipated employment growth, and improved environmental conditions due to decreased daily travel times and fuel consumption, can be explored.

Students of the McMaster Transportation Engineering class created a traffic simulation of the current and projected conditions on a section of King Street near McMaster University. They used statistical models to project current traffic data into the future. Students optimized LRT riders' travel times using a micro traffic simulation model. They consulted literature for additional traffic assignment modelling assumptions and reviewed literature discussing the economic and environmental impacts of the LRT project on Hamilton's community. 

Next students will generate suggestions to highlight the impacts of LRT and share their findings with community stakeholders. 

       Traffic assignment equilibrium loop

                                                                           Hamilton LRT Render

                                        Traffic simulation of projected data using Synchro 5

Red Light, Green Light

“Challenge:
How can we minimize the impact of the LRT on the major signalized intersections of the downtown core?”

Lights

Student Names:
Kerianne Hagan, Jessica Middleton, Jedursha Thurappah, Peter Ivankovic, Alyson King

Staff Member:
Kris Jacobson, Acting Director, LRT Project Coordination

Instructor:
Moataz Mahmoud

Course and Department:
Civil Engineering 4T04: Transportation Engineering II - Modelling Transit and ITS

Traffic simulation of projected data using Synchro 5

Kerianne, Jessica, Jedursha, Peter and Alyson - Civil Engineering students at McMaster University, counted vehicles at the five major intersections of Catherine, John, James, MacNab and Bay. They then modelled construction drawings of the proposed layout and input their collected data using the Synchro 5 software. This optimized the traffic signals of the 5 intersections to give the LRT priority. 

Next they will generate suggestions to highlight the impacts of LRT and share these findings with community stakeholders. 

Rendering of LRT

LRT B-line Map

Corner of King and Wellington Street, Hamilton

Mohawk College Community Project in Partnership with City Housing Hamilton

“Challenge:
How might we provide excellent student learning opportunities while providing cost-effective renovations to CityHousing units to meet the
community need?”

Mohawk student cutting trim to size

Student Names:
All second year students in the Building Renovation Technician Program

Staff Members:
Matt Bowen (Manager, Tenant Engagement & Support Services) & Brian Kinaschuk (Manager of Operations, CityHousing)

Instructor:
Mark Lucking, John Deelstra, Brad MacDonald

Course and Department:
Construction Engineering Technician - Building Renovation – 462

Mohawk instructor teaching a student on-site

While there is high demand for subsidized housing in Hamilton, CityHousing Hamilton has units that are not lived in because they need costly renovations and updates.

Students in their second year of the Building Technician Renovation Program at Mohawk College are continuing their collaboration with CityHousing Hamilton to renovate CityHousing units that are unsuitable for use until renovations are complete. At this point schedules have been made and students are regularly working on job sites. Demolition and cleaning have been completed where necessary. Construction is well under way with the flooring having been replaced, and doors and trim being installed.

Next, the students will install kitchens within both units including countertops and appliances. They will also renovate the bathrooms and install tiling, toilets, and general functionality while ensuring the space is a livable environment for families in need. 

Mohawk students installing a doorframe.

Green Wave: Improving Travel Times Using Signal Timing Optimization

“Challenge:
The challenge (and goal) is to identify and recommend signal timing improvements to improve vehicular corridor progression and reduce average delays”

Students taking measurements

Students:
Ivan Balaban, Eric Bentzen-Bilkvist, Krystian Biernat, Sebastian Biernat, Nathaniel Booth, Andrew Brown, Elizabeth Di Tella, Ivan Drewnitski, Trina Fernandes, Dhaval Harpal, Jonathan Holmes, Shajin Jahan, Khang (Brian) Le, Rabin Maskey, Derek Napoli, Smit Vinodbhai Patel, Anil Kumar Pau, Padma Priya Prabha Haridas, Thair Shaqour, Christopher Toews, Brad Van Bendegem, Joshua Van Ravens, Dinesh Wagle, Mateusz Zalewski

Staff:
Jeff Cornwell, Project Manager, Traffic Signals, Roads & Traffic Division, Public Works

Instructor:
Sean Nix

Course and Department:
TRAN 10000 (Traffic Engineering 4), School of Engineering Technology (Building and Construction Sciences)

Student taking notes in the field

Sections of Mohawk Road and Upper Paradise Road are currently under review to determine if improved efficiencies can be implemented with respect to signal times.

Students from the Mohawk College's School of Engineering Technology used the traffic modelling software (Sychro 10) provided by the City of Hamilton which assembles and distributes the turning movement counts (TMCs) and signal timing plans in order to study area intersections and analyze and implement traffic modelling. They also conducted field visits to validate TMCs, signal timing plans and (using a probe vehicle) travel time and delay through the two corridors and calibrated a traffic capacity analysis and vehicular progression model to existing conditions

Next the engineering students will prepare a “recommended scenario” traffic model containing signal timing parameters that will be recommended to improve vehicular corridor progression and reduce average delays as well as preparing a technical memorandum summarizing study process, findings and recommendations which will be presented to City staff. 

Google Street View at Mohawk and Upper Paradise Road

School Site Design Study: Impact of School Site Paved Surface Area on Travel Mode Choice

“Challenge:
Is there any relation between paved surface area of school sites and the modes of transportation used to get to school? ”

Observing the number of vehicles coming and going

Students:
Mina Mahdavi, Kamaldeep Kaur

Staff Member:
Kelly Scott, Physical Activity Specialist, Healthy Environments Division, Healthy & Safe Communities Department

Instructor:
Gail Krantzburg

Course and Department:
Thesis project, W. Booth School of Engineering and Practice

In the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), there has been a steady decline in walking to and from school over the past 25 years, as children are increasingly dropped off and picked up by car. Data drawn from the 1986 to 2011 Transportation Tomorrow Survey shows that walking among 11 to 13 year olds in Hamilton has decreased from 58% in 1986 to 39% in 2011. This increase in car travel mode share to school in the GTHA, has added significant car traffic volume to roads during the morning peak period. Now schools are the second biggest car trip generator in the morning commute forming 22% of morning peak traffic, second only to workplaces, in the GTHA.

This project builds on the previous study “School Site Design and Travel Mode Choice: A Comparison of Objective and Subjective Measures of Walk ability of Schools in the Hamilton Area” completed February 2017.  The draft hypothesis for this project is “as the amount of school site motorized vehicle paved surface area increases so too does the use of motorized vehicles to the school site and surrounding streets”.  The information is intended to inform decisions about school site design that promotes the greatest mode share of walking and cycling, while reducing personal motorized vehicle use. 

• Research indicates that there is a link between the built environment, and individual and population health

• Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity have been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases

• Travel by motorized vehicles (personal vehicles & school buses) negatively impacting pedestrian and cyclist safety

• Motorized vehicles contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely impact respiratory and cardiac health

• Availability of free parking and ‘kiss-and-rides” increases the use of motorized vehicles

Mina and Kamaldeep received ethics approval from the McMaster Research Ethics Office and the municipal school boards to observe 14 schools and collect data on the relationship between paved surfaces and modes of transportation. They will next interpret the data to determine relationships and provide recommendations for schools based on their findings.