Statement by Christopher Hampson-Curtis

Dear Transportation Task Force,

I sincerely hope that you recommend the province allow the city of Hamilton to move forward with its planned LRT project.

I have been looking at vacant, boarded up buildings on properties that were purchased for the planned construction of the LRT for weeks now, and it saddens and frustrates me that the cancellation of this project has meant so much waste in this city. The time and funding spent on everything from planning to purchasing properties has now completely gone to waste, and the city has nothing to show for it but vacant properties and frustrated citizens who want the best for this city.

I am concerned that any transportation project other than a light rail transit system will not have as meaningful an impact, both environmentally and socially. The city could relegate the money to updating the HSR bus system, but the buses would need to be electric to move the city forward in carbon emission reduction to the same degree that the LRT would. That said, even electric buses would need to share the road with traffic. This would mean more buses stopping along major streets disrupting the flow of traffic, as well as Hamilton's public transit system continuing to be subject to stop lights, traffic jams and poor road conditions. An LRT would be independent of all of these things, and would be out of the way of street traffic for the most part.

I also believe that a light rail transit system would greatly benefit the social aspects of this city. An LRT would certainly be an impressive and very modern addition to the city's public amenities, and would attract people to Hamilton's downtown and surrounding areas. With less traffic flying by on King Street and a much nicer means of public transportation, I believe that businesses along the corridor would also see increased business, and people would be inclined to spend more time in the downtown area.

With these and other concerns in mind, I sincerely hope that the task force makes the decision to recommend that the province continue the funding and move forward with what is a very important and influential project for the city of Hamilton.

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