Comment 52024

By -Hammer- (registered) | Posted November 22, 2010 at 19:54:31

Ryan, if LRT is essential infrastructure, please explain to me how successful municipalities in Waterloo/Kitchener, Burlington, Guelph, London & Mississauga have done quite well without the need for LRT system, and I do not want to hear the tired old "Well they aren't Hamilton" excuse. I agree, LRT is a positive investment and will help the city, but the extent of that assistance doesn't warrant the initial investment at this time, nor do the maintenance costs of the endeavor. There are more direct, tangible issues that the city should be addressing before committing to a LRT system, which sadly also may have a side effect of contributing to sprawl (especially if Bratina's A line gets off the ground).

Image is Hamilton's biggest problem, image caused by centuries of heavy industrial dominance, which now leaves empty shells that dot the city landscape, be they polluted lands that should never have been allowed in the first place, empty shops or vacant housing because of the jobs that have departed, or mentally ill people who have suffered from poverty or been relocated by the other levels of government. Filled those shells with something wholesome, or clearing them out entirely is what needs to be done.

Yes, a LRT system will certainly help boost Hamilton's image but not to the extent that is needed. What good is a highway to an abandoned building? How does one riding rail through a slum help the city's image? Making sure the destination is worthwhile is far more important then creating another method to get there at a cost.

Still waiting for the Randle Reef mess to get cleaned up, but hopefully not much longer!

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/12/18/hamilton-randle-reef-announcement.html

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