Statement by Patti Encinas

The Sherman Hub Community Planning Team, sponsored and supported by the Hamilton Community Foundation and the City of Hamilton, is a group of engaged, informed and active citizens in the Hamilton community. We have hundreds of resident volunteers working to make the Sherman Hub a great place to live, work and raise a family.

We've had several discussions about the proposed LRT at our monthly planning meetings. During our meeting on June 06 2016, 25 voting members of our planning team voted unanimously to publicly express our support for the LRT initiative.

Many residents in the Sherman Hub recognize that the Hamilton LRT project is a progressive move forward that supports our vision that "The Sherman Hub is a great place to live, work and raise a family." Although it's well understood that there will be disruptions and difficuties during the construction phase we believe resulting the benefits to our community and the greater Hamilton community will far outweigh those challenges. Sherman Hub residents are steadfastly known for their support of local business and this will continue throughout the construction of the LRT. Some of our Planning Team members are already actively engaging to plan ways to lend extra support to businesses along the LRT corridor during this time.

The Sherman Hub shares a boundary with Gage Park; Hamilton's largest city park. Gage Park is one of Hamilton's greatest assests and is widely used by Hamiltonians near and far. Given its popularity as a destination for festivals, the bicycle pump track, greenhouse, Children's Museum, community garden and natural beauty we're also concerned that the Delta Station near Gage Park is missing from the most recent route plans. In 2011, these plans included a stop at the Delta and we hope and encourage that the Delta Station be added back to the current 2016 plans. In the current plans, stations closest to Gage Park are far too distant for anyone but the most able bodied of residents to access. This is very concerning to us as we hope more Hamiltonians, not fewer, will be able to access and enjoy this amazing asset in our city.

We appreciate your consideration in bringing back the Delta Station and we offer our continued support of the exciting possibilities which the Hamilton LRT project will bring.

Best Regards,
The Sherman Hub Community Planning Team

Vote for this statement

Join Patti Encinas and 7099 others: