All Statements of Support
-
Adam Gallant says,
To say that I would be disappointed in this City should the LRT not be built would be an understatement. Pivotal opportunities like this do not come often, and I would hate to see all the progress Hamilton has made slow or revert when the disappointed young professionals that have made this City so vibrant again are beat in the face with the ugliness that has kept it so stagnant for so long.
-
Alexander Wilson says,
A need for better transit from each end of the city is needed. Downtown is congested, not everyone drives, and people need to work. LRT will help us alleviate these kinds of issues and provide a better alternative to simply taking the bus or jamming more cars into thick traffic.
-
Ryan Miller says,
Keep the city moving forward, finally. Remain attractive to young people, finally. Accept the povince's full support, finally.
This is not a decision for today or tomorrow or 5 years. This is a decision that will forever shape Hamiton.
Yes to LRT!
-
Erin Lepischak says,
I regularly ride the B line to work downtown. I rarely get a seat - the buses are full. There is a need for LRT to move this volume of people. Please have the vision to support growth.
-
Susan Lau says,
With respect to Hamilton's city councillors, it is absolutely imperative that you do you not waver on your support for the province's $1 billion dollar gift to Hamilton.
Waterloo region is already well into construction for light rail. They've paid $253 million out of their own budget, with the federal and provincial governments contributing $565 million. (source: http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/projectinformation/frequentlyaskedquestions.asp#g)
The city of Ottawa received $1 billion from the federal government for LRT, which only covered ONE THIRD of the project's total costs, and had to petition the government a second time to receive additional funding to complete phase 2 of their project.
Hamilton is being given a once-in-a-lifetime gift to jump-start the next wave of development. It is incredible that the city should receive such a massive fund while other others must apply and petition levels of government to receive significantly less.
Any other municipality in the province would not think twice about accepting this offer. A failure on our part would forever cement Hamilton's stereotype across Canada as the city that achieved nothing and died with the steel industry.
Citizens living here know that Hamilton is vibrant, growing, and improving every year. Graduates of Mohawk and McMaster are choosing, more and more, to stay here to pursue their careers.
Many cities in southern Ontario are taking serious initiative on transit and development, attracting investment and business from all over. Ultimately, Hamilton's most talented could be drawn away to places where desirable jobs, affordable housing, and multiple transport options are readily available.
It is not a matter of urban versus suburban or mountain versus downtown. The actions and words of our respected councillors are seen across the country. They are a reflection upon the people who live, work, and learn in this city that so many of us love to call home.
I sincerely hope that you will not turn away an opportunity that will benefit the city for generations to come. Let Hamilton remember this city council as the ones who made it happen.
-
David Premi says,
To consider turning down a $1B gift is beyond absurd. Not only will the construction create jobs, the economic spinoff of the permanent transit line will create wealth for all of Hamilton through increased property values and a sustainable commercial/residential tax base in the inner city. This is the only way to save our local economy.
-
Mark Birstein says,
Let's get this done. No more delays in positive growth for the city.
-
Daniel Peacock says,
It's time for council to make a commitment to serious transit in this city. It's been too long that we've depended on cars and catered our downtown to them. It will be a challenging transition but ultimately worth it if we hope to grow as a modern city.
-
jane mcnally says,
I would like to see LRT go ahead so that I have transit options to get across the city efficiently. I want my children to have access to decent transit. I want LRT in hamilton!
-
Joanne Edmiston says,
Please don't be shortsighted. LRT will lead this city into the future.
-
Kevin O'Neill says,
Hamilton needs LRT! It would be very foolish to walk away from this tremendous opportunity.
-
robert twiss says,
How can we turn down 1B $, and all the jobs that comes with it.
-
Kathleen Kennedy says,
It would be a huge mistake for city council to turn down the funding offered for LRT to modernize the city.
In addition, city council MUST also find dollars and ways to improve the existing transit service, particularly on the Mountain as well as travel to and from downtown.
-
Jeff Tessier says,
I strongly encourage Council to move forward with Metrolinx in the construction of a provincially-funded light rail transit system for Hamilton. The B-Line will be the solid foundation on which a compete system servicing the entire city will be built. It seems likely that if we turn away now there won't be another chance to secure this level of funding for Hamilton Transit.
-
Katherine Hollands says,
There should be no question about whether Hamilton should invest in transit - of course we should! Please vote Yes!
-
Rochelle Rumney says,
I think the LRT will be a great addition to this city and I look forward to using it. We live close to the proposed James St N spur line and I think it will be really useful to use. Please support this motion!
-
Cathy McPherson says,
We need a LRT in Hamilton to help us lift areas of this city out of extreme poverty
into one where we can offer jobs and prosperity to those who live here.The benefits if having a LRT are well documented. Businesses and developers will locate next to LRTS knowing that these transit routes are permanent and can be counted on to bring them customers and those who want to live next to transit systems.
Please support this very important initiative.
-
Matthew de Zoete says,
To all involved with LRT decisions:
Please proceed with the LRT. It will help our city grow and improve.
Yours,
Matthew de Zoete
-
Elisha Stam says,
If we want to be an ambitious city we need modern public transport. Commuting to the west end to the east end by bus is an arduous process. light rail would link our great city and would bring prosperity to central and East with positive impact felt city wide.
-
Nrinder Nann says,
I live along the proposed LRT line on King St E. I have a baby and am eagerly awaiting safer streets for us to cross while enjoying the convenience of rail based public transit. I used to live close to two streetcars in Toronto and used them daily to commute to work, run errands and to visit friends. It made living in the city more enjoyable while also allowing me to have a positive impact on the environment by driving less. Driving less also meant being one fewer driver contesting roadways as well.
I cannot understand why any councilor would try to revoke $1B in allocated funding towards this much needed traffic/transit solution that will help my end of town connect better to the downtown core. LRT lines help revitalize economic dead zones and bring much needed local jobs along their corridor. Hamilton deserves real solutions that bring lasting legacy to our city while also catapulting our city into one prepared for future generations.
Please do the right thing and make the Hamilton LRT happen. Stop backtracking and help this city move forward!
-
Phuong Hoang says,
Support LRT
-
Bob Manojlovich says,
I am a ward 5 resident, 55 years old, soon to retire, wife already retired. We are drivers and pretty much drive everywhere. WE SUPPORT LRT in Hamilton.
Having learned about the other 11 LRT lines being planned and built across Canada, it makes sense on many, many levels to move forward with this. There are so many wonderful outcomes in the other cities to copy and learn from. Billions of dollars of both public and private investment has happened, and will happen. Why would we, as a city, chose to be left behind all these other cities and eny ourselves such investments?
Having all of our aging sewer and water lines and roads replaced with brand new infrastructure all along the miles of the B-Line corridor alone is a HUGE savings for us municipal taxpayers.
So many local jobs to be created for years as well as procurement from local business will be a big boost for Hamilton.
Yes, there are concerns like business disruptions, and it is important to mitigate that as best as possible, but we can see that the benefits far outweigh the concerns.
I respectfully urge council to be ambitious and look towards our future.
-
Philippa Heritage says,
LRT is good for the WHOLE city. It being more tax dollars in for all of us. Please do not be swayed by the politics of division. Hamiltonians are hamiltonians. Let's bring our amazing city into the 21st century and not blow this fabulous opportunity for much needed infrastructure spending.
-
Abram Bergen says,
Please do the right thing for the City and move us towards better public transit--more inclusive (not a mode 'for the poor' and those who can't afford a car, but for all residents), more efficient (we know light rail is more efficient at people moving than buses), more congruent with safe streets, pedestrian and cycling mobility (we can re-design our streets along with this project to better accommodate people, not just cars), and with smarter urban development (more intensification and mixed use will grow along the corridor)! Please stop stalling and backtracking and wavering, putting the wants of certain interests ahead of what is best for the City to move into the modern age!
-
Kristen Hodges says,
As a former Toronto resident, I couldn't be happier to be living in Hamilton. I love everything about it and believe it's on the cutting edge of so many aspects of a vibrant city. Except when it comes to transit. A light rail is essential to the continued boom Hamilton has been experiencing. If we want to keep up, we need this. Let's keep Hamilton moving forward!!
-
Umer Siddiqui says,
I support the LRT as I believe it will be short term pain for long term gain. I live in Ward 9, and the BLAST network would definitely help the generations to come by providing safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable public transit to all. This $1 billion is only being given for rapid transit, and cannot be used in other ways. Let's use it people! I hope the Councillors in the other Wards will drop the politicking and fear-mongering and look to the future and how we can bring Hamilton to its greatest potential for all!
-
Rick MacLeod says,
I believe Hamilton can forge ahead with this plan as we have done in the past with other City initiatives.
-
Matias Rozenberg says,
If Hamilton hopes to continue to grow, if it hopes to become a world-class city, it will say yes to LRT. Otherwise, current council will be ruining a perfect opportunity for future generations. One of the reasons I left Toronto because it's transportation infrastructure is a disaster and showed lack of forethought in the past, which it is now paying for in spades. Hamilton, don't make the same very foolish mistake.
-
Anthony Easton says,
It would be foolish to leave this money on the table, considering how innovative Hamilton has been in other social spaces.
-
Dina Harrow says,
Transit makes cities more livable, get on with it already!
Vote for this statement
