History and background on Hamilton Light Rail.
Hamilton Light Rail aims to educate Hamiltonians about the many benefits of light rail, provide evidence-based reports and resource materials, and build broad support across all sectors of the community: citizens' groups, neighbourhood associations, business groups, and trade associations.
Light Rail in Hamilton first started to look like a real possibility in 2007 when the Province announced MoveOntario 2020 (now Metrolinx), an arms-length provincial body dedicated to building integrated rapid transit throughout the GTA and Hamilton. The Ontario Liberal Party even campaigned for re-election in 2007 with the promise of two light rail lines in Hamilton.
After a grassroots campaign by Hamilton Light Rail and valuable independent research by city staff, Hamilton City Council voted unanimously to support an east-west light rail line. Earlier this year, Metrolinx released a Benefits Case Analysis that clearly favoured Light Rail as a potent investment in urban vitality, economic development and improved quality of life.
Then, in April of this year, the Ontario Government delayed $4 billion in funding for rapid transit in Toronto. Supporters of Light Rail in Hamilton became worried that this city's plans could also be delayed - or shelved.
The Province has committed $3 million for Hamilton to conduct an extensive planning, design and engineering study for the proposed east-west LRT line. City staff began working on this in March and plan to report to council in the fall.
Metrolinx CEO Rob Pritchard recently told the Hamilton Economic Summit:
I think Hamilton is better advanced and has a big head start on being the next major project to be announced. I personally think it's Hamilton's to lose, rather than Hamilton's to win. I'm optimistic Hamilton will prevail but there is a lot of work to do before the cheque is in the mail.
This reinforces the call from Metrolinx chair Rob MacIsaac for Hamilton to create "an irresistible opportunity for an investment in rapid transit" by "planning for light rapid transit for Hamilton."