All Statements of Support
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Joan Hobbs says,
We need the LRT for our future transportation needs and economic growth in Hamilton. People from Niagara and Burlington/Oakville will use it to commute downtown or to MacMaster University. The core will rebuild and redevelop along the B line instead of more sprawl. With new development we will see our commercial tax base increase.This helps everyone. For our kids and grandkids -please vote "yes" to LRT.
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Tibor Bocz says,
Members of the LRT Task Force/
This note is to pass on my strong, continuing support for the LRT as our preferred option for transit improvement in Hamilton.
The development of light rail has been demonstrated as critically important and effective to economic improvement and downtown revitalization in many jurisdictions worldwide, including recently in Toronto and Waterloo. More particularly, it is clearly the best option for the proposed transit investment in Hamilton:
1. LRT has the highest positive impact for Hamilton in terms of economic, social and environmental benefits. Multiple studies show the massive benefit this project will bring and Metrolinx's own comparisons show Hamilton LRT has higher net benefits compared to other projects in Toronto.
2. Hamilton LRT is the only project of its size that is "shovel ready" for implementation. With 12+ years of planning, extensive pre-construction work complete, over $160 million already spent and over 60 properties expropriated, the LRT project is well underway.
3. With the recent federal government offer, this option is fully funded to meet currently projected costs.Quite apart from these economic and strategic benefits, this project represents the expressed will of the majority of Hamiltonians as repeatedly demonstrated via polling and the results of municipal elections. The current impasse represents a clear breach of the commitments made between this constituency and their representatives, and this is an opportunity to repair that, and to restore faith in the democratic process.
Please support the LRT as the preferred option for provincial funding of transit in Hamilton
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David Kravinchuk says,
Hamilton's LRT is an investment in the future health of Hamilton's community and economy. And based on the promise of the LRT, thousands of people have already chosen to invest in making Hamilton home.
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Maria van Nie says,
Living between both Main and street and King street west in Hamilton, I look forward to the infrastructure invested in the city and slowing down these busy roads. I also agree the LRT will modernize Hamilton bringing it into the 21st century as an exciting and attractive city to be in. HAMILTON is well overdue for this investment and it would be a mistake for it to to be completed.
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Brenda Thompson says,
An LRT would connect people and facilitate the kind of urban renewal Hamilton desperately needs.
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Dan Gismondi says,
Please build the Hamilton LRT! This project is vital to the continued success of economic development for Hamilton! Hamilton deserves a modern clean mode of transportation for it’s citizens. Let’s move forward with Hamilton’s LRT!!!!!!
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Christopher Lawson says,
The LRT is essential to the continued growth of Hamilton. It will make life better for working people by connecting them to jobs and opportunity. Over $100 million has already been spent on the project, and the cancellation was based on bogus figures. The PCs need to keep their promise to Hamilton and reverse their decision to cancel the LRT.
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Scott Phillips says,
Reinstate the LRT for Hamilton now!
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Rob Italiano says,
A lot has happened since Transport Minister Caroline Mulroney was chased out of town with a police escort back in December after cancelling Hamilton LRT.
Through leaked documents, there has been VERY clear evidence that the cost estimates she quoted were false. There are ALSO problematic connections with her staff which, once reported, resulted in the transfer of these staff from her office.
The numbers of LRT supporters have surged as more and more information comes out. More recently, the federal government stepped forward and offered to contribute financially to LRT, but is waiting for a formal request from the province.
You were established to provide recommendations to Mulroney on how best to spend Hamilton's LRT money and the LRT is still on the table for consideration. You are due to provide your recommendations on March 16.
Choose LRT for Hamilton and do not squander this opportunity on projects with less impact:
LRT has the highest positive impact for Hamilton in terms of economic, social and environmental benefits. Multiple studies show the massive benefit this project will bring and Metrolinx's own comparisons show Hamilton LRT has higher net benefits compared to other projects in Toronto.
Hamilton LRT is the only project of its size that is ready to be implemented. With 12+ years of planning, extensive pre-construction work complete, over $160 million already spent and over 60 properties expropriated, the LRT project is well underway.
The federal government has offered to cover the funding gap for Hamilton LRT, which was the only reason Mulroney cited for cancelling the project in the first place.
Given these facts, the best solution is that you recommend LRT and any extra funding needed comes from the provincial government or the federal government.
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Matt Edmonds says,
In 2014 I moved from Hamilton to Edmonton, and was so disappointed that I would juuust miss seeing the LRT come to my home town. At the time, it seemed inevitable:
- multiple studies were unanimous that LRT would have the greatest positive impact on the city (environmentally, socially, and economically)
- LRT was ready to be implemented immediately
- funding for LRT has already been committedAnd now, 6 years later, I've moved back home to find exactly as many LRT lines on operation as when I left (ie zero).
Please Hamilton, please get this one right. The world is full of hard questions, but this is not one of them. LRT is the obvious answer, and it's not close. If Edmonton can do it, I'm sure we can.
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Bernie Geiger says,
We need LRT to replace gas guzzling buses, save on operating costs and give public transit a presence.
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Eileen White says,
In this day and age L.R.T. is the one form of transportation that makes sense. We need to lower our carbon footprint and reduce the amount of particulate matter spewing up at ever increasing amounts daily in Hamilton Ontario. Protect the citizens of Hamilton. Support L.R.T.
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Stephen Hayes says,
Please move forward with the LRT as Stage 1 of a revamped public transit network in Hamilton. There has already been over a 100 million sunk into planning and purchasing for the route. The Federal Government and the City should be stepping up to the plate to contribute as well. Beyond the improved transit opportunity, redevelopment and replacement of city infrastructure are also very important tie-ins to this project for the city and province. Look at the investment in K-W and the over average ridership.
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Arvind Singh says,
The cancellation of Hamilton LRT was undemocratic, unwise and short-sighted. Minister Mulroney made the decision on at best questionable cost estimates and at worst inflated numbers used to justify sudden cancellation of LRT. This decision needs to be reversed, in order for meaningful development of transit in the City of Hamilton with highest Return on Investment (ROI) as described in the report "The North American
Light Rail Experience: Insights for Hamilton" by Christopher D. Higgins and Mark R. Ferguson with the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics (April 2012).When considering transit options for Hamilton, LRT is the best solution going forward. So we need to express commit once again to it. I urge the Taskforce to reverse the poor judgment by Minister Mulroney and put forward LRT as the best choice for the future of Hamilton. When the majority of Hamiltonians, across urban and suburban wards overwhelming voted pro-LRT Mayor Eisenberger, they gave a mandate to move forward on this project. That is the democratic will of the majority of Hamiltonians.
When considering evidence for LRT, we find that it has great potential to transform Hamilton, including providing many construction jobs in the local area directly through building LRT. Long-term LRT if done right has the potential to create real growth and investment, both around the stops along the line and also from a larger tax base for the municipality.
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Leslie Addison says,
Considering the numbers used by the Government were false and grossly overestimated and the fact that the Federal government has agreed to cover the funding gap, there is NO reason the task force should not recommend the LRT project for Hamton.
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Cameron Swan says,
Beyond the obvious transit improvements, Kitcheners LRT brought in billions of dollars in business investment to the area. We could have the same and revitalize our downtown core. The transit in this city also needs improvement and with the federal government covering the cost overrun, this is a perfect opportunity to prepare Hamiltons transit for the future. This project should go forward.
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Steve Snowden says,
Anything that helps Hamilton prosper and reach its full potential should be fully supported. The more prosperous the city becomes the more funds will be available for social programs, affordable housing, homelessness and additional infrastructure spending.
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Shannon Balfour says,
Hamilton needs LRT now! As a daily bus user, I can attest that our main corridors in the lower city (Main Street and King Street) are consistently congested and experience a ton of bus bunching because there simply isn’t enough room on these roads to accommodate all the traffic. We need LRT to establish an efficient public transportation system in the lower city - one that would offer working class people an affordable and quick way of getting where they need to go. We need a robust public transit system including an LRT to move forward as a city, both economically and environmentally!
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kathy bresnahan says,
The provincial government needs to continue what was started in Hamilton and complete the LRT. It is projected to create an economic engine for the city, that will benefit the entire community and surrounding areas.
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marilyn nazar says,
The LRT is so important to connect through downtown Hamilton. More development in the downtown core will only help the city come alive and enter a whole new era. It is about time this city invested in the downtown core, which has so often been neglected and underdeveloped in favour of West Hamilton, the Mountain, Stoney Creek, Ancaster and Dundas.
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Ryan Tse says,
LRT is the only viable path forward to making material progress towards growing Hamilton as a place to live and do business. The taxpayers have already invested time and money that it will never get back towards a project that was promised to go forward. The case against the LRT is based on misinformation and politically motivated. The province must continue with the LRT project.
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Matt Meier says,
Canceling an LRT plan that the city of Hamilton has been working on for the better part of 2 decades is an absolutely disastrous decision. Now is the time to reconsider that terrible decision and get this plan back on track, pun intended.
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John Goodwin says,
The benefit to moving around more efficiently is obvious but the many other facets of LRT that don’t get talked about unlocking the development potential of the route. Concentration of services and accessibility. Environmental benefits makes the entire route more walkable.
Eases pressures on higher rent areas as people can live a little farther away and not increase commute times.
Case in point Waterloo Region has seen fantastic uptake in all of the above mentioned categories
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V. Wayne Elshaw says,
LRT is the best solution for moving people in Hamilton. It will: take cars off the road, make moving across the city more efficient, cut pollution, abate climate change and be a city-building project.
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Jesse Gallant says,
Hamilton needs the LRT to move forward and expand, hsr is already taking a heavy load with lots of busses full beyond capacity. The economic impacts this would have would be extremely positive for our city to grow and flourish.
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Justin Hairsine says,
Please get LRT in place.
To not invest in transportation infrastructure is stupid and short sighted.
Get it done.
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Margaret Moore says,
Please support the LRT. I believe in evidence-based government, public investment, and accurate budgeting. All the arguments support the Hamilton LRT.
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Christopher Hampson-Curtis says,
Dear Transportation Task Force,
I sincerely hope that you recommend the province allow the city of Hamilton to move forward with its planned LRT project.
I have been looking at vacant, boarded up buildings on properties that were purchased for the planned construction of the LRT for weeks now, and it saddens and frustrates me that the cancellation of this project has meant so much waste in this city. The time and funding spent on everything from planning to purchasing properties has now completely gone to waste, and the city has nothing to show for it but vacant properties and frustrated citizens who want the best for this city.
I am concerned that any transportation project other than a light rail transit system will not have as meaningful an impact, both environmentally and socially. The city could relegate the money to updating the HSR bus system, but the buses would need to be electric to move the city forward in carbon emission reduction to the same degree that the LRT would. That said, even electric buses would need to share the road with traffic. This would mean more buses stopping along major streets disrupting the flow of traffic, as well as Hamilton's public transit system continuing to be subject to stop lights, traffic jams and poor road conditions. An LRT would be independent of all of these things, and would be out of the way of street traffic for the most part.
I also believe that a light rail transit system would greatly benefit the social aspects of this city. An LRT would certainly be an impressive and very modern addition to the city's public amenities, and would attract people to Hamilton's downtown and surrounding areas. With less traffic flying by on King Street and a much nicer means of public transportation, I believe that businesses along the corridor would also see increased business, and people would be inclined to spend more time in the downtown area.
With these and other concerns in mind, I sincerely hope that the task force makes the decision to recommend that the province continue the funding and move forward with what is a very important and influential project for the city of Hamilton.
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Nick Policelli says,
LRT is a very necessary part of Hamilton's future growth and vitality. Please reconsider this important option.
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Gabriel Patrascu says,
LRT has the highest positive impact for Hamilton in terms of economic, social and environmental benefits. Multiple studies show the massive benefit this project will bring and Metrolinx's own comparisons show Hamilton LRT has higher net benefits compared to other projects in Toronto.
Hamilton LRT is the only project of its size that is ready to be implemented. With 12+ years of planning, extensive pre-construction work complete, over $160 million already spent and over 60 properties expropriated, the LRT project is well underway.
The federal government has offered to cover the funding gap for Hamilton LRT, which was the only reason Mulroney cited for cancelling the project in the first place.
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