All Statements of Support
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Carolyn Kinsley says,
I live in Westdale. LRT would be a boon to reduce car traffic to McMaster and through Westdale. It would make it easier for students to live in other parts of the city and commute, relieving pressure on single family homes near the university. LRT would make public transit more appealing to me than driving my car to go downtown or to the east end--a smooth, effortless ride. LRT is also quieter than buses, and Hamilton would benefit from less noise pollution.
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Mike Belmore says,
As someone who has to commute to Toronto most days, I'm looking forward to extended GO service. Keeps my car off the QEW which is good for the environment, reduces gridlock and helps maintain my sanity.
As someone who grew up in East end and now lives in the Western reaches of Hamilton, it's just as important, for the same reasons, that LRT ties our city together.
Even more than that though, we must realize this choice is not just about sustainable mass transit. It's fundamentally about what we, as Hamiltonians, want our city to be. Do we want to be just another bedroom community of Toronto, the new cheap real estate rump of the GTA? All day GO, without LRT, is a major step in that direction.
We need thoughtful and far-sighted urban planning, much of which hinges on good public transit, to help attract good jobs and provide home grown opportunities our city. This is essential if we want to continue build Hamilton as a place to live and work in it's own right, a place with its own unique identity and purpose.
Reject the false choice between all day GO and LRT. We can and should do both. But make no mistake, if we still want to proudly be "The Hammer" twenty years from now, what we do to build our own city is more important than what we do to connect it to Toronto.
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John Llewellyn says,
I hope our city fathers don't fumble the ball on this one!
Someone please show some real leadership!
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Sarah Merritt says,
Safe for the envorment, people friendly. I think we should get ur done.
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Chris Smale says,
Light Rail Transit would do so much for the city of Hamilton. The downtown core of Hamilton has so much potential and LRT would drive such great benefit towards the redefinition of Hamilton's character that is so needed. The case has been made time and again for what LRT does to a city's economy, tourism industry and environment.
Having moved here from Toronto, this is one of the things I miss most. I love the streetcars of Toronto and I think this is true of the residents of most cities with rail transit.
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Allan Hamilton says,
I have lived below the escarpment for the past 21 years. My wife and I moved to the mountain only five months ago but much of my life; work and play, will continue to be significantly connected to Hamilton neighbourhoods below the escarpment; the areas where I'm sure the LRT stands to have the greatest positive impact.
Everyday, I am inspired by this amazing (and underappreciated) city (please don't forget that much of the early growth of Canada is a direct result of this city and its forbearers being here) yet reminded of just how much opportunity and growth; for the masses, is still desperately needed. Hamilton has long been left in a state of needing every vital opportunity to modernize and advance with the rest of the country that seems; unless I'm terribly mistaken, to have forgotten the history and true value that remains here. The people of this city still need and want to contribute to this nation's growth, just as much as they need and want to boost their own. All the reports already exist to show that the LRT is an absolute necessity for this city and the GTA. For our elected officials to suddenly say that the LRT is no longer a priority without breaking down every honest reason why, in plain language, is actually quite heartbreaking to all of us citizens (a majority to my understanding) who can hardly wait to see this project get off the ground for a better future (for themselves and the succeeding generations).
We know that it will be costly. No one understands the burden of high price better than the average Hamiltonian, especially since the global recession took hold in 2008. We are still committed to the LRT project, nevertheless. How can that not count for something?
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Karijn de Jong says,
We Need LRT!!!
As a lifetime resident of Hamilton and user of public transportation, and knowing about the success stories to be found in other cities across the world, I believe that it is imperative for the city of Hamilton to construct and promote the use of LRT. Period. It would be ludicrous to miss this opportunity to put us on the map as a progressive, functional, conscientious place to live, play and work.
We Need LRT!!! -
Greg Gormick says,
This is a classic case of divide and conquer by Premier Dalton McGuinty and his lapdog agency, Metrolinx. How sad that certain Hamilton politicians have taken the bait. The question is not whether Ontario can afford to provide Hamilton with all-day GO rail service or an LRT starter line. It is whether we can afford to not provide both. They are equally urgent and important. The longer the politicians and their bureaucrats play games like this, the longer it will take to bring about the full revival of a socially vibrant and economically sustainable Hamilton. Shame on those who are playing games with something as vital as our public transportation system. They are tampering with the future of Hamilton.
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Kevin Davies says,
Efficient, useful and affordable public transit can only help the citizenry of a city; from the disadvantaged to the affluent. Fewer cars on the road and easier/more commutes for 1000s of Hamiltonians - sounds like a winning idea to me!
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Liam MacLeod says,
LRT all the way.
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Paul Elia says,
PLEASE make this happen in Hamilton. It is really needed to attract more people to move in to our amazing city!
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David Cohen says,
The LRT will make public transit not only respectable in Hamilton but desirable. We should embrace it. A city that depends on the automobile for the vast majority of its citizens' trips (as Hamilton does) is not a real metropolis. It is an oversized suburb.
We should not "wait" for the LRT. The city should be making significant infrastructure changes NOW. One such change would be to re-convert major one-way throughfares (King, Main, Cannon) to two-way to facilitate greater circulation in the city. (One-ways are a 1950's solution to traffic congestion, which is when they were introduced in Hamilton.) Such a change would speed up the creation of the conditions for re-development at important intersections (eg. Dundurn and King, Main and Longwood, etc.) envisioned once the LRT is implemented. -
Sheri Vandenakker says,
This idea is fantastic and I support it 100%.
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Nicola Whipp says,
if Hamilton wants to revitalize the downtown core, be prepared for the already predicted massive influx of pll immigating to the Golden Horseshoe Area next decade( data already available) despite whatever the spin the mayor is attempting to put on it... & to help assist bringing the city & its image back* & beyond its past glory days - this is a no brainer. Not to mention the already spent funding $$$'s on past feasibility reserach on the issue.The research is done - this is just a stalling tactic obviously. That & on a side note to bring the Festival of Friends back to its proper home e- downtown ( I know not issue being addressed here)- but it's all part of a much bigger picture.
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Tanya Ritchie says,
Public transit, specifically LRT is imperative in any large city and Hamilton is no exception. It is ridiculous that we have gone so long without it, and that feet are still being dragged is a disgrace. It's way past time. Hamilton needs infrastructure if it is going to develop and improve its rather depressed reputation.
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Terris Taylor says,
Please make this a reality, I really do not want to read back in 20 years at the missed opportunity that we had before us. This is one of those ideas that is so good, and needs to happen so badly, that it's a mystery that it hasn't happened yet. Seriously, let's do this already.
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Calla Shea-Pelletier says,
The environment is the economy. The LRT will be a great stimulus for Hamilton on many levels.
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Graeme Luke says,
Light rail should be Hamilton's top priority. The 50,000 people who came to supercrawl show the support for the urban environment. Light rail will take Hamilton to the next level.
Do the right thing.
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Susan Edwards says,
Clean and green - enhances the environment - no emissions at street level
Safe - many times safer than car travel
Speedy - short journey times
Avoids traffic congestion - through segregation and priority
Smooth - no violent movements vertically, laterally, or backwards/forwards
Comfortable
Compatible with pedestrians in pedestrianised areas
Civilising - a city transported by light rail is a more human, more livable place
Acceptable and accepted - only rail borne modes can in practice get people out of cars
Re-assuring - tram lines give confidence that service operates
High capacity - only heavy metros have higher carrying capacity
Affordable - the cheapest and best value form of quality mass transit
Reliable - can keep going when snow or ice defeats road vehicles
Versatile - can run at high speeds on segregated way and can penetrate narrow historic centres
Adaptable - can cope with steep gradients and tight curves
Inspiring - modern light rail can be aesthetically breath-taking
Space age technology based on sound foundations and experience of 100 years. Why is this even being questioned? Source: http://www.lrta.org -
Seema Narula says,
I have already voiced my opinion with both the mayor and my city counsellor. I believe that light rail transit will do wonders to revitalize the downtown core, and to bring business back to the community. It will increase pedestrian traffic, and attract people who want to live in urban centres without having to have a car. People who live in Hamilton, will be able to move across the city with greater ease, and it will give those people that do drive a car another option to leave their cars at home, reducing car congestion on streets and reducing carbon pollution. There is already the population and ridership to support LRT. By having LRT in Hamilton this will put Hamilton on a competitive playing field with regards to other developing and growing cities and communities like Kitchener Waterloo, who are getting LRT, and who will be attracting competing business investment and potential new residents, who are moving from Toronto in search of cities that are more affordable but that still enable the convenience and lifestyle of urban living.
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Brodie Chree says,
This happened to Hamilton already in the late 70s with another Rapid Transit bonus from the federal government that we stalled on. Vancouver actually had it's act together and built Sky Train with that bonus. Hamilton's council squandered the opportunity.
I'm also highly disappointed in Mayor Bob Brattina and Hamilton City Manager Chris Murray for their anti-democratic Father-Knows-Best approach to this issue that is close to MANY citizens. That's not how we run a government in 21st century. It wasn't acceptable last century.
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Clyde Cope says,
Light Rail is the vision for the future available NOW. The rejuvenation of our central core is dependent on it.
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Darlene MacNeil says,
I would like (for once) to see the City of Hamilton actually follow through with something!!! Wouldn't it be nice to see some real progress instead of wasting our time and money on stupid debating that shows NO RESULT???
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Nik Bennett says,
If it works in Manchester it will work again here in Hamilton
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michael Hampson says,
Always enjoyed light and rails
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Julie Gordon says,
Improved public transit is long overdue in Hamilton. We have been given an opportunity to bring LRT to our city, let's not waste it.
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Paul Vicari says,
All day go is important but SHOULD NOT be considered more important than the LRT initiative. We must go ahead with this!!
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Matt Jelly says,
We need clarity and assurance from both our Municipal and Provincial governments that this project is still a priority for Hamilton. I'm no fan of megaprojects that claim to transform the City over night- but this project will have true economic and transportational benefits to the City as a whole, and is exactly the kind of infrastructural investment Hamiltonians deserve. Build LRT NOW!
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Jonathan Deveau says,
In 2010 I decided to move from a GTA suburb to a condo in downtown Hamilton. While there were several factors that influenced this decision, one main one was that I was encouraged by the direction that the city and province were taking in regards to sustainable transit planning and urban development in the core. At that time it seemed certain that Hamilton would have a functioning LRT system in time for the Pan Am games.
After the events of this summer, it's hard to be certain if I'll even still be living in this city by the time (if ever) we do get a sustainable, long term transit option. Certainly if I was considering buying property downtown now as opposed to in 2010, I would have a harder time convincing myself it's a good idea. There are many existing benefits to living in this city, and I won't regret my decision even if we never get an LRT line. But as an outsider looking in, it's difficult to want to invest somewhere where you can't trust the leadership. LRT was so heavily promoted by the mayor, council, and province previously, and now it seems like they may be trying to sabotage the project. How do you invest in a city with "potential" when the leadership is unable to complete the projects that give the city its potential in the first place?
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Brian Coleman says,
I rode the light rail tram in Paris and was extremely impressed. It would be a great thing to have.
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