Statement by Mark Rejhon
I pay property tax in Hamilton. I moved to Hamilton and bought a home. I'd like to see the LRT arrive.
An European-style LRT would be a great fit for Hamilton, with traffic lights synchronized to LRT, would be far more appealing. The easily traffic-light-synchronizable design of Main-King will make the Hamilton LRT very fast (much faster than Toronto streetcar). Also, the mix of express and non-express buses can get a bit confusing sometimes, and during offpeak, sometimes don't run frequently at all -- once I waited 20 minutes with zero buses on King St (offpeak) and gave up, catching a taxi. The LRT will bring much-needed dollars that produce a better quality all-day-all-week service than that, as there is no plan to run LRT that infrequently offpeak. A properly designed LRT (European style, speedier than Toronto streetcars) is also more pleasant and enjoyable, and I can stand on an European LRT train without holding a pole! Much easier and more comfortable to stand during peak. The buses can change lanes unpredictably and accelerate/decelerate differently, so not as comfortable a standee ride during peak. Ridership often goes up when LRT lines replace bus lines in European and other cities (with traffic-light prioritization given to LRT). It makes neighborhoods attractive, increases neighbourhood values, and will help reduce the number of boarded businesses in the more-depressed spots of the city. I've moved to Hamilton thanks to Metrolinx (GOtrains), who would be behind this LRT. We also have tons of non-homeowner non-carowner friends visit and they take so long to visit. The LRT will speed up them, too.
- Offpeak/weekends: More comfortable frequency, especially in the cold
- Onpeak/University/surge from one of the stadiums: More comfortable standing
More people would prefer riding the LRT than the bus, and it could revitalzie businesses along Main/King, enhance James street (and eventually improve depressed East Barton Street) with new businesses filling in the shuttered businesses.
Gradually, it would raise Hamilton's taxpayers base, improve economy over the long term, and attract new businesses and development.
It will slow down cars, but if done properly, that improves business along Main-King and compensates greatly. I am a carowner and it will slow me down too when the traffic lights get synchronized to approaching LRT trains instead of cars. With the LRT improvements, it should also be an opportunity to help revitalize the city's economy in part.
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