All Statements of Support
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Chris Walsh says,
I am a life-long resident of Hamilton living in Ward 6 and I strongly support the building of LRT.
This has to be the most studied and debated infrastructure project in my life time and over an over again the benefits of this project are made self evident.
It has the backing of the largest employers and service organizations in our city: ArcelorMittal, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, Hamilton Community Foundation, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
How can we possibly turn down over 3 Billion dollars in funding for renewal of our infrastructure along with modernizing our transit system?
Please don't make us the laughingstock of the country by turning down this once in a generation opportunity.
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Norman Newbery says,
LRT is needed in Hamilton. Development properties along the line have been put on hold when funding was withheld. Hamilton will experience a new upsurge of youth, efficient transportation, more room for development, cleaner air and people centred environments. To other old timers and people who do not use transit...do not worry....the LRT is especially for youth and the future.
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Sarah Hannaford says,
Yes! As a resident I think that the LRT is a great opportunity for our city and it would be disappointing to vote against it. We should be investing in our city and the LRT is a great way to do that.
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Shelley Rempel says,
The city of Hamilton has been in need of this enhancement to the transportation system for many years.
Take advantage of the opportunity and improve transit for the citizens of Hamilton.
This project benefits the entire city.
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Amber Morrison says,
We absolutely cannot risk losing $3.4 billion as a city with aging infrastructure. We also need the tax base to increase which happened in KW with their LRT. Climate change is causing environmental catastrophes world wide so we need to be part of the solution. LRT can help take cars off the road and upgrade to green infrastructure. Plus affordable housing is required as part of the Federal funding. The last 2 elections for mayor were a virtual referendum on supporting LRT. Let’s throw our support behind this once in a lifetime legacy project.
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doug farraway says,
Why would anyone turn down 3.4 billion dollars in transit and infrastructure funds. It's your money Hamilton and instead of it going to some other ambitious city it is actually coming to do our city some good. Why would any councilor turn down 3.4 billion dollars when thousands of construction jobs and then hundreds of permanent jobs will be created. Who turns down 3.4 billion dollars arguing about non-negotiable things like BRT? Who throws away over 150 million dollars already spent on LRT? Frankly those who are making noises about saying no are merely disgruntled (ward 4) or posturing for the next election. Say yes Hamilton city council. Get this one right!
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Kevin Delaney says,
I’ve been a bartender in this city for 15 years and I’ve come to realize that Hamilton is a city of pockets: Westdale, Dundurn, Locke St, James St, Wentworth, Gage Park, Ottawa St... you get the idea. Travelling between these pockets, whether for work or for pleasure, is tough without a car. HSR is great, but can be infrequent during off hours and outright late during peak hours. An LRT system would change the way people interact with these pockets. Instead of being forced to visit one pocket at a time, it would be easy to have lunch on James St N, shop on Ottawa, then head to Locke St for dinner. Greater accessibility means more thriving businesses, and less cars on Main and King will mean that businesses can at long last flourish there too! And it will mean a wider pool of labour for businesses, as living in one pocket and working in another would be easier than ever! LRT isn’t just the environmentally responsible thing to do, it’s also the socially responsible thing to do; it’ll be the strong connective tissue Hamilton has deserved for decades!
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James Macaulay says,
I want Brenda Johnson to vote in favor of LRT.
If the city of Hamilton boundaries were the same as 20 years ago, the old city of Hamilton council wood have voted for LRT.
Including wards for Stoney Creek, Dundas, Ancaster, Flamborough and Glanbrook make council dysfunctional. These councilors need to have "Vision" and work together on large projects to make Hamilton a Great City. -
Denzel Carnegie says,
This is needed in the city!
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John Buxton says,
Now is the last time these levels of Government will offer the citizens of Hamilton $3.4mil to build a LRT system in Hamilton. Do not waste any time, vote to accept this money now. I'm sure you know that you are individual business people. You are there as Councillors there to represent the best interests of your constituents and all of this Cities best interests. Vote Yes to the $3.4mil LRT money being offered..
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Joseph Liberatore says,
The construction of this monumental piece of infrastructure is not only a good investment from all levels of government, it's also a spark that will ignite a new era for the City of Hamilton. An era that will see increased investment in the inner City, renewal of existing infrastructure to support growth, better use of infrastructure that'll save tax dollars over the long term, countless opportunities for new businesses to locate in proximity as a result of transit oriented development, reduced emissions from car trips saved, a more safe public realm with a viable alternative to the automobile for the short distance trips in the inner city, and a message to the world that the City of Hamilton is ready to make the gamechanging decisions needed to drive a City forward. This route is a stepping stone to unlocking the full potential of the City, provided the new challenges it will be facing over the next 100 years. Decisions that need to be made will stand the test of time and tell our ancestors just how much we cared to do what was needed to in order to build a better City and a better world.
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Tami Kitay says,
LRT is an equity, climate change, and economic opportunity. People in all areas of the city will benefit from this investment, even if they opt not to use it. Political leadership is needed to advance this city for its next generations.
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Paul Eichinger says,
I strongly support the Hamilton LRT, it will change the City for the better by providing another transportation option for residents, employees and students. The LRT has been a very welcome addition to Kitchener Waterloo and the City is evolving in a very positive manner.
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Anna D'Angela says,
When I was an undergraduate student at Mac between 2009-2013, we were talking about LRT . I've left Mac and come back a few times, and we still are talking about this.
The evidence is there - LRT will have a positive impact on our citizens and our city. The time is now to capitalize on this investment! I hope that council will see that this is an important investment for our community.
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Terri Johns says,
The LRT is a critical infrastructure investment that will create a strong economic future for Hamilton. Make the right decision for the future of our City.
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Richie Allen says,
The fact that council is even questioning whether to proceed is an embarrassment. This is an investment into the city’s future. It will also provide a significant economic recovery for our city after the pandemic.
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RP Haslett says,
Please support the LRT
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Annette Ray says,
Svp nous avons assez attendu pour avoir un système de transport en commun écologique!! Nous devons entrer dans l’ère moderne ou risquer de devenir une ville de deuxième ordre au Canada. Il y a 20 ans Ottawa et Hamilton avaient sensiblement la même population. Aujourd’hui nous tirons de la patte, alors qu’Ottawa a presque doublé sa population... Ce n’est qu’un exemple qui démontre que le conseil municipal à de maintes reprises a fait du surplace au lieu de progresser. Réveillez-vous les échevins! Merci d’appuyer les deux ministres du fédéral et du provincial qui en sont venues à une entente sans précédent.
Allons de l’avant non seulement avec les vélos, mais aussi avec le train léger. Merci de votre attention. -
Kairi West says,
We fully support the LRT. What a wonderful bonus to our beautiful city. #yestoLRT
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Derek Hrynyshyn says,
Saying no to $3.4 Billion is simply not responsible. Any member of council who opposes this should be understood to be acting against what is obviously in the best interest of the city. Such councillors should be the target of co-ordinated city-wide efforts to unseat them at the next election.
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Aaron Lamers says,
Let's make this happen City Council!
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David Jenkins says,
Hamilton needs light rail to proceed
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Joan Hobbs says,
Please support LRT..the future of Hamilton’s growth depends on it...We owe it to our children and grandchildren to improve the city’s core and transportation needs.
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Charlie Collura says,
Get it done.
Look to the future
Don’t kiss $3.4B away. -
Ivan Kotchoubei says,
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to implore the municipal leadership to take decisive action in favour of LRT development. This is a once in a generation type of an opportunity that it going to have a tremendous positive impact on the development of the city. The fear mongering around the operational costs are overblown and exceptionally short-sighted when compared to the benefits of such incredible development.
Positive outcomes:
- further real estate development around the core of Hamilton and beyond, thus leading to higher values and higher revenue for the city.
- a development of this size signals to industry and individuals that the city is open-minded towards transformational change and revitalization.
- improvement in the overall image in the region, as Hamilton has started to fall behind Kitchener/Waterloo region.
- attraction to young people, who are much more excited to live beside an LRT rather than a BRT. Had the councilors done their research, they would see that BRT doesn't carry the same multiplier effect as LRT when it comes to economic development and aesthetics. Studies show repeatedly that when it comes to a lifestyle choice, very few residents want to live beside a BRT route. This doesn't mean that BRT can't be an option elsewhere in Hamilton, but it is false economy to build BRT in the heart of the city.
- As shown by K/W region, the perception of the constructed LRT has been overwhelming positive by the local residents. Furthermore, the proposed LRT will reinforce the connection within the various part of the city and beyond.
- Keystone investments often take place in the heart of the city, because they need to be of a transformative size. The spillover effect will undoubtedly percolate through the entire region. Thus, simply stating that folks on the mountain or an ancaster can't use this transit therefore it's a no go decision are incredibly dumbfounding and once again short-sighted in nature. We build bridges even though not everyone gets to use them. This is several times of a magnitude.
- think about the current list of cities with LRT and then think about whether Hamilton wants to fall behind in its development behind all of these cities?!It is simply incomprehensible!
Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Waterloo, Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Montreal, Gatineau, Quebec City.
- for anyone still doubting the benefits of LRT, I urge you to review the report published for Waterloo's LRT
https://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/ION-Story-Fall-2016-access.pdf
where the benefits of LRT are explicitly called out as being underestimated. The ability of this type of project to have an urban and economic development is absolutely dramatic.
- Lastly, I leave you with the below rude response from one of your fellow councilors that isn't grounded in facts and simply aims to purport the rhetoric of misallocating the tax dollars. It is infuriating how factually incorrect is the summary below.>>>>>>> Yes but your expecting city taxpayers will be paying for a service that even the Auditor General of Ontario said there is not a business case. We must be prudent with taxpayers money. With a ridership of only 444 peak hr peak direction and only 1500 peak hr peak direction is projected at 2031 we are well below the minimum threshold of 2000 peak hour peak direction the minimum entry point. Canadian urban Institute only projected less than a one percent assessment growth after full build out along the LRT corridor. That is equivalent to 8.8 million dollars a year in new taxes. The true cost for the LRT has been reported above three billion dollars.
>>>>>>> This does not help all residents of this great city. Let’s build a transit system that is electrified lower our carbon footprint and still have money to implement and creating a robust transit system for all Hamiltonians. Currently there is no no business case no transit case for LRT however a few like you might make a killing. I get it however I am looking out for the interest of all taxpayers . I can show you a staff report that says 80 percent of the LRT corridor infrastructure still has eighty years life left. Three study’s suggest that this is a white elephant and yes those who are blinded by the light think it great. I have challenged the Mayor for a public debate so residents could be well informed he refused . The spec endorsed before all the numbers were in like like 3.7 billion cost. The annual operating maintenance and life cycle cost over 30 million annual more than have our total trans budget. I was alway taught. if you have a dollar try an get as much for it as possible thats how you achieve value. No value for the LRT ! When it’s time we can put in autonomous virtual train that runs on virtual rails much more dynamic than the dinosaur LRT. Not one study that I have read agrees that their is a net economic benefit for the city for LRT in fact more value for BRT. One study stated there is no net economic benefit uplift to the city with LRT. You will get some development in the corridor but it does not result in a net benefit because it only take away from other locations within the city. Have you not been reading about the OTTAWA experience not running because of the snow. People living along the corridor use to have peace and quite now even with windows closed are dealing with significant noise. The units values have been devalued according to residents. Would you invest in that kind of return? Respect your position as you can see I and majority of Hamiltonians disagree several poles have confirmed this.>>>>>>> Thanks for listening.
>>>>>>> Facts Matter!>>>>>>> Respectfully,
>>>>>>> Councillor Terry Whitehead
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Katherine Crosbie says,
The citizens of Hamilton have voted to support the LRT three times already, but still city Politicians opposed to the LRT fail to accept that the majority of Hamilton’s constituents see the economic benefits to the whole region.
Sadly, some time to go city Politicians, continue to fail to accept that the majority of citizens support the LRT.
Sadly, a provincial politician, former mayor Bob Bratina, continues to grand stand, acting like a spoiled child who doesn’t get his own way, he simply can’t accept change. Instead of recognizing and accepting that the majority of the citizens of Hamilton support the LRT, by his actions he indicates that his personal opinion, trumps the majority vote of the Hamilton’s citizens. Sadly, by continuing to grand stand, he may cause yet more expense/delays to our city.
The economic benefits from the increased tax base, thousands of good paying jobs and affordable housing, of this 3.4 billion investment in Hamilton’s long awaited LRT, will not just be for the downtown area it will benefit the whole community. -
susan hartford says,
How do you get cars off the road, halt climate change and make a city safer, more liveable?
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susan hartford says,
Good public transit is a direct line to improved liveability scores, public health, revitalized economic cores, community safety.
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Annie Rosenberg says,
This city needs a decent transit system. Enough said.
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Alex H says,
HUGE supporter of this project - it is time for the next generation to have an opportunity to design our cities around our values; sustainability, accessibility and community.
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