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Council OKs $252m capital budget for roadwork, transit, Pan Am
(Hamilton Spectator, Emma reilly, Dec 12, 2012)

City councillors have approved a $252-million capital budget for 2013, up from $221 million this year. The biggest chunk — $102.8 million — will be spent on roads.

Other major expenses include $39.2 million for Pan Am, $26.5 million for transit, and $5.4 million for vehicle replacement.

However, equally telling are the items not being funded in next year’s budget. They include:

• Park development initiatives (including $30 million for Gage Park, $6 million for Gore Park, $10 million for Battlefield Park and $37 million for Confederation Park

• Police investigative building: $15 million

• West Harbour Recreation Master Plan: $75 million

• Light rail transit (LRT): amount undetermined

• Two-way street conversions: amount undetermined

The lack of funding for two-way street conversions and LRT funding garnered particular attention Tuesday. Hamilton Chamber of Commerce CEO David Adames attended the meeting to ask councillors to dedicate funding to LRT in the 2014 capital budget, arguing that it wasn’t too early to start thinking about next year’s expenses.

Councillor Chad Collins also asked for city staff to prepare a three- or five-year implementation plan for two-way street conversions — including those already identified by the city, along with any conversions that arise at the recommendation of a citizen task force recently struck by councillors Brian McHattie and Jason Farr.