Raise the Hammer
Recently, Hamilton resident Nicholas Kevlahan had an occasion to chat with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne about transit in Hamilton. He was surprised and taken aback when Premier Wynne asked, "Has Hamilton decided whether they want BRT or LRT?"
I would like to extend my appreciation that Wynne would take the time to converse with a constituent on such personal level. It is reassuring to know that such conversations still take place and that important and revealing questions can be entertained.
I am a transplanted Vancouverite who lived there pre-rail transit and post-rail transit. I have seen and lived the benefit that a core link offers a city and all of its surrounding communities.
Vancouver's first light rail line in the 1980s was savagely opposed by groups that touted the same collections of baseless aphorisms that are used to oppose Hamilton's light rail in 2010s. I have heard all these hollow complaints before.
I ask Premier Wynne: please support our move for this essential piece of our total transit plan, the LRT B-line. Not B for bus.
Hugh MacLeod
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted February 19, 2014 at 14:42:41
... why on Earth would we want BRT? BRT seems like worst-of-both-worlds: we lose the lanes of automobile traffic (which the commuters will scream about regardless) without the scale and quality of the LRT.
Obviously there are elements in this city that don't want any RT plan. But I don't hear anyone advocating for BRT. The public desire is obviously LRT or nothing. The only reason for BRT is short-term cost savings, and frankly we're long since overdue for our cut of the Metrolinx funding.
By Robert D (anonymous) | Posted February 21, 2014 at 09:16:17 in reply to Comment 97712
Unfortunately a lot of people seem to be under the mistaken impression that if we say no to LRT we will somehow be spared from any revenue tools to fund increased transit (like the gas tax). If they realized that we will be paying either way, I'd like to think more people would be onside LRT.
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