Hamilton Accessibility Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Hamilton Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities opened its June 9, 2026 meeting with agenda changes, approval of prior minutes, and updates from working groups. Discussion focused on pedestrian accessibility, HSR's planned on-demand transit service in Stoney Creek and Mount Hope, vehicle procurement for that service, whether the committee should send a letter to council on tactile plates before broader community input, and several other accessibility issues including accessible taxis and TD Coliseum.

Topics Discussed

1. BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY

The Built Environment Working Group reported discussions about tactile indicators, including "button plates" and truncated domes, as well as raised crosswalks, bollards, BIA events and entryways. James Kemp said the group had "discussed in detail the button plates, truncated dome, tactile indicators" and had talked about "compliance issues as opposed to accessibility."

Members also connected built environment issues to transit access, including snow clearing and stop design. Staff noted that in some areas planned for on-demand transit, "a lot of the roads actually don't have sidewalks as well," and said some stops may get pads or sidewalk connections while "in many locations, there will still not be a full sidewalk connection."

2. ON-DEMAND TRANSIT AND ACCESSIBILITY LIMITATIONS

Committee members reviewed HSR's proposed myRide on-demand service, which staff said would begin in Stoney Creek and Mount Hope. Nicholas Shaloo said "the main message we were looking to communicate is that through HSR next our growth plan we are adding on demand transit service starting with Stony Creek and Mount Hope."

Staff said the service would use the same fare as conventional transit. Nicholas added that because it would replace TransCab in those zones, "there will actually be a savings for any customer who has currently been using Transcab and would now be able to use myride."

Members questioned whether stop-to-stop service would be accessible enough in areas with limited sidewalks. Sarah said the city's conventional target is to keep as many people as possible within 400 metres of service, while for on-demand and local service "the actual target is much lower," at "about a 200 to 250 meter walk to the stop, walk, roll, cycle, whichever."

Staff also acknowledged winter and sidewalk gaps. Kim said that from a snow-clearing perspective, "there's not even necessarily going to be a sidewalk to clear" in some locations.

3. VEHICLE PROCUREMENT FOR HSR MICROTRANSIT

Staff presented on ProMaster vehicles proposed for the on-demand service. Features discussed included low-floor design, manual aluminum ramps, two wheelchair positions, backup cameras, reverse warning systems and securement systems.

Matt Francis said the vehicles would improve safety because "our buses right now don't have backup cameras," and added that reverse warnings were "going to be huge." Jeff Beattie said the ramps are aluminum and "very lightweight," adding that "you can actually pull them out with just a couple fingers."

Committee members raised concerns about how the ramps would work where there is no sidewalk. Tim Nolan said that while ramp slope is usually manageable when deployed to a sidewalk, in the ride-share program the ramp may sometimes go to the road, which could turn "a one and 12 slope into a one and four slope which is against code."

Alex Wilson also questioned the vehicle layout, saying, "I would hate to have someone that might not be paying attention going to the back of the bus with the ramp out," and said the group felt "safety wise, it would be better just to keep it at the side ramp."

4. TACTILE PLATES LETTER AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

The committee debated whether to defer a letter to council about tactile plates until more community input could be gathered. Tim Nolan argued that sending "an eight-page letter to council" might be premature because "we don't know what the opinion is of people across the community."

Other members said the committee's role is advisory, not to conduct citywide consultation. Cara Hernold said, "We're an advisory committee" and "we're not conducting consultation on behalf of all ... the broader disability community."

After debate, the motion to defer the letter was defeated. The committee then proceeded with the letter and delegation arrangements.

5. OTHER ACCESSIBILITY UPDATES

Members discussed a complaint about accessibility barriers at TD Coliseum after a concert and agreed to send an acknowledgment letter to the complainant.

The committee also discussed accessible taxi availability after a reported case of a wheelchair user being stranded for hours. Tom Jackson said he wanted "to put it on the radar" because if that happened in Hamilton, "that might very well be a reality here too."

Additional updates covered accessibility awards nominations, accessibility fair planning, beacon system testing, volunteer recruitment and Paula Hargan's announcement that she would leave the DARTS board. Hargan said, "As of June the 19th, I will be no longer on the darts board," adding, "I have done nine years and my term is over."

Motions

Passed: - Agenda amendment withdrawing Item 7.8 - Agenda amendment revising Item 7.8F to "Summary of Accessible Transportation Services Notes from the Transportation Working Group Meeting of May 22, 2026" - Motion to proceed with the tactile plates letter and allow delegation by committee members - Items 7.1 through 7.8, excluding 7.4 - Motion 9.1 regarding Accessibility Committee concerns advanced to Public Works Committee consideration

Defeated: - Motion to defer the tactile plates/community engagement letter

Deferred: - Staff amendment to meeting notes regarding a grant application process until the next meeting

Attendees

• Cara Hernold
• Levi Janosi
• Leaf Johansson
• Hargan Carr
• Paula Kilburn
• Jake Maurice
• Tim Nolan
• Robert Westbrook
• Councillor Mark Tadeson
• James Kemp