Raise the Hammer
By RTH Staff
Published August 10, 2011
Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr plans to introduce the following motion to council to reaffirm its support for light rail transit (LRT) in the face of the recent controversy.
NOTICE OF MOTION
MOVED BY: COUNCILLOR J. FARR
Light Rail Transit (LRT) and GO Transit
Whereas in approving Item 6 of Public Works Committee Report 11-016 on October 19, 2008, City Council's official position is in support of a full investigation of Light Rail Transit (LRT); (see Council motion of record attached hereto)
And Whereas Metrolinx, at both the senior staff and Board levels, have been clear that they are supportive of LRT in Hamilton and have strongly encouraged further investigation;
And Whereas it is critical that Hamilton maintain its position ahead of other GTA municipalities when it comes to being considered for LRT;
And Whereas Hamilton must prepare a strong economic benefits case, including but not limited to: tax assessment growth along the B-Line corridor, jobs during construction and those retained or brought to Hamilton because of LRT, and the costs of not doing LRT;
And Whereas achieving LRT for Hamilton is a long-term project, expected to evolve a period of 5-15 years with opportunities for incremental rapid transit improvements along the way, toward the ultimate LRT goal;
And Whereas achieving GO Transit is of the utmost importance to Hamilton in the short term, and appears to be supported by Metrolinx and the Province of Ontario, yet need not preclude the ongoing preparation of the case for LRT over the longer term.
Therefore Be It Resolved:
(a) That Council re-affirm its position in support of pursuing a full investigation of LRT over time;
(b) That a second phase of funding from Metrolinx be requested, ensuring that Hamilton can continue to prepare its case for LRT.
(c) That Council provide affirmation that pursuit of all-day GO Transit service, including stations at James Street North and Centennial Parkway, be of the highest priority in the short term.
From October 29, 2008:
- Rapid Transit Feasibility Study - Metrolinx Draft Regional Transportation Plan (PW08043(d)) (City Wide) (Item 7.1)
(a) That the General Manager, Public Works be authorized and directed to continue discussions with Metrolinx in regards to undertaking the appropriate business case analysis required in order to include the functional design, detail design and construction of the B-line rapid transit corridor for the City of Hamilton in their 2009 - 2013 (5-year) Capital Budget, utilizing Light Rail Technology;
(b) That the General Manager, Public Works be authorized and directed to continue discussions with Metrolinx in regards to undertaking the Rapid Transit Feasibility Study (Phase 3) in order to continue the planning and design for the A-line rapid transit corridor, utilizing Light Rail Technology, in conjunction with the design and construction of the B-line rapid transit corridor for the City of Hamilton as part of their 2009 - 2013 Capital Budget, with design and construction funds to be included in a future (5-year) Capital Budget;
(c) That the General Manager, Public Works be authorized and directed to report back to an appropriate Committee of Council following the release of the Final Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), Investment Strategy and 5-year Capital Budget;
(d) That the General Manager, Public Works be authorized to and provide a copy of report PW08043d to the Metrolinx CEO and Chair of the Metrolinx Board for their information and consideration in the development of the final Regional Transportation Plan, Investment Strategy and 2009 - 2013 (5-year) Capital Budget;
(e) That the General Manager, Public Works be authorized and directed to continue its undertaking of required rapid transit initiative studies and aggressive public consultation program for Rapid Transit in Hamilton;
(f) That the items related to the Rapid Transit Feasibility Study and the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan Process be identified as completed and removed from the Public Works Committee Outstanding Business List.
By Farrside (anonymous) | Posted August 10, 2011 at 23:49:37
Farr, Farr, Farr...is Farramania running wild in the Hammer? Lukewarm on the toxic sites, but kudos for this. I think he has been the most honest councillor to date.
By Kiely (registered) | Posted August 11, 2011 at 08:03:16 in reply to Comment 67830
I think he has been the most honest councillor to date.
Sure, he's the newest.
By JM (registered) | Posted August 11, 2011 at 08:49:34 in reply to Comment 67842
...now if only all of them were new!!!! (with the exception of McHattie)
he's right on track - let's just hope he can convince council to "reaffirm" their support
By mystoneycreek (registered) - website | Posted August 11, 2011 at 06:26:17 in reply to Comment 67830
I think he has been the most honest councillor to date.
I suspect he's also going to be the most lacerated one. (Internally, not by 'us'.)
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted August 11, 2011 at 09:48:40
I have to admit, Farr has been full of pleasant surprises.
By Ruler (anonymous) | Posted August 11, 2011 at 10:44:17
Love Farr...can you imagine the alternative? Yech
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted August 11, 2011 at 11:10:53 in reply to Comment 67853
Who, Jelly?
This resolution would've been in council the instant he heard about Manager's actions... but it would've included a lot more foul language.
Also, Bratina would quickly run out of pencils.
By ward2 (anonymous) | Posted August 11, 2011 at 11:20:44
Yeah this is good - but he still needs to pop his head around more often. Ward 2 is a heck of a lot bigger than the City Hall grounds.
By NortheastWind (registered) | Posted August 11, 2011 at 22:10:09
Well it is a Farr cry from Bratina. At least Jason did his homework and provided the facts. I hope the Spectator prints this motion. CHCH should also report on it. However, Bratina has spurred controversy, which has created more awareness and dialogue around LRT. Bratina for mayor..I mean Farr!!! LOL
By TnT (registered) | Posted August 12, 2011 at 16:30:28
Oh my! Farramania! Lol! That is going straight on twitter.
By AETHERMAN (registered) | Posted August 13, 2011 at 13:15:23
FORGET LRT JASON FARR! This City needs it's Roads and Infrastructure repaired AND to find ways to attract New Business to create jobs FIRST before any Snake Oil Eye Candy Luxury Rail Transit System! PERIOD! Remove your puppet strings and get serious FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE'S NEEDS! Your head is too Farr out in left field! Buses offer many advantages compared to Luxury Rail Transit AND they are an existing affordable means of transportation! (db)
By Sigma Cub (anonymous) | Posted August 17, 2011 at 14:34:43
Bill Kelly Show, August 17th
Mayor Bob Bratina (Fed Building)
posted 8/17/2011 11:12:00 AM
On GO and LRT (6:20-4:00 remaining):
BB: "[Premier McGuinty] has an understanding of, what's the best thing that we can do for Hamilton right now that's doable and affordable and is in the ground and I'm pretty sure it’s GO, you know, the extension of all-day GO service through Hamilton down into the peninsula.... And that was all dealt with quietly in dignified conversations with nobody threatening anybody. They just want to know, what can we do that's gonna give you the biggest bang for your buck, and that we can do that's affordable, and that we can justify to every other city in the province – because they all want money for something. And so we shouldn't be begging for too much money for everything when we've got something that's simple, easy to define and that we know what the costs are. It's about $178 million to extend those trains."
BK: “You'd better be careful here. You're gonna be accused of turning your back on LRT again. You haven’t mentioned LRT once.”
BB: “Well, LRT’s fine. We’re gonna look at it, and keep ding our due diligence, and when everything is right, I’m sure there’ll be an LRT line, in some form. And that’s the other thing, of course, is that the LRTs that David Miller had scratched all over the city of Toronto in many cases didn’t quite make sense. So you have to do your due diligence, find out where that’s gonna work best. You know, Bill, who talks about Upper James? Look at the traffic horrors on Upper James. There’s very little congestion that I ever see downtown. I’m sitting in my office looking at Main Street right now – cars are zooming by. But Upper James, with all of those left-hand turns and right-hand turns, and all… what’s the transit answer or the congestion answer for that? And who’s looking into it? And so… how about Meadowlands, any time of day? So, I think we’ve got some smart people in our transit department. Don Hall is as good as they come. So we’ll apply good, reasonable thought to the issues that need to be dealt with in short order and then of course the longer-term vision with things like LRT.”
In Full: http://www.900chml.com/Station/BillKellyShow/Audio.aspx
By nobrainer (registered) | Posted August 17, 2011 at 14:44:58 in reply to Comment 68137
Shorter Bob Bratina: Let's built LRT from the Meadowlands to Upper James. One day.
By Sigma Cub (anonymous) | Posted August 17, 2011 at 14:37:05 in reply to Comment 68137
Typo in second-last sentence. Should be "Don Hull is as good as they come."
By stanley (anonymous) | Posted September 17, 2011 at 22:01:46
so that motion turned out to be a dud - Farr put it off until October. Why put off a motion to reaffirm LRT until you get the staff report? Wasn't this supposed to get this train back on track?
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