Hamilton's B-Line LRT construction

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Can we save some money by using those old tracks?

They can certainly be recycled, but would have to be ripped out during construction.

[TheHonestMaple]

Can we change the title of this thread to "Hamilton LRT". I don't think anyone has referred to this as the B-Line LRT in years.

[TheHonestMaple]

I think it's safe to say this one is 'Under Construction', even though it's just early works. Can't wait until that view west down King has an LRT guideway!

[akiraredacted]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Can we change the title of this thread to "Hamilton LRT". I don't think anyone has referred to this as the B-Line LRT in years.

I refer to it simply as 'the B-Line' or 'Light Rail'

[TheHonestMaple]

I don't think i've ever heard it referred to as B-line in real life. Just Hamilton LRT. The official name of the project with Metrolinx is "Hamilton LRT".

[SFUVancouver]

Echoing not thinking about the Hamilton LRT as the 'B-Line'. However, in my case that's because I'm from Vancouver and the 99 B-Line bus will always be the B-Line for me.

[Beedok]

I thought it was still officially the B-Line?
It what I’d been thinking of it as.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Beedok

I thought it was still officially the B-Line?
It what I’d been thinking of it as.

Metrolinx calls it the "Hamilton LRT":

https://www.metrolinx.com/en/projects-and-programs/hamilton-lrt

[Innsertnamehere]

Metrolinx was busy demolishing this building this morning close to the future rail grade separation in the Delta:



https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2465034,...6thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Beedok]

Shame it couldn’t be relocated. Delightfully quirky.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Metrolinx Transit Corridor Land Designation letter_Page_1 by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr
Metrolinx Transit Corridor Land Designation letter_Page_2 by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr

Who else has seen this notice? And does anyone have any insight as to what this means - reading between the lines?
I'd iike to believe that this will, in fact, increase the property value, but can this designation become an onus, a detriment to those whose homes and businesses are located within this corridor? Any other known precedents?

[Innsertnamehere]

It's something the PCs brought in to streamline transit planning by giving Metrolinx more control over it's corridors.

It's nothing particularly concerning for landowners. Basically all it means is that you need to get Metrolinx's sign-off if you want to build development on your lands, and that Metrolinx can't get sued if they need to go on your property to do surveying or something.

The idea is to prevent a landowner from building an apartment building on top of the future LRT alignment which Metrolinx then has to pay to purchase and demolish.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It's something the PCs brought in to streamline transit planning by giving Metrolinx more control over it's corridors.

Thank you for the response to my question. And has this 'something' ever resulted in the planning and construction process being streamlined? I don't know, so this isn't a cynical or snide remark on my part.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It's nothing particularly concerning for landowners. Basically all it means is that you need to get Metrolinx's sign-off if you want to build development on your lands, and that Metrolinx can't get sued if they need to go on your property to do surveying or something.

Except that this adds another layer of bureaucracy for the landowner. And can a landowner not be bothered by the thought that in the unknown future Metrolinx does decide that they need to expropriate the land in part or in full, moreso because their property has received this designation?

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

The idea is to prevent a landowner from building an apartment building on top of the future LRT alignment which Metrolinx then has to pay to purchase and demolish.

And there it is, a future alignment... The current blue prints from the project only show how things are currently envisioned to be aligned along Kings St., where stops are going to be located and how automobile traffic will be redirected (especially in the International Village vicinity), etc.. So I believe there is some valid concern for property owners regarding future alignments. Not saying that there aren't some future intangible benefits from the designation, but, conversely, can anyone fully predict how this alignment may be altered?

[TheHonestMaple]

The designation is only temporary. It expires once construction of the LRT is complete.

Haha yes, you are being cynical. This PC government has done more for transit infrastructure in the past 6 years than any left wing government ever has.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

Thank you for the response to my question. And has this 'something' ever resulted in the planning and construction process being streamlined? I don't know, so this isn't a cynical or snide remark on my part.



Except that this adds another layer of bureaucracy for the landowner. And can a landowner not be bothered by the thought that in the unknown future Metrolinx does decide that they need to expropriate the land in part or in full, moreso because their property has received this designation?



And there it is, a future alignment... The current blue prints from the project only show how things are currently envisioned to be aligned along Kings St., where stops are going to be located and how automobile traffic will be redirected (especially in the International Village vicinity), etc.. So I believe there is some valid concern for property owners regarding future alignments. Not saying that there aren't some future intangible benefits from the designation, but, conversely, can anyone fully predict how this alignment may be altered?

To me this makes perfect sense as a policy. Essentially you have to ensure that shed or fence you plan to build won't be in the way of a multi-billion dollar LRT construction. One additional party in the permit review isn't that much more arduous, and it avoids unnecessary conflicts. Policies like this ensure transit can be built faster, cheaper and more easily, which considering North America's cost per mile of transit compared to other developed countries is overall a good thing.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

The designation is only temporary. It expires once construction of the LRT is complete.

Haha yes, you are being cynical. This PC government has done more for transit infrastructure in the past 6 years than any left wing government ever has.

Mhm, because previous governments had lined everything up to happen, so even the PCs best attempts to drag their feet couldn’t stop the inertia.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

Thank you for the response to my question. And has this 'something' ever resulted in the planning and construction process being streamlined? I don't know, so this isn't a cynical or snide remark on my part.



Except that this adds another layer of bureaucracy for the landowner. And can a landowner not be bothered by the thought that in the unknown future Metrolinx does decide that they need to expropriate the land in part or in full, moreso because their property has received this designation?



And there it is, a future alignment... The current blue prints from the project only show how things are currently envisioned to be aligned along Kings St., where stops are going to be located and how automobile traffic will be redirected (especially in the International Village vicinity), etc.. So I believe there is some valid concern for property owners regarding future alignments. Not saying that there aren't some future intangible benefits from the designation, but, conversely, can anyone fully predict how this alignment may be altered?

Metrolinx knows the land it needs, I should have been a bit clearer I guess.

I;ve worked through getting some permits from Metrolinx on a few sites under this designation myself and it's not particularly onerous, Metrolinx basically just looks at the plans to make sure they don't conflict with theirs. If you aren't being expropriated for land and just have the designation, Metrolinx will likely be most concerned with construction staging, etc. It's really not a big deal compared to what else you need to deal with in getting new development approved.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

The designation is only temporary. It expires once construction of the LRT is complete.

Haha yes, you are being cynical. This PC government has done more for transit infrastructure in the past 6 years than any left wing government ever has.

Aww, c'mon, you have to give me a little more credit than this! I am not being cynical about any one party's willingness to do something for public transit. To be open about my leaning, since I cannot vote in Canada, then it is most certainly away from leftist idealogies, and I have gathered enough impressions about Hamilton city politics to be pretty certain that it is heavily and generationally leftist, and, hence flailing and sinking in its own quagmire of "good intentions".
So, I hope that if it is truly the will of our municipality (in partnership with the province) to get this project up and running that everyone involved gets out of their own way and let the work get done.
And thus, like most of you have expressed across this board, there is only good reason to be cynical about City Hall and its ability to get anything done.
Lastly, lastly, how can this be a temporary designation, if we are being told that this designation ends up on your property title? That seems to me to be a permanent thing!

[TheHonestMaple]

It says right on the letter that the designation is not permanent, and will be removed from the title once the LRT is operational.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

It says right on the letter that the designation is not permanent, and will be removed from the title once the LRT is operational.

I don't read bold faced type. That would be missing out on something too important.

Sure. And just to be snide, beyond cynical - gauging the pace at which the project is inching forward, sideways or backwards, most of us will be in retirement homes, so who will care about the designation on the title...