Raise the Hammer

Hamilton's plan is to build both B-line LRT and A-line BRT in the short to medium term. Thus, Mountain residents would be getting direct benefit. And, remember, that since 2007 the Liberals have been promising Hamilton TWO rapid transit lines!

There is ample justification from both Metrolinx and City studies for making the B-line LRT, but the main arguments are capacity (demand is already there and would grow due to development along the line and BRT couldn't meet it) and economic uplift (not significant with BRT and this uplift would benefit all Hamiltonians through more tax revenue and more job opportunities).

The downsides (apart from the minimal economic benefit) of trying to built two BRTs instead of a BRT and an LRT are:

1. The cost would still be in the many hundreds of millions, more than enough to scare those nervous of expensive infrastructure projects.

2. The "disruption" to motorists and residents during construction and from the lines would be the same as from LRT if real BRT systems were built. Remember that BRT requires everything LRT does except rails, overhead lines and LRT vehicles: dedicated physically separated concrete lanes, signal priority, station platforms, ... This would be more than enough to scare off those worried about disruption to motorists and residents.

Basically, those opposed to LRT would also oppose any "real" BRT lines. This attitude was exemplified by Dreschel, who asked whether Hamilton would be "forced" to take BRT if we rejected LRT. I think many politicians (like the Liberal candidates) who push for BRT over LRT are really not passionate about supporting BRT ... it is just a softer way of rejected LRT. In fact, I get the impression that they imagine BRT is just an express bus route, like the existing A- and B-lines, except with a few more buses.

Comment edited by kevlahan on 2014-02-25 15:19:53