Statement by Tibor Bocz

The LRT project is critical to addressing many of Hamilton's environmental, social and development goals.

It represents the most environmentally friendly solution by far, and offers us the ability to at least work towards our greenhouse gas reductions commitments as a city.

It is an opportunity to develop our city center and free us from the current situation wherein we are continually faced with paying increasing levels of municipal taxes to support city infrastructure. Not only does the project give us a huge infusion of upfront investment – much of which will be used to upgrade infrastructure on the LRT corridor – but it will generate much needed development downtown that will more than offset the operating costs.

Our inner core is a wasteland of vacant lots and surface parking that take up half the surface area, in large part because it is dominated by cars. The development of those areas that comes out of this program represents several tens of millions of dollars of lost tax revenue. For example, when 40 Bay St S and 150 Main St W were developed, they went from paying $56,000 to $900,000 a year in property taxes. Those are tax dollars that could absorb Hamilton’s next tax hike, instead of continuous increases to the remaining community.

It also represents an opportunity to integrate the growing number of people who want to make Hamilton their home within a dense, vibrant, livable core that represents more than just a place to "drive through" on the way to getting somewhere else.

Finally, the LRT and broader BLAST network represent an investment in a lifestyle we already see supported by a new generation of Hamiltonians who do not wish to be restricted to a car-centered economy and existence.

It is disheartening to see that resistance to this project has turned into such a divisive issue - with the old and the suburbs pitted against the young, the progressive and the urban - when it presents such benefit and opportunity for all.

It's time Hamilton took "Yes" for an answer.

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