Raise the Hammer

Thanks, George, for posting the link to the updated city staff report on LRT to be received at the Special GIC Meeting on October 13, 2011 where council will vote on the LRT Motion by Councillor Farr.

The report notes that city staff had a meeting with Metrolinx on September 22, 2011:

“The B-Line planning, design and engineering and A-Line feasibility work is scheduled for completion by March 30, 2012, in accordance with the Contribution Agreement by Metrolinx. A meeting was held with senior staff from the City of Hamilton and Metrolinx on September 22, 2011 to discuss project status. At the meeting Metrolinx indicated that:

• Hamilton is at least two years ahead of other LRT projects in implementation readiness including the Huronontario LRT project in Mississauga/Brampton;

• Hamilton in not required to prioritize between LRT and GO service extension, as LRT is a local transit service whereas GO is an inter-regional transit function;

• To make a funding decision Metrolinx requires a Maintenance Storage Facility (MSF) location and phasing study. Following MSF and phasing, Infrastructure Ontario will be able to complete a value for money (VFM) for Metrolinx.”

This is reassuring news. Much credit needs to be given to Jill Stephen (now working for the Niagara Region), her staff (now reallocated to other city departments or projects) and the volunteers at Hamilton Light Rail for their preparatory work in advancing the “implementation readiness” of the B-Line LRT and A-Line LRT ahead of other similar projects in other cities in and near the GTA.

Councillor Jason Farr’s upcoming LRT Motion to be heard by council at the Special GIC Meeting on October 13, 2011 was initially prepared in August, 2011 and therefore still contains unnecessary “GO vs. LRT” prioritization language. It does not yet mention the fact that Metrolinx made it clear to city staff on September 22, 2011 that Hamilton is not required to prioritize GO and LRT or that Premier McGuinty promised the Mayor on September 28, 2011 that the provincial government will fully fund the capital cost of all day GO train service to Liuna Station and Confederation Park. Here is the link to Councillor Farr's LRT/GO Motion: http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/F80A...

One hopes that one of the city councillors brings a motion to amend Councillor Farr’s main motion along the following lines:

1.Adding a clause as the sixth paragraph of the preamble:

“And whereas Metrolinx indicated to city staff on September 22, 2011 that Hamilton is not required to prioritize between LRT and GO service extension, as LRT is a local transit service whereas GO is an inter-regional transit function.”

2.Deleting the existing sixth paragraph of the preamble:

“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.”

And replacing it with new paragraphs seven, eight and nine:

“And Whereas achieving GO transit and LRT are of equal importance to Hamilton."

“And Whereas Premier McGuinty promised the Mayor of the City of Hamilton on September 28, 2011 that the provincial government will fully fund all day GO train service to Liuna Station and Confederation Park.”

"And Whereas it is important for Hamilton is to achieve all day GO transit service on or before the commencement of the 2015 Pan Am Games in July, 2015.”

3.And changing the wording of paragraph c) in the resolution section of the Motion:

“That council affirm the goal of achieving all day GO service to Liuna Station and Confederation Park, with the capital costs fully funded by the provincial government, on or before the commencement of the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games in July, 2015. “

Comment edited by RenaissanceWatcher on 2011-10-08 11:57:07