Comment 111855

By mdrejhon (registered) - website | Posted May 29, 2015 at 13:02:28 in reply to Comment 111830

Articles have mentioned that Hamilton is responsible for renovations of things like sidewalks, streetlamps and watermain. There will be lots of "hurryup work" being done on King Street before, during, and after the LRT construction -- spent on Hamilton budget -- which means it will "appear" that Hamilton is paying for part of LRT. It might even be "contracted out" to some of Metrolinx's contractors, to simplify work.

Whether the costs underrun or overrun, Hamilton is going to also contribute to the LRT due to things like this. This will provide plenty of debate and claims of "Look at how much Hamilton is spending on the LRT, the province cheated" when the reality is different -- the province isn't replacing the watermain underneath our LRT tracks!

It is also wholly possible that the supplemental work may actually cost far more than any LRT cost overruns. At that stage, it starts to be missing the trees in the forest. There might be fudge factor under negotiation (e.g. who handles the station garbage cans and repaves the asphalt, or fixes vandalized stations), but we are definitely spending money on items 'affected' by the LRT (such as accelerated watermain replacement).

I am pro LRT, but pragmatic in that we'll have to be ponying up to make sure we don't have to tear up the LRT when an aging watermain breaks. (Coincidentially, they are already working on the King watermain in Stoney Creek and there are rumors that work may be creeping eastwards for years to come. Consider yourself forewarned).

Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2015-05-29 13:10:05

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