Posted July 27, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ryan McGreal
Hamilton Light Rail Spokesperson
mcgrealr@hamiltonlightrail.ca
Full Steam Ahead After Brown Confirms Hamilton LRT Commitment
Hamilton Light Rail applauds Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader Patrick Brown on announcing he will honour the $1B commitment for Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) plan. Brown, who attended a Flamborough Chamber of Commerce lunch Monday, said "We have to respect the fact that there's a commitment to LRT, and I would honour that."
Brown's comments helped quell concerns that if the government changes in 2018, the LRT project would be de-funded.
This follows on speculation that anti-LRT Councillor and former PC candidate Donna Skelly was lobbying Brown to come out against the project, despite her pledge during her recent Council election campaign to honour the previous decisions on LRT by Hamilton City Council.
The City of Hamilton spent six years studying rapid transit and comparing various alternative technologies and routes before developing the LRT plan that it submitted to the Province for funding. Metrolinx undertook a benefits case analysis and confirmed that LRT on the B-Line provides the biggest overall benefit for the first phase of rapid transit in Hamilton.
The Province agreed with the City's analysis and committed full capital funding more than a year ago. The City has been working with Metrolinx to implement the approved plan.
"Hamilton has a firm commitment of $1B to fund LRT and we are already busy implementing it," said HLR spokesperson Ryan McGreal. "We are pleased to have all three major provincial parties on board with this transformative project."
About Hamilton Light Rail
Hamilton Light Rail is an independent group of citizens who believe that Hamilton needs an ambitious approach to economic development and urban revitalization based around high quality rapid transit. To that end, we are dedicated to promoting the goal of building a light rail transit (LRT) system in Hamilton.
Hamilton Light Rail is strictly volunteer-based and is not affiliated with the Corporation of the City of Hamilton or with any commercial interests. We are citizens who want Hamilton to enjoy the many benefitsof light rail transit.
For media inquiries, or comment from Hamilton Light Rail, contact:
Ryan McGreal
Hamilton Light Rail Spokesperson
mcgrealr@hamiltonlightrail.ca
http://hamiltonlightrail.ca