2015 Budget and Hamilton transit

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Like last year, today’s budget pledged money for rapid transit in Hamilton, but the city didn’t get the big announcement it was hoping for. The City of Hamilton was hoping for a $1 billion dollar announcement to cover the cost of building an LRT line and ongoing transit improvements, but there’s no specific money earmarked in this budget for Hamilton transit.

The province has promised Hamilton will get a piece of the $16 billion set aside for transit projects in the GTHA over the next 10 years, but how much and when is still unclear. The finance minster says the province is committed to supporting rapid transit in Hamilton. “We have made it clear we are going to be investing up to $16 billion in the GTHA – that includes Hamilton”, but adds that it’s waiting for city council to firm up plans. “We are looking for the council to make final determinations for their rapid transit in the form they wish – and we will work with the municipality to ensure that gets done.”

Hamilton has asked the province for $300 million for transit improvements on top of $800 million to cover the costs of LRT. Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said earlier this week that he was “cautiously optimistic” that Hamilton was going to get some or all of it, and he was waiting to see what the province announced on budget day.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says while the council needs to settle on a type of transit – it also needs a guarantee from the province that it will follow through with full funding “what they are saying is ‘we don’t want to be determining an option and then getting stuck holding the bag for the cost.”

Mayor Eisenberger says he spoke to Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca today, who told him he will be visiting Hamilton in the coming weeks to give more details about Hamilton rapid transit.