All Statements of Support
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Moaz Ahmad says,
Dear Councilors
You may be surprised to see a comment from a resident of Mississauga, but I am confident you will understand my reasoning by the conclusion of this statement.
Years of studying public transportation and urban planning have shown me that decisions in each of our GTHA will have impacts that are both regional and GTHA-wide. It is important that residents of Hamilton and the councilors who represent them, make the wisest decision to reap the greatest local and regional economic benefits for Hamilton..
This is not a question of Rapid Transit vs. LRT. Hamilton must in fact make investments in both improved local public transit and the LRT, instead of rejecting both by favouring the 10 Year Transit Strategy.
This requires a local commitment from the city of Hamilton to go along with the provincial commitment to cover the capital costs of the LRT. Hamilton must expand bus service and introduce all 5 routes in the BLAST network, not as "Rapid Transit" wkth separate right of way, but as improved, distinct, "Quality" Bus service.
Introducing the BLAST network in one go, (following the process used by York Region's VIVA, Waterloo Region's iExpress, Brampton's Züm, and the Metro Rapid of Los Angeles), will give residents and public transit users throughout Hamilton a renewed sense of confidence in Hamilton's transit and Hamilton's future.
While this commitment is made locally, Hamilton will be able to take advantage of the provincial investment which can and should be dedicated to the construction of the proposed LRT.
Choosing to invest in both the BLAST express bus network and the LRT, and following best practices from cities throughout North America, will send a very positive message to investors and job creators that Hamilton is committed to creating a community that lives, moves , works and thrives.
Yours sincerely, Moaz Ahmad
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Jacklyn Campbell says,
Please follow through on the past decisions and promises made by municipal and provincial elected officials to build a LRT system in Hamilton. The time is NOW to begin building for the future of this city. An LRT system would transform this city in so many positive ways. Hamilton residents do not want to see the almost $1 billion, which the province has promised, go to another municipality. Voters elected you based on your decisions and promises - please fulfill them.
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Ana Da Silva says,
As a long time Hamilton resident, I am forever hopeful that our city council members will decide to follow through on their original commitment to LRT.
To create real change, you have to be visionaries, please allow Hamilton to continue its transformation into a world class city. Opportunities like this do not come around often, you can't simply look at what is but you must also consider what our city will be and plan for those changes now. -
Gary DePOdesta says,
To get right to the point more money needs to be spent on the HSR, but council should think twice about spending all this money, because we are going to be left out once again concerning LRT. You have my support with LRT. coming to Hamilton
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Liz Passmore says,
City council, I'm ashamed of you. You're supposed to work for the betterment of the city and it's citizens. How can you say this is the best option for the city? You can do so much better.
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Peter Moore says,
Please, please, please don't destroy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Hamilton has.
Yes, LRT is a serious investment but it is one which will certainly pay dividends in terms of both ridership and real estate investment (i.e. > tax base).
At the very least, please consult as fully as possible with Hamiltonians and allow them to direct the future of HSR.
A maintenance and storage facility? Really? For buses? This just isn't good enough.
Please follow through with the plans we were promised so many years ago.
Change or be changed.
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Mmabatho Seete says,
For an "Ambitious City" Council's stance on the LRT lacks ambition. Not to be ageist, but one can't help wonder if age has something to do with the non-progressive thinking and flat-footed posture from our leaders. Come on!
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David Fernandes says,
I sincerely don't get it.
City Council has already approved LRT *TWICE*, there was an excellent report tabled called Rapid Ready that was adopted, the province has confirmed they are paying 100% of the capital costs, and yet the 10yr vision for Hamilton Transit is completely blank on LRT?
What gives?
I strongly urge you all to send this report back to the bureaucrats with the clear instruction of putting costing for LRT *BACK* into the long range plan for this city.
Hamilton is growing. We need a real plan to move people and attract development. Even Waterloo, which is much smaller than Hamilton, is building LRT. Let's not get left behind.
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John Neary says,
Turning down $800M of provincial funding for LRT in favor of a possibility of $300M for local transit expansion will reinforce Hamilton's slide into irrelevance. We don't have to choose between rapid transit and local transit expansion. We can have both. But first we have to choose to ask for our fair share of transit capital funding rather than asking for our tax dollars to be invested in other cities.
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Hans Stief says,
Hamilton is a fantastic city with a rich history, and a bright future. We need to stop selling ourselves short and commit to what so many studies have shown would be a positive thing for city building here. The pro's far out-way the con's and if we are going to consider building this in the future, why not build it now so we can stay ahead of the curve and make this city a greater place to live. Highway capacity is often increased to alleviate congestion when it is really this is just a short term fix and doesn't result in long term benefits. We need to revert to building this town around the person, not the automobile. Building an LRT system now would open up more buses to improve transit in underserviced zones within Hamilton. It makes so much sense... Please support LRT and let Hamilton take the huge leap forward it deserves!
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Carolyn Kinsley says,
I am in favour of light rail transit in Hamilton. I attended the talk by Waterloo Regional Chair Ken Seiling on March 3 and was very impressed by their imaginative engagement of citizens and their long-term planning (not only to build the system but to maintain it over decades). The certainty of their plan has led to an impressive amount of development already taking place along the corridor before the system has even been built.
A firm plan for LRT from east to west in Hamilton will give all of the city an economic boost even before the system is finished, as Waterloo's experience is demonstrating.
The savings on operating costs with LRT (lower maintenance, fewer drivers) will free up money to improve bus transit elsewhere--more buses, more frequent service, and more drivers.
As a senior I expect to become more dependent on good local transit. I'm one of those people whom Mr. Steiling mentioned who much prefer light rail to a bus. It's a smoother ride and faster, no weaving in and out of traffic, no skipped stops because of too many passengers, a more reliable schedule.
Mr. Mayor and councillors, please show leadership and enthusiasm for LRT. Catch whatever it is that fires up Mr. Seiling. -
Michael Pray says,
Please look intelligently at all the facts, please look at what is best for our city, please allow Hamilton to access the financial resources we deserve.
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Dave Beynon says,
Lets get moving with the LRT in Hamilton. Stop studying and start building.
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myra Leyden says,
Vison takes courage. LRT is visionary. It looks to the future of this city and ensures that all citizens benefit from a public transit system that seeks to provide something for everyone.
Be courageous! Your children and their children will thank you, along with tens of thousands of current Hamiltonian voters.
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Kyle Ford says,
I'm a citizen of Hamilton, elementary school teacher, tax payer, car driver, family member, cyclist, founding member of a not for profit cafe on Barton Street.
I'm an engaged citizen and I'm being left out of an important conversation about my city.
HAMILTON IT NOT THE COUNCIL'S CITY. IT IS OUR CITY.
I AM FOR the unanimously supported Transit Plan that included 811 million dollars from the Province for LRT.
I AM FOR a Transit Plan that brings LRT to the downtown and moves buses to areas that need them.
I AM FOR a Transit Plan that grows our downtown and therefore increases tax revenue to benefit the entire city.
I AM FOR listening to experts and academics and cities from around the world who have built Light Rail and have seen the benefits.
I AM AGAINST this issue being taken away from the residents of Hamilton.
I AM AGAINST us moving this city backwards.
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Thomas Lorini says,
Good day, I own 5 homes in Hamilton and really believe in Hamilton's future. The city has been growing and there are tremendous positive changes over the last several years.
I fully support the LRT initiative and ONLY this initiative. I don't believe more buses are a positive option for the city.
Based on my travels to other cities in the US that have introduced LRT it was a HUGE success.
Please make the right choice and choose LRT, lets do the RIGHT thing for the future of this great city!
Thomas Lorini
#YesToLRT -
Valerie Louter says,
Before adopting the current report -- HSR Ten Year Local Transit Strategy,City Council must consult with the public -- as they did in 2013. The city needs to look to the future, take care of our environment (and thus all residents) and seek innovative solutions!
Thank you.
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John Treen says,
Light Rail is the only way to go for progress in Hamilton.
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Alexander Johnston says,
A light rail system would be great for the city of Hamilton. This would be a great change from the bus system as it would be cleaner and from my understanding more accessible.
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Tanya Fathieh says,
Hamilton is in dire need of the LRT to connect our city! Our city is seperated and disconnected because we don't have adequate and convenient transportation to connect us!
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Chris Ive says,
This is completely backwards from what the initial plan was. Typical Hamilton City Hall!
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troy Bush says,
Start building the LRT before it's too expensive to do so
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Ron Lariviere says,
Please do everything you can to give Hamilton the best transit system possible, for the ridership, for the economy, for the environment.
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Nicholas Kevlahan says,
Dear Mayor and Council,
I am writing to urge you to please NOT support the 10-year transit plan until it has been thoroughly reviewed, the public has been consulted and its strategic and economic development implications have been thoroughly assessed.
I am very concerned that this plan will completely reverse almost 8 years and $10 million dollars of rapid transit planning, without Council being clear what is being proposed and what the stakes are.
Here are some reasons to take a step back and assess all alternatives:
1. The 10-year plan is massive over-reach by staff considering the 2013 Council motion was to propose a 10-year plan using $45 million of local money to achieve council's 2001 goal of doubling per capita transit use to 100 rides. This is instead a $300 million plan using almost entirely provincial money that explicitly abandons our goal and proposes an extremely marginal increase to 50 rides.
2. This plan costs 40% of the B-line LRT that involved years of public consultation, detailed land use planning, and an assessment of economic impact. The 10-year plan was rushed through in secret and none of this work has been done.
3. The plan includes very surprising and incredibly expensive items: $200 million for a bus maintenance facility (THIS IS 1/4 THE TOTAL B-LINE LRT BUDGET!), $20 million for advertising and 95% of local money comes from high fare increases.
4. Despite claims to contrary, this plan is clearly designed to kill LRT for the foreseeable future. This is a major change of strategic direction that has held steady for the past 10 years. It is especially surprising since LRT would free up 18 buses, not much less than the 25 buses this plan is proposing to add. The public will find it incomprehensible that we are passively throwing in the towel on LRT (and indeed any rapid transit) just weeks after Wynne repeated her promise to fully fund the direct costs of the RAPID TRANSIT system we choose!
Please regain Council control over the LRT file. Hit the pause button, form the citizen's advisory committee the Mayor was elected on and let the citizens and council know what the real decision is:
Do we want a $200 million bus maintenance facility or do we want a $800 million B-line LRT paid by the Province and the economic developments benefits it will bring. We can't have both.
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Raymond Braun says,
I plan to attend the meeting.
Hamilton must build this. The one in Waterloo -
Kitchener - Cambridge is under construction.........Raymond Braun, March 5
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Gloria Geller says,
It would be great if the City Council of Hamilton took leadership in ensuring that Hamilton has the best transit system possible. Pursue this matter with enthusiasm and passion and make the only right decision for everyone in Hamilton.
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Ron Blenkhorn says,
This council should stop striving to return to the 1960's and look ahead to the potential of this great city, and what an important part transit will play in its future.
This council's penchant for the short sighted, cheap approach to every initiative placed before chambers, has left us far behind the potential this city had as we looked to the new millennium.
Shame on you all.
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Deborrah Sherman says,
I'm not sure whether I am entirely "for" LRT but am leaning that way. The province got too many mixed messages when our former mayor ignored council and unilaterally presented different positions than the ones decided upon. Now we have staff following that example and going off on tangents of their own. Council needs to take control of this issue, instruct staff on what information is needed, READ the damned reports, CONSULT the public, make some decisions and once they are made, those who were outvoted need to accept whatever the vote was and stop trying to block the action.
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Jamie Allen says,
To support continued investment in the core, we need initial investment in the core. LRT will bring the city together for generations.
Please think of the future.
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carolyn lehmann says,
I ride the HSR every day, and have used public transit all my life in cities around the world from NYC to Santiago, Chile. Hamilton needs LRT for the future and for all her citizens. City Council must consult with us if they are to veer away from LRT plans.
thank you.
Carolyn Lehmann
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