Hamilton councillors won't be scrutinizing how often the city plows roads

A recurring theme at Hamilton city hall arose during Monday's budget debate — one of cars versus transit, roads versus sidewalks.

With votes only minutes apart Monday, councillors rejected looking at trimming the city's winter road maintenance, and gave the nod to scrutinizing underused bus routes.

Maureen Wilson, Ward 1 (west end) councillor, said Hamilton uses a higher standard for plowing roads than most other cities. The city has to trim the budget, she said, so it should look there. Her motion to gather some numbers failed 4-10.

Minutes later, councillors voted 10-4 to get a list of underused HSR routes.

This wasn't lost on Wilson, one of council's most frequent speakers about pedestrian and cyclist rights.

"It's clearly a double standard," she said. "My position is always more information is better."

Hamilton city council has grappled in recent years over the frequency and presence of bicycle lanes, sidewalks, transit and other non-car amenities.

Two years ago, it adopted a Vision Zero plan aimed eliminating road deaths involving pedestrians and cyclists. Other efforts include a 10-year plan to improve HSR, more bicycle lanes on high-profile roads, and an ongoing "reenvision HSR" plan aimed at getting more people to ride the bus.

But the debates aren't easy, especially when council is trying to trim an operating budget with a draft increase of 3.4 per cent on the average home. A one per cent decrease is equal to cutting $9.4 million.

Councillors against Wilson's motion said it was too much work for city staff already loaded down with budget duties. Others said any changes wouldn't be implemented until 2021 anyway. Council already voted in 2013 to spend $500,000 more per year to increase the plowing standards. Chad Collins (Ward 5, Centennial) councillor, said residents want the service.

"We know that we have some of the highest standards for winter maintenance," he said. But "if we're looking for savings or efficiencies, winter maintenance, grass cuttings, this isn't at or near the top of my list."

Looking at underused bus routes

A motion from Coun. Lloyd Ferguson (Ancaster) was an easier sell. Ferguson wanted a list of "under performing routes" that staff has on hand.

"We may want to take a look at (the list) to finalize this budget," he said.

Wilson, Nrinder Nann, John-Paul Danko and Mayor Fred Eisenberger voted against that. The city won't know what routes are underused, Wilson said, without going through the reenvisioning effort, which includes addressing why people say they don't ride the bus.

Brad Clark (Ward 9, upper Stoney Creek) said Ferguson's request is "completely legitimate during the budget process."

Council is "making some difficult decisions," he said, and when services are underused, "I don't think we should be hiding that."