2014 Mayoral Election

[Dr Awesomesauce]

That's the kind of guy Clark is: he doesn't talk about initiatives the City can accomplish, only the ones we can't do.

[LikeHamilton]

Pull the plug on Hamilton LRT: Mayoral candidate Brad Clark

Mayoral candidate Brad Clark is officially calling on Hamilton to pull the plug on a contentious bid for an $811-million LRT system in favour of negotiating cheaper bus rapid transit with the province.
The Stoney Creek councillor said he will oppose pursuing the 14-kilometre light-rail line from McMaster University to Eastgate even if the province provides 100 per cent capital funding for the project.
"We have to make decisions based on our needs," he said at a Wednesday campaign announcement. "We want LRT. We don't need LRT."
With the announcement, Clark officially positions himself in clear opposition to council colleague and mayoral candidate Brian McHattie, who has championed the LRT plan as a city-building effort with dramatic potential to boost development and business along the east-west route.
Candidate and former mayor Fred Eisenberger, who pushed the LRT plan during his time in office, has called for a citizen panel on LRT and city transit options.
Clark argued the transit overhaul is still too expensive for local taxpayers once land expropriation, underground infrastructure improvements and other traffic changes are factored in.
He dismissed the economic uplift arguments found in past studies on LRT as uncertain and overly "rosy."
Clark said the city should instead begin negotiating with the province over a bus rapid transit system for the same B-line that he estimates would cost closer to $350 million and require fewer local infrastructure and land costs.
At the same time, he urged expanding HSR bus service as recommended in the Rapid Ready report that supports LRT.
He said it would be too expensive, however, to simultaneously pursue bus rapid transit along both the east-west B-line and the north-south A line that runs from the water to the airport.
Mayoral candidate Crystal Lavigne has said she favours better bus service over LRT, while Ejaz Butt only supports the project with 100 per cent provincial funding. Michael Baldasaro and Nick Iamonico have both expressed support for the project.

More to come.

[email protected]
905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/48...te-brad-clark/

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Pull the plug on Hamilton LRT: Mayoral candidate Brad Clark


Clark argued the transit overhaul is still too expensive for local taxpayers once land expropriation, underground infrastructure improvements and other traffic changes are factored in.
He dismissed the economic uplift arguments found in past studies on LRT as uncertain and overly "rosy."
Clark said the city should instead begin negotiating with the province over a bus rapid transit system for the same B-line that he estimates would cost closer to $350 million and require fewer local infrastructure and land costs.
At the same time, he urged expanding HSR bus service as recommended in the Rapid Ready report that supports LRT.
He said it would be too expensive, however, to simultaneously pursue bus rapid transit along both the east-west B-line and the north-south A line that runs from the water to the airport.
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This makes no sense. LRT is far cheaper to run than BRT. And he's completely dismissing the economic gain. He's misleading voters with Rob Ford'esque 'tax savings'.

Plus he voted for LRT when he was on council.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm not surprised about Brad Clark. He had to take a side and distance himself from McHattie and Eisenberger. This will get him votes.

[mattgrande]

How often is the province (theoretically) willing to give us nearly a billion dollars? And Brad wants to say "no thanks, we're fine." Talk about short sighted.

[CaptainKirk]

IIRC, we in Hamilton will pay for the BIG MOVE anyway, won't we?

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

How often is the province (theoretically) willing to give us nearly a billion dollars? And Brad wants to say "no thanks, we're fine." Talk about short sighted.

I don't think Brad Clark is saying "no thanks" to the money: He is proposing we spend the money in a different way, i.e. instead of LRT on the B-Line, go with BRT and put the cost difference towards enhancing regular city-wide bus services as well. In doing so, he says we avoid the added infrastructure costs for reworking the underground services that presumably would be the city's to pay for should we go with LRT.

Remember, the province is not saying "LRT or nothing". The money being presented via The Big Move has always be carefully worded as for rapid transit costs, and has never mentioned LRT specifically.

[urban_planner]

This just bought a lot of votes for all the people who are un educated with regards to the benefits of LRT. I hope he looses. I am still leaning towards Mchattie even as a dreaded mountain resident.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by urban_planner

'...even as a dreaded mountain resident.'

Boooooooooo!

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by urban_planner

This just bought a lot of votes for all the people who are un educated with regards to the benefits of LRT. I hope he looses. I am still leaning towards Mchattie even as a dreaded mountain resident.

It's always a good idea to ensure you are grammatically correct when accusing a group of people as being "un educated" and hoping someone "looses" an upcoming election.

[SteelTown]

Pretty much sums up the main candidates view on LRT


http://mackaycartoons.net/

[durandy]

Eisenberger is killing himself on this platform. If he wants to capture the centre he'd be smarter to say yes LRT but only with 100% funding. This message is attractive to exactly nobody.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm disappointed with Fred's position. After 7 years it's ridiculous to study it any more. I hope he come out clearly in support of it because I'd like to consider voting for him,

[SteelTown]

Eisenberger leads in Hamilton mayoral poll



http://www.thespec.com/news-story/48...-mayoral-poll/

[interr0bangr]

If Clark wins I'll be super pissed.

Will strategically vote for Eisenberger if Clark gets too close for comfort and McHattie is totally out of the race.

[oldcoote]

That's depressing.

I said it before. McHattie needs to start swinging. Nice guys finish last.

[mattgrande]

That's a lot of undecided voters for the election being only a month away.

I watched the debate on Cable 14. It moved me from "begrudgingly holding my nose and voting McHattie" to just "voting McHattie."

[matt602]

Unfortunately I think a lot of those undecided's are gonna go for Clark since he's pushing the "do nothing, lower taxes" platform.

[bigguy1231]

The results don't surprise me. McHattie was dead in the water as soon as he admitted he had never used the RHVP because he had opposed it. As for Clark he just isn't palatable for alot of people, a little too rightwing and gruff. Eisenberger is the safe choice and the poll reflects that. Unless we see an anything but Eisenberger sentiment happening before election day it looks like our new mayor will be an old mayor.

[Jon Dalton]

How about if a lot of those undecideds are those who can't choose between Eisenberger and McHattie? Those two have a lot more in common and if it's between one of them and Clark, it's easier to decide that.