Latest plans for LRT

[projekktor id=’23907′]

The latest plans for Hamilton’s billion dollar light rail transit project were unveiled today. The route will be shorter than expected, but will include an additional set of tracks down to the waterfront.

Metrolinx and the province are footing the bill for a light rail transit system in the city of Hamilton. The LRT will run from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, with 13 stops proposed along the way. At each end there will be a terminal for riders to catch buses to continue on. The route was originally supposed to go the extra 3 kilometres to Eastgate Square, but those plans have been put on hold.

It’s proposed that King street will be a two way road from the east end up to the 403 except for parts of the International Village.

“To keep access we have eastbound on southside, no westbound on the northside, it allows people to get into businesses and parking lots but will create more of a pedestrian area in our village and downtown than there is today.”

But merchants in the downtown corridor are worried about their future.
“I’ve been in business since 1971 and hoped to be here for another 40 years I’m not sure we’ll be able to survive this construction coming up…I’m worried about it.”

Business owners aren’t the only ones concerned, ward 7 councillor Donna Skelly feels the LRT is a waste of a billion dollars.

Major construction of the tracks isn’t expected to kick off until at least 2019 and the first trains won’t run until 2024.