Hamilton’s LRT future on hot seat

A controversial high level meeting was held at Hamilton City Hall Friday with Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca to discuss provincial funding for light rail transit.

The cost for the proposed line from McMaster University to East Gate Square in Stoney Creek has been pegged at $800 million dollars.

For some time Hamilton councillors and supporters have been asking the province for clarification as to whether it would fully fund the LRT, fearing they may instead support rapid bus transit.

The city of Hamilton has voted in favour of LRT but only if the province provides 100 percent funding.

Friday, Del Duca met with Mayor Bob Bratina and select council members to clarify the province’s position.

Although the Minister did say the province would fully fund a transit project in Hamilton, he wouldn’t say whether that project was the LRT or the cheaper alternative bus rapid transit.

“I understand clearly that the city of Hamilton and council has taken a respect to the desire for LRT on what’s called the B-Line, but I’m not in a position to make an announcement today.” Del Duca said.

Ward 9 councillor Brad Clark says what Del Duca said behind closed doors and to the media afterward was inconsistent.

“Inside Minister Del Duca in a direct question from myself indicated that there was 100 percent capital expenditure funding for LRT and that was what Minister Murray (Glen) and Premiere Wynne had promised. And in the same meeting he stated it was 100 percent capital funding for rapid transit. Now in our mind the nomenclature is two different orders of higher transit and then he came out here and never once mentioned the word LRT.

Ward 1 councillor and Mayoral candidate Bryan McHattie was more optimistic.

“The 100% I’m fully confident in I’m hoping it’s going to be King Street LRT line. That’s the council position and he (Del Duca) said he respected the council position.”

The $15 billion dollars the province has earmarked for transit projects like the Hamilton LRT is actually 1.5 billion per year over the next decade.

To this councillor Brad Clark said that with Queen’s Park, anything can happen over a decade.