Hamilton, ON (April 4, 2016)

Completed on time and on budget, the new transit terminal at the Fennell campus will improve commutes for Mohawk College students, faculty, staff and Mountain residents. The terminal also supports Mohawk’s efforts to create a more pedestrian-friendly campus.

The Ontario government has invested $3.3 million, through Metrolinx, to help Mohawk College build the new transit terminal. Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in the province’s history — more than $134 billion over 10 years, which is making 110,000 jobs possible every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

QUOTES:

QUICK FACTS:

More than 4,100 students, faculty and staff ride the HSR daily to and from Mohawk’s Fennell campus.

Construction on the Mohawk College Terminal began in September 2015.

The City of Hamilton received approximately $32.8 million in Metrolinx Quick Win funds through the 2008 Ontario Budget to be used for municipal capital expenditures for transit vehicles, infrastructure to support B-Line Improvements (King-Main corridor) and A-Line Improvements (James-Upper James Corridor), and James Street North Station improvements.

The Mohawk College Terminal services the HSR’s A-Line Express, Upper Kenilworth, Sanatorium and College bus routes and features outdoor heated shelters.

More than $90 million has been invested in new construction and major renovations at the Fennell campus for the direct benefit of students.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jay Robb

Mohawk College Director of Communications

jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

905.979.8893

Patrick Searle

Minister Del Duca’s Office

Patrick.Searle@ontario.ca

Kelly Anderson

City of Hamilton

Kelly.Anderson@hamilton.ca

905-973-4230

• The Mohawk College Terminal will feature five bays with transit shelters and real-time service information.


• More than 4,100 students, faculty and staff take public transit daily to and from Mohawk’s Fennell Campus.


• Mohawk is renovating the terminal’s entrance to the Fennell campus and building an indoor heated waiting area for passengers.


• The Mohawk Students’ Association partners with the HSR to provide all full-time students with an annual bus pass.


• The number of daily transit trips to and from the Fennell Campus increased 68 per cent between 2009 and 2011.


• Since 2009, more than $90 million has been invested in renewing Mohawk’s three campuses for the benefit of students.


• The City of Hamilton received approximately $29.8 million in Metrolinx Quick Win funds through the 2008 Ontario Budget to be used for municipal capital expenditures for transit vehicles and infrastructure to support B-Line Improvements (King-Main corridor) and A-Line Improvements (James-Upper James Corridor).


 

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Metrolinx, City of Hamilton and Mohawk start construction on new transit terminal from Communications and Media on Vimeo.

For more information, contact:

Kelly Anderson, Communications Officer, City of Hamilton – 905-973-4230, Kelly.Anderson@hamilton.ca

Jay Robb, Director of Communications, Mohawk College, 905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

The Employer of Year Award recognizes organizations for outstanding achievement in the areas of commitment, leadership, innovation and results in the Smart Commute program. 

Among its many accomplishments, Mohawk College has:

• established the fastest-growing Carpool program in Hamilton, doubling the amount of registered carpoolers at the college;


• constructed a new secure bike parking facility for more than 40 bikes;


• established 12 new carpool parking spots;


• organized an annual Residence Active Living Fair with Smart Commute as a central theme; and


• supported a student-led initiative to launch a discounted transit pass program, which is now available to all students at the college for unlimited use of the HSR. 

Mohawk has some of the highest participation rates in Hamilton and is a strong supporter of green commute initiatives such as Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day and Smart Commute Week.

Commenting on the award, Mohawk's sustainability initiatives coordinator Alan Griffiths says, “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen for this award. As an innovative and community oriented College, it's important for us to be a leader in programs like this, and to set an example for others to follow. At Mohawk we work hard to walk-the-talk, and we’re truly thankful for the recognition.” 

Mohawk College is committed to providing sustainable transportation solutions for students and employees, says Alan. The College works closely with Smart Commute Hamilton to promote environmental awareness and to reduce its carbon footprint.  

Run by the City of Hamilton's Public Works department, Smart Commute Hamilton is part of Smart Commute, a program funded and supported by Metrolinx and the municipalities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. More than 177 employers with a combined total of 430,000 employees participate in the Smart Commute program. Smart Commute Hamilton works with organizations in the City to promote more sustainable modes of commuting and help organizations manage their travel demand effectively.

Mohawk students and staff will soon have a more secure option to store their bicycles on campus.

Starting this fall, a student-led initiative will give cyclists the option to buy a membership to a restricted-access bike shelter located just outside C Wing to the east of the main entrance (south). Similar facilities already exist at several city-owned locations throughout Hamilton.

With room for up to 40 bicycles, the shelter will provide bicycle commuters with a safer way to store their bicycles on campus. Members will receive a key fob that has been specially programmed to access the facility. Once inside the cyclists can either store their bike vertically in one of the hanging racks or on the ground in a traditional bike rack. A simple U-lock will secure both tires and the frame of the bike to the racks. Security cameras will monitor the shelter for added protection.

As an added bonus, members will be given after-hours access to city-owned shelters, some of which are located in the downtown core and at other popular locations such as parks and recreation facilities.

The shelter wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Mohawk students, says Alan Griffiths, Mohawk's sustainability initiatives coordinator. From the initial research, to the pursuit of funders, Mohawk students have led the process from start to finish. The students were successful in accessing shared funding from the City of Hamilton, Smart Commute Hamilton, and Metrolinx as part of its BikeLinx program.

Stay tuned to the Sustainability Office website for more information, including details on how you can become a member.