Rapid Transit

[SteelTown]

Bratina was PISSED at that news article and said he might even cancel the July 21st meeting. Called the business group "lobbyist".

He continued with his not supporting LRT until the cost is revealed.

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

In an interview, Bratina said the city’s current unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent shows the economy is performing well and that shows the city is on the right track.

On the thorny transit issues, he said he’s fully supportive of expanded GO service, but has reservations about the LRT plan. He also doesn’t think there’s wide public support for the plan.

“We still haven’t figured out what all the costs of that are going to be,” he said. “We’re not hearing any kind of clamour from the public on that file.”

http://www.thespec.com/news/business/art...ticians-dropping-the-ball-on-city-growth

Try again, Bob. Your inner-circle doesn't support change downtown.

If he knew anything, he'd know there's an active dialogue w/in the City on LRT. Most ppl I've spoken to that aren't downtowners support the idea. They see economic benefits!
..Bratina sees traffic headaches during construction.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm really disappointed Bob has turned lukewarm on LRT. I know he is a diehard train fan and has always been enthusiastic about any kind of rail service in Hamilton. Not only that, but he was an early supporter of light rail when it wasn't even on the city's agenda. I remember him speaking at the first public meeting hosted by Hamilton Light Rail, where he voiced his enthusiasm and was cheered by the crowd. What the hell happened?

[matt602]

He got elected on a pro-suburban platform. That's what happened. I used to be a huge fan of him whilst he was a councilor but ever since he has become mayor I have been very disappointed in him.

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

I'm really disappointed Bob has turned lukewarm on LRT. I know he is a diehard train fan and has always been enthusiastic about any kind of rail service in Hamilton. Not only that, but he was an early supporter of light rail when it wasn't even on the city's agenda. I remember him speaking at the first public meeting hosted by Hamilton Light Rail, where he voiced his enthusiasm and was cheered by the crowd. What the hell happened?

His previous reservations were based on route (which I agreed w/ him at first) as he prefers Main over King. But all is said and done for King; studies have shown it will work, there IS support (despite what Bratina says), and it needs to happen b4 we miss out on yet another opportunity.

The costs were revealed in the last study, which was paid for by Metrolinx. It just seems he is now surrounded by the typical Suburban-minded lobbyists and he has gone completely soft on the Core.

I was also at one of the first LRT meetings at Frwy Cafe in Int'l Village, were he was VERY supportive of LRT.
How can he ignore the dozens of major supporters such as the Hamilton-Burlington Real Estate Association? That, in my opinion, is one of the best names to have behind a mass rapid transit system!

[markbarbera]

While the overall cost has been estimated, how the capital cost is to be shared by the various levels of government has not. It is unquestionable that Bratina supports the idea of LRT, but he is not about to commit to this specific proposal until he knows exactly how much it is going to cost the city. This is the kind of prudence one should expect and encourage from a mayor.

Saying Bratina is soft on the core in simply unfair. Bratina was instrumental in reviving the downtown McMaster Health Centre proposal and has been relentless in pursuing the establishment of GO and Via Rail Service to the James North station, a determination that is finally paying off with real results.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

While the overall cost has been estimated, how the capital cost is to be shared by the various levels of government has not. It is unquestionable that Bratina supports the idea of LRT, but he is not about to commit to this specific proposal until he knows exactly how much it is going to cost the city. This is the kind of prudence one should expect and encourage from a mayor.

Saying Bratina is soft on the core in simply unfair. Bratina was instrumental in reviving the downtown McMaster Health Centre proposal and has been relentless in pursuing the establishment of GO and Via Rail Service to the James North station, a determination that is finally paying off with real results.

Yeah, I think this tempered view is more accurate. As much as I'd love to see LRT, I wouldn't at any cost.

Who knows, this may be is his way of squeaking out more funding from upper levels of gov't.

I'm sure he sees the 7% tax increase and Waterloo, and is leary about trying to pull that off here.

[SteelTown]

City being ‘backed into a corner’ on LRT: Clark

Meredith MacLeod
http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/558498--city-being-backed-into-a-corner-on-lrt-clark

Councillor Brad Clark says Hamilton needs to “regain control of its destiny” and decide how it will spend its money.

Clark was unhappy with a study into how Hamilton should intensify development along a key lower-city corridor, saying it’s premised on a light-rail transit line the city doesn’t know it will get — or can afford.

“It’s frustrating that we’re doing corridor planning and I don’t really recall saying that’s where we’d do it,” the Stoney Creek councillor said at Tuesday’s planning and economic development committee meeting. “Council has not made that decision. It’s all based around LRT … and we still don’t know where we stand on LRT.”

Clark says the city’s first nodes and corridors land use study that looks at planning for high- and mid-rise development along Queenston, Main and King streets from Eastgate Square to McMaster University (dubbed the B-Line after the HSR express bus line) should be focused instead on Rymal Road, where he says development is happening without any sort of plan in place.

“We are slowly being backed into a corner. People will say we’ve spent all this money (studying LRT) and the work is done but we still don’t know the costs of LRT. We have no exit plan.”

Councillor Chad Collins joined Clark in taking issue with the focus on the B-Line corridor for redevelopment, saying Centennial Parkway or Upper James would be better choices. Collins says investment along the B-Line consists of small scale, adaptive reuse projects rather than new development.

“If 50 to 60 per cent of interest (from developers) is in another place, we might want to put our eggs in another basket but council doesn’t seem to have that option. I feel like I’m following the process rather than leading it.”

He also argued that Hamilton has a better chance of landing enhanced GO service than LRT and the city should be planning for intensification around future GO stations on James Street North and Centennial.

Planning and economic development general manager Tim McCabe said the decision to concentrate on the B-Line corridor came out of a $3 million grant from the province to study, design and engineer a light-rail line from Eastgate to Mac.

He said the work needs to happen in order to plan for intensification along the LRT route, but the B-Line corridor wouldn’t be his first choice, either.

He did add, though, that if Hamilton does attract funding for LRT from upper levels of government and goes ahead with the estimated $800-million project, “the whole investment climate changes. We will get the uplift and we will get the development interest.”

[geoff's two cents]

Council members from Stoney Creek and Red Hill are lukewarm on LRT and want more suburban-style development? Shocking. *sarcasm alert*

After the mayor's recent comments, I wonder who on council actually still supports LRT? [PS: I genuinely do wonder this. Does anyone out there have a pro/versus count?]

As much as I'd like all-day GO-train service, focusing on that transit project alone risks turning the city into just another all-day bedroom community of the GTA.

[flar]

Originally Posted by geoff's two cents

turning the city into just another all-day bedroom community of the GTA.

That's about the extent of their vision for Hamilton. Sad.

[markbarbera]

I used to be gung-ho on this LRT plan, but my interest waned when the Rapid Transit office put on their blinders and insisted on planning a flawed east-west route on a road that can't accommodate a proper application of rapid transit.

The way this process is plugging forward without meaningful public input disturbs me. Frankly this is shaping up as little more than a busywork project.

[drpgq]

Clark's position I can sort of see considering his ward, but I'm surprised that Collins is so anti LRT. It would be a major benefit to his ward. I guess he's just really afraid of tax increases.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Clark's position I can sort of see considering his ward, but I'm surprised that Collins is so anti LRT. It would be a major benefit to his ward. I guess he's just really afraid of tax increases.

I don't think they are anti LRT, it's more like they are getting PO'ed because people are assuming things that haven't been approved yet. They feel some are putting the cart before the horse.

There are many issues that have to be hashed out with the LRT itself before they start planning for other things. The number one issue will be the city's portion of the bill, then the route which is going to be a huge stumbling block to getting it approved.

[devil's advocate]

Here's an interesting article , on how the swiss do public transit. Can't imagine this would work in Hamilton, but this is something our government should look at more closely for major cities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/science/earth/27traffic.html?pagewanted=1&hp

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

I don't think they are anti LRT, it's more like they are getting PO'ed because people are assuming things that haven't been approved yet. They feel some are putting the cart before the horse.

There are many issues that have to be hashed out with the LRT itself before they start planning for other things. The number one issue will be the city's portion of the bill, then the route which is going to be a huge stumbling block to getting it approved.

I think you're correct, and I somewhat agree w/ their position (ME? I know, I know!)

The Province REALLY needs to stop dragging their heels on this one ASAP! It's a Provincial Election Year, so lets see what happens.
But PLEASE, don't just sit back and see.. get involved! Email/Call/Send a Letter to your MPP, Your Councilor, FlopFlopBratina and spread the word to any/everyone you know.

We CANNOT fall behind to Kitchener-Waterloo and/or Mississauga. They have connection to GO Transit (all-day in Sauga) already.. imagine what Direct Transit to Toronto + LRT will do for K-W? Now imagine what it could do for Hamilton which is closer-still to Toronto!

Come on, Hamilton.. you can't F up another opportunity!

[msakalau]

Originally Posted by DC1983

We CANNOT fall behind to Kitchener-Waterloo and/or Mississauga. They have connection to GO Transit (all-day in Sauga) already.. imagine what Direct Transit to Toronto + LRT will do for K-W? Now imagine what it could do for Hamilton which is closer-still to Toronto!

Come on, Hamilton.. you can't F up another opportunity!

This times a million

[LikeHamilton]

From Metrolinx

Ottawa LRT preliminary engineering, which will work to advance the design, is expected to be completed in early 2012.

OLRT has entered the Preliminary Engineering phase of the project. This work will advance the OLRT design to allow a more refined project cost estimate and prepare specifications for final design and construction. Preliminary Engineering will also include a value engineering process that will investigate options to manage project costs. Preliminary Engineering will be completed in early 2012

http://www.ottawalightrail.ca/en/project-plan/current-status

[bigguy1231]

I came across this and figured I'd share the link:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...llion-light-rail-project/article2090607/

People in this city think our councillors are bad when it comes to making decisions. Just read some of the comments on this article about the trials and tribulations of the Ottawa LRT debate.

If this is any indication of what we have to look forward to, it's going to be a long time before we have any hope of ever getting LRT in this city.

[thistleclub]

It's probably naive to think that we could get a billion-dollar infrastructure boost without sweating blood. Hamilton's leadership is habitually drowsy, which is not a great place to start, but it's not impossible to imagine half of council becoming more passionate about the ec dev potential. It'd be sad if they've spent themselves entirely over a half-assed stadium for a league-lagging team that may never be able to break even without public subsidy -- if for no other reason than that project still requires tenacious project management and progressive vision in order to maximize the leverage the community gets from that build.

[thistleclub]

No surprise that this has become a political football.

Tories Off Rails For LRT, Says MPP [Kevin Werner, Stoney Creek News, July 14, 2011]

The Progressive Conservatives are proposing to derail plans to improve Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area’s transportation systems, says Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin.

During a news conference July 7 at Victoria Park, Steve Clark, Tory MPP for Leeds-Greenville refused to say whether the party would fund Hamilton’s proposed light-rail transit project. Clark also sidestepped questions as to whether the party would continue to follow the Liberals and fund the multi-billion transit projects recommended by the Metrolinx document, The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

“We look to our municipalities and our partners to tell us what are their priorities,” said Clark.

But Clark refused to refer to the Metrolinx plan, which proposes to spend $50 billion over the next 25 years on transit projects. The province has yet to commit any money for projects past 2013, putting at risk the city’s light-rail transit system.

“I’m not going to talk about specific documents that are out there,” added Clark. “I’m not an expert in every single program that is out there in every community. We want to give these communities the money they deserve.”