Raise the Hammer
In a nine-minute address to the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce, a long-time Flamborough resident beautifully articulates the case for supporting Hamilton's LRT plan.
By RTH Staff
Published May 26, 2016
Yestderday, Joey Coleman of The Public Record recorded the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce business roundtable in which the organization considered the city's light rail transit (LRT) plan.
If you are still not sure why the LRT initiative is important to Hamilton's future, you have to watch the address by Flamborough resident Bill Elliott in which he recounts his experiences with LRT in Calgary, Edmonton and Waterloo region, both as a resident and as a consultant working with cities to attract investment.
Talking about the Waterloo LRT investment, Elliott said, "People finally got it, that an investment anywhere in Waterloo Region was good for all parts of Waterloo Region. Unfortunately, we're not there yet in Hamilton, even though we do have the benefit of all being called Hamilton."
You can also watch the full recording of the meeting. The Flamborough Chamber of Commerce has not yet taken a position on the city's LRT plan.
Please take a few moments to tell Council to take YES for an answer, reaffirm its support for LRT and accept the full capital funding from the Province that Council has consistently voted for since 2008.
By bobby2 (registered) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 13:59:32
Just watched the May 18th Committee meeting regarding Councillor's questions regarding LRT. Notably Councillors Skelly, Partridge & Whitehead plus others asked pointed, critical questions, some being, operating & maintenance costs to taxpayers, dual fares HSR vs. LRT Metrolinx System, extra infrastructure cost impact on taxpayer & embarrassingly Metrolinx Rep. & Hamilton Director of LRT could not provide answers at this point in time? How can an elected official without due diligence information, fiscal responsibility to taxpayers ever approve a project as immense as this without factual information? Not saying LRT is good or bad for Hamilton, only saying no one in good conscience could approve or disapprove without some of these critical facts!
By NortheastWind (registered) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 14:44:55
I wish he could speak to City Council.
By KevinLove (registered) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 15:31:10 in reply to Comment 118829
I am involved in this sort of thing in the private sector. I can just imagine a presentation to a Board of Directors in which the Board requests answers to design questions before spending money for doing design.
By whatever (anonymous) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 15:49:02 in reply to Comment 118827
Those councilors don't appear genuinely concerned about taxes and saving money. If they were surely they could see the other side of the equation. Increased develop tax revenue, property values, environmental impact, increased safety, etc. Would far outweigh operation and maintenance costs, which Metrolinx is believed will cover anyway.
By x-corps (anonymous) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 21:29:10
I would be interested to know position of Dofasco, Walmart, etc. and other major polluters and employers re. LRT. Can we reach out to get a statement from them?
By starsky (anonymous) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 21:32:01 in reply to Comment 118838
Any industries related to automobiles probably against it, and polluters probably against it as densification would put more scrutiny/ pressures on them to be more accountable.
By Brilliant!! (anonymous) | Posted May 26, 2016 at 21:51:56
The absolute brilliance of this whole presentation is the closing argument , a use case that suburbanites can understand .
'You can go the Tiecat game. And get hammered in the Hammer!
By ref_erendum (registered) | Posted May 27, 2016 at 13:03:21
Sept 13,2012 ( Hamilton Spectator) The LRT HUB was to be @ the Queenston Traffic Circle with the purchase of the City Motor Hotel for 1.96 million dollars. Up until only recently is Metrolinx telling us that Eastgate has not been in the picture for quite some time, and yet in 2012 it was known to be the hub prior to them reducing the route by 2kms. If Metrolinx can mislead us about this crucial issue what else are they not telling us ? Take a look at Edmonton and see what a waste of tax dollars look like. Stoically I say NO to an LRT. Simply a proposal to lose road traffic on our king street corridor.
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