Waterdown to test-drive ‘on-demand’ bus service
City will experiment with HSR ride-hailing service in village starting in September
Waterdown residents will be able to order an HSR bus ride in real time via a smartphone app this September as part of Hamilton’s first “ondemand” transit experiment.
If it works, the city could consider expanding ride-hailing transit to other suburban enclaves across the amalgamated city such as Stoney Creek and Glanbrook.
A growing number of cities are trying out on-demand transit, a tech-savvy alternative to fixed bus routes that allows customers to book and track rides in real time.
Some of those transit alternatives are run by private outfits — like ride-hailing giant Uber in Innisfil, for example — but Hamilton will use “in-house” buses and HSR drivers for its pilot, said transit planning manager Jason VanderHeide.
It’s a different way to deliver service on a small scale in a community that has a real need,” said VanderHeide, who outlined plans for the pilot to city councillors in a budget meeting Friday. “There are certain sections (of urban Waterdown) that aren’t receiving any transit service at all right now.”
Some on-demand services offer doorstep pickup using smaller vehicles like vans.
Hamilton, by contrast, plans to use 30-foot buses to pick up riders at a mix of existing and new bus stops spread along the main streets
of the village, plus Harry Howell arena and businesses parks near Highway 6.
During the pilot, riders can use a smartphone to book a pickup window and monitor the progress of their bus. The shared-ride buses will drop riders anywhere within urban Waterdown or at Aldershot GO station.
VanderHeide said the HSR is also looking at introducing a “direct transit link” between the fast-growing suburban village and downtown Hamilton — something that does not exist now.
For now, the pilot is not expected to cost city taxpayers any additional cash. VanderHeide said the experiment will operate within the “existing budget” for Waterdown service in 2021 and use the same vehicles that already travel the existing halfhourly, fixed-route loop through the community.
The city will pay for private software for the experiment, but that cost is not yet known.
The city’s bus driver union is on board with the experiment so long as HSR drivers and buses are involved, said ATU Local 107 president Eric Tuck. He had previously warned against the “disaster” of “privatized transit” offered by companies like Uber, which has had a mixed reception among transit users and advocates.
Waterdown Coun. Judi Partridge said she is excited about the pilot, noting incoming families and large businesses like Stryker and L3 Wescam need bus service for workers.
Most councillors were generally supportive of the pilot, but some questioned why council had not been asked to approve such a notable change in service. “It blows my mind,” said Coun. Brad Clark.
“This is a pivot, an important shift in how public transit is offered,” added Coun. Nrinder Nann.
Others asked if the province was insisting on the experiment.
The province sent letters to cities last summer setting conditions on the receipt of future COVID relief cash — one of which instructed Hamilton to consider “microtransit” as an alternative on “low-performing” bus routes.
VanderHeide said the city was already looking at the idea of a Waterdown transit experiment before COVID-19 hit.
He said the city is still “seeking clarity” from the province’s on what, if any conditions will be set on future COVID grants.