All Statements of Support
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Joe McLaughlin says,
The LRT will help the continuing gentrification of downtown Hamilton. It will attract investors and people to Hamilton. It will help build the city's image. It will move more people faster than buses. It is time for city councilors to stop debating about the LRT and just make the decision to build it.
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Keith Jolie says,
I unreservedly support the development of rapid transit in Hamilton - It will be one of the most important infrastructure projects in the history of Hamilton.
You can look a little East across the lake and find out what hesitation on transit initiatives gets you. Years of nothing and the same. Act now, leave other cities behind. Be a great city.
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Michelle Torsney says,
Our city needs LRT! This is an investment in our future. I implore our city council to please stay the course. The evidence is clear that to continue our trajectory to be the amazing city that we can be we need to do two things:
1) develop our waterfront;
2) have a state of the art transportation system.
How do we fiinance this?
By attracting more tax paying citizens. The housing crisis in Toronto, the rise of the our arts community in Hamilton, and the increasing recognition of the desirability of walkable neighbourhoods will attract an influx of young urban tax payers. Our financial future depends on developing our urban centre and attracting young urban tax payers. Two car families and suburban living is generally not considered desirable by the under 40 age group. This is consistent with trends in Europe where LRT comfortably makes its way through architecturally interesting cities (think Dublin, Milan, Berlin, etc).
Our city is undergoing a major transformation. We seem to be a tale of two cities: urbanites and suburbanites. Urbanites are comfortable with and welcome public transportation. Suburbanites want garages for 2 cars and may not appreciate the urban sensibility. We can accommodate both kinds of thinkers. Ultimately though, we need to increase our tax base by attracting more taxpayimg residents and businesses. We need to transform our urban areas from abandoned, derelict spaces to livable, walkable, desirable urban living and working spaces. We live in unique, geographically amazing city. We will ALL benefit as a community as we ride the wave of transformation. An LRT system will attract much needed urban tax payers to realize the dream of a culturally and financially rich, sustainable community. We need LRT! -
George Overend says,
Please. I live on the mountain and we all need this. I encourage everyone to reaffirm their commitment to this project!
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Olivia Divinski says,
For the future of our amazing growing City I would love to see the LRT go through. We need to be progressive with our thinking and the LRT will bring our great City into a new realm of economic development and growth. I would like the City council to approve this. I was born and raised in this amazing City and I love to brag about our future, but other Cities look down on us. If a City like Kitchener can move forward with LRT then Hamilton can and should move forward as well. Lets not let 1 Billion go to waste, especially from Ms.Wynne.
I do feel that the LRT should be extended right to Eastgate Square to serve our Stoney Creek neighbours. I live off the back of Greenhill and I would prefer to take one bus to Nash and Queenston Road and hop on the LRT then another bus to the traffic circle.Once again we need to consider the future and make sure this goes through and is built properly the first time and not decide ten years down the Road at taxpayers expense to expand. Please consider the disaster of the Redhill which was developed over 30 years ago and does not fit our current traffic situation.
I do not believe that it will affect the few businesses/or small malls along Queenstown Road as there is numerous entrances into those places. But there is numerous buildings with thousands of people that could benefit the use of the LRT.
I currently have a daughter at McMaster University and she has to take three different buses to get to school as I am sure many other students do as well. Please consider our future generations.If certain councillors can't see the future of our great City then it is time to move along.
I will not vote for my councillor if he does not help push this through.
Please pass this for the greater good of our amazing City.
Thank you
Olivia Divinski -
Rich Pascoe says,
I reside in Waterloo, but lived in Hamilton at one time. The LRT project here (ION) is transforming this community. While traffic can be challenging at times, GrandLinq Consortium, builders of ION, inform the public regularly about road closures and alternate routes.
We have seen and continue to see major development projects completed, under construction and planned/announced all along the LRT line. And when completed, Upton Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener will be vibrant, people oriented destinations for work, shopping, eating out, cultural events, etc.
The next phase of ION, extending the LRT through Cambridge is already in the planning stages and will be extended to include that community once Phase 1 is completed.
Hamilton is a larger, more densely populated city than K-W. An east-west LRT line through downtown Hamilton will be successful, no doubt, and it will also transform your community.
Get going on this important project. Be ambitious. Take the provincial funding. Don't think small and let this generational opportunity slip away. And then get planning started on the next LRT line up the mountain.
Those in Hamilton who say LRT is not currently necessary fail to see that the planning & development of major transportation infrastructure must be done 30 to 40 years in advance of it's need. Witness Calgary, Edmonton & Ottawa Waterloo Region is now following those models.
An LRT line will be the best thing to happen to Hamilton in a very long time. -
Anne Howarth says,
we want the LRT in Hamilton please accept our vote to proceed
it is important for our city's future and for our downtown core -
Kathryn Newell says,
Our founding fathers saw the importance of forward thinking, initiative and progress in order to make this wonderful city grow and prosper. With that there was a lot of construction and inconvenience. Our council needs to have the same vision as our forefathers. They are wasting time - get on with it council, funding is at your fingertips.
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Barry Costello says,
Time to get on with the great progress in Hamilton. This means start building the LRT.
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Hugh MacLeod says,
Why on earth am I having to write yet another letter like this?
This decision was made years ago. I have a business one block off of the route. I support pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit. We have an onsite parking lot and support this transit development. In fact we have planned for the the Dundurn and King LRT stop for years.
It will be hard for our business when the construction rolls through. In fact we barely survived some infrastructure work a long time ago. However infrastructure repair is just a challenge of having a business. The difference with LRT is that we get a train in the end.
While the project will help deliver customers to The Staircase Cafe Theatre I will be 60 years old before the line is finished. I will be 80 years old before the infill is completed along the route. Supporting B Line LRT is long term thinking, planning and spending. This is the right thing to do for the children of this city.
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Mieke Aasman says,
Now is the time for LRT. This is a great investment in our city. We have the momentum, we are growing as a city..to sustain this we need to invest in the future. Let's move forward with vision and excitement for what is to come!
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Andrew Hancock says,
Please support this, it will be a great thing for this city, I live 1 house off the LRT corridor on main east and truly support this.
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Leo Santos says,
Being an #Uptown resident, commercial & residential owner and small business propieter I am in FULL support of all development, growth, sustainability and overall progressive change for this city. It is very unfortunate that we (our ward) elected someone who may have a different vision. I at no time have given council NO for an answer on LRT. I believe that overall change in our current transit system can only be a Benifit to all residents of this city. My only concern with transit is that our #Uptown councillors don't make it an even better system on the mountain and look at even more accessibility options around the city.
My experience living in Calgary was that LRT created this amazing corridor of commerce as well as quick, reliable transit through the downtown core. I used it daily for work and leisure.
Let's make this happen HamIlton!
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Racquel Simpson says,
I strongly believe that LRT is an efficient and needed means of transportation for the city of Hamilton. It is detrimental in enabling us to be a progressive and competitive city. Modern, fast and efficient means of transportation is key in retaining and attracting talented, bright minds who are considering where to live, work and play.
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Daniel Lynes says,
It will definitely spur investment along the line. Vancouver's a good example of this with albeit more expensive Skytrain stations, and Kitchener-Waterloo's another good example...the LRT is under construction there and people are buying up real estate for premium prices already. It will be a talking point for tourism; Skytrain is much more preferable to a subway...I would imagine LRT is as well.
Skytrain (and LRT) have many benefits besides real estate values and increased tax revenue such as buildup along the transit line, creating a central focus in the city, decreasing trip times, attracting younger people to areas along the line because they'd rather not drive if they don't have to, ...
The longer council waits to build it, the more expensive it'll be to put it in when council deems we need it, because there'll be more expensive land to expropriate, more lost productivity because of traffic congestion, inflation, ... -
Craig Burley says,
Please say yes to one billion, it is more for our city than zero billion.
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Andy Furlong says,
An efficient, environmentally friendly transit system is exactly what would appeal to a West Mountain resident like myself. The benefit from LRT will be seen by all Hamiltonians, not just downtown residents. Revitalization is overdue. Also, residents should feel proud of a city which embraces change, which I believe, in the case of LRT, is for the better.
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Joe Accardi says,
Forge and Foster is 100% for LRT in Hamilton. Alternative transportation is an important investment for this city to support the growth and ensure future access to services for both our aging population and younger demographic moving into the core.
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Margaret Bennett says,
I strongly support the LRT for the future of our city and health and economy. Having lived near St Clair Ave in Toronto while the right of way was being built, and above the construction of a new subway station in Singapore, I am fully aware of the inconvenience construction will cause. However that inconvenience is truly short term pain for long term gain. The long term benefits of the LRT are truly much more important for us all. If we don't do this now, the cost in both time and money will be far greater in future. It will cost us more in infrastructure, healthcare, environmental costs, and more if we delay. Many cities can offer advice on managing construction incovenience to businesses so let's seek that out, not delay the whole project. Look to the future!
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Paul Wilson says,
Most people want this,everyone needs it
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John Clinton says,
Thanks for supporting LRT in Hamilton. My wife and I fully support the investment in our City.
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Stephanie Robinson says,
Please stop dithering and politicking and get on with planning for light rail in Hamilton.
I am dismayed, disappointed and disgusted with Hamilton city councillors who think they can play around at this crucial time.
No more nonsense. Get this city into the present day!
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Mike Colyer says,
I don’t imagine any of you are old enough to remember the streets of Hamilton in the mid 1950’s are you? I remember them well, particularly the intersection of Main and Dundurn. That’s where my father ran the B/A service station on the south west corner, one of 4 stations at that intersection, where I “helped” him on weekends, distributing flyers and keeping the place tidy. There was nothing unusual about that intersection or Main St. in general, they were built many years before and were pretty typical of Hamilton in that era. You can pop down to the library and check out the historical picture collection if you’re curious. Dad had always wanted a business of his own and over the years he had developed a steady clientele and was making a decent living. But that intersection and Main St. in general were struggling to meet the needs of the modern city of the 50’s and weren’t going to work in the future. The age of the automobile was in full flight. Almost every family owned a car, some even had two, Sunday drives were all the rage and kids champed at the bit and pestered their parents to get their licences. Gridlock 50’s style was beginning and the future looked bleak unless something changed. Something did. City council, bravely facing the future, closed the intersection, tore up Main St. and began the process of transforming the city into what you see today. There was strong opposition to the project, of course, which I’m sure you can access through the archives of The Spectator. I was young, but I remember the dinner table talk. Business owners were worried, residents were concerned about the loss of what they held dear and there was lots of “it was good enough for us” resistance and “what about my potholes?” complaints. But the present situation wasn’t good enough and certainly wasn’t going to be good enough for the future and council had the foresight and courage to recognize that. The signs went up, shovels hit the ground and life, our family life for sure, changed. Dad’s business went under as did many others. But dad was too strong to let something like that defeat him, he reinvented himself, changed jobs, put his son through university and reluctantly retired from a job he loved when he was forced out at 80. The result of council’s decision in the 50’s is the Main St. you know today, perfect for the needs of the final half of the 20th century. Times changed, council understood that and adapted in the face of strong opposition.
Times continue to change and the Hamilton of the last century won’t begin to meet the needs of the future. I’m an old guy but I see the future in my children and grandchildren. Worldwide trends see the next generations wanting to live and work in the centre of cities. They are buying and refurbishing shabby houses. They don’t share our love affair with the automobile, preferring bicycles, public transit and, gasp, Uber-like services. They think green, aren’t big on diesel fumes, and worry about the future of our environment. And they form a solid tax base in areas once dependent on huge social service outlays. Business and residential development is following them downtown and changing rundown, money-sucking cores into vibrant, money-producing landscapes. How is council going to respond to this change and to the needs of our children and grandchildren? Are you going to have the courage of your mid-20th century forbearers and adapt or are you going to fight to maintain a status quo that will see Hamilton side-tracked by business, industry and development that will chose locales which have an eye to the future. LRT is ours for the taking and is precisely what is needed, not necessarily for you and me, but for our children and grandchildren and their children. Yes, the process won’t be pretty. There will be disruption, some businesses will fail, others will reinvent themselves and neighbourhoods will change. I’ve seen this before in my lifetime and it will continue to happen over and over. That’s the social history of the world and, like it or not, we can't dig in our heels and stop it. The province is picking up the tab for LRT so they obviously see a bright future for our city. I share their optimism. Do you? I urge you not to drop the ball on this.
Mike Colyer
Queen St. N. -
Robert Cekan says,
Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo are not the "Ambitious City" and yet they are advancing far quicker than we can catch up. These cities continue to thrive because they are putting people first — not cars. They understand that rapid transportation and strong infrastructure is the catalyst to a city's growth, while they laugh at how Hamilton drags its feet on the issue of whether or not to use a gifted $1 billion dedicated ONLY for LRT. We are already years behind and will only fall further behind if this project isn't greenlit immediately and jump-started swiftly.
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Heather Windatt says,
Please ensure that LRT comes to Hamilton. I support this wholeheartedly and would not want to see this investment from the province go to another city.
I lived for two years Portlamd, Oregon, and it has an LRT system. It was a fantastic way to get around. Let's learn from other cities that have LRT, and move this city forward!
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edgardo moreno says,
I'm in full support of the LRT. I find that we are still debating something that is so obviously an asset to the growth our city dismaying. Why do we continue to let a a few backwards thinking councilors dictate the pace of progress. It is time to vote in forward thinking politicians. If we fail to to do this we will be left behind as a city.
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Arvind Singh says,
As the implementation and construction phase of LRT draws closer, a few members of Council will get jittery nerves and butterflies in the stomach. This is understandable because LRT is huge infrastructure project for our City, the most impactful project for generations. LRT as numerous studies show, including those by Metrolinx, McMaster and those by the City of Hamilton, will have a remarkable ROI and the potential to unleash economic and urban vitality to our City.
As LRT is fully funded by the province, which has made transit an important priority, Hamilton Councillors can champion LRT while assured of funding by the province. So I would offer Council the same advice that I took when I married my beautiful wife: It's alright to have butterflies but the wedding has been planned, you've made the commitment and renewed it many times, and the arrangements have been made and paid for by your parent.
The wedding is planned,funded and the invitations have been sent. Now is the time to move forward even with
butterflies. -
Scott Mallon says,
LRT is the transit system that will move this city forward. For too long we have had sub part public transit. And no, more buses on the road is not the answer.
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Jacob Tyler-Smith says,
One question ? Why would we turn down 1 billion dollars to invest in are City?
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Laura MacDonald says,
LRT is essential for Hamilton economic growth and development.
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