BACCC asked all municipal candidates for their views on environmentally-friendly transportation options, presenting them with these three questions. Views expressed are solely those of the candidates and do not reflect the views of BACCC or its members. All responses have been reviewed to ensure appropriateness and relevance to the questions posed. We encourage you to make an informed decision by researching your local candidates.
Hamilton Ward 2 Candidate Cameron Kroetsch
From the recommendations in BACCC’s Options for Travel report, which would be your top priority to enact to ensure safe, reliable, convenient and equitable transportation options?
As a cyclist and transit user, I agree that both are very important priorities but my top priority is to improve walking and mobility devices. I chose this priority because, no matter the mode of transit, we all have to walk or roll to start or end our journeys. The poor state of the sidewalks in Ward 2 makes it difficult for people to get around and makes them feel trapped in their homes. I have seen seniors and parents pushing strollers forced to walk alongside live road traffic on the street because there was too much snow or ice on the sidewalk or construction or road work was being done without adequate sidewalk detour infrastructure. We can do better as a City and I’m committed to ensuring that Hamiltonians can get around safely using City sidewalks and that there is a sidewalk to road ratio of 1:1 citywide.
If environmentally friendly transportation options are not convenient, residents will be less likely to choose those options over driving.
What steps would you take to ensure environmentally friendly transportation options are convenient?
If we’re going to grow resiliently as a city, we will have to choose greener ways of getting around. Convenience and simplicity are key to encouraging the public to try something new or unfamiliar. My platform outlines specific points that I will implement to ensure that environmentally friendly transportation options, like cycling, taking public transit, and walking or rolling are convenient. I will –
• Connect existing cycling infrastructure and improve the current network
• Expand the current electric bus pilot
• Grow the Hamilton Bike Share fleet both east of Ottawa Street and on the Mountain
• Modernize local Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) routes
• Equalize funding for transit across the City
• Develop a phased plan for free local transit
• Plan downtown street design to prepare for building out the BLAST transit
• Introduce shuttle service to and from major public amenities and events
Environmentally friendly transportation needs to be perceived as safe in order to be viewed as a viable option.
What steps would you take to ensure all users feel safe when using all transportation methods?
We all deserve to get around our city safely and, if I’m elected, I will ensure that the City takes its commitment to Vision Zero seriously. My platform also outlines specific points that I will implement to ensure that environmentally friendly transportation options, like cycling, taking public transit, and walking or rolling are safe. I will –
• Collaborate with neighbourhoods to redesign unsafe streets
• Audit roads, sidewalks, and other public spaces to ensure that they’re hazard free and kept that way
• Implement traffic calming measures equitably across neighbourhoods
• Prevent non-local truck traffic from cutting through downtown neighbourhoods
• Clear snow from all sidewalks, side streets, bus stops, and hydrants
• Improve the Disabled and Aged Regional Transit Service (DARTS) including vehicle upgrades, additional funding, and robust reporting
