Raise the Hammer

The stuff of a proper discussion about LRT (Because really, we should only just have begun the actual dialogue, what with the aforementioned report having been issued...):

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/a...

Straight answers on LRT, please

Simple questions that should have been studied by now

As a taxpayer, I’m concerned about the stampede to light rail transit, even before further studies have been presented. A report is going to city council soon outlining the LRT plans. I’m afraid we’re being rushed into building a transportation solution to a non-existent transportation problem, in the guise of a redevelopment plan for downtown with little concern about the rest of us.

Until the public has examined all of the facts and those of us who are most affected have had a say, hold your endorsement.

As an inner-city dweller who may have the shiny new tram/streetcar (or rapid bus) travelling within one block of my home and as downtown worker I will benefit the most, but I’m skeptical.

Before we commit our future scarce tax dollars to the next edition of Grow our City or Save our City, I, and I assume all taxpayers, want some definitive answers to some simple questions that should have been well studied by now. For the record, I’ve read most of the studies cited by the city, including the Metrolinx study of February 2010; I hope the next report to city council will address the following:

1. What problem is the LRT plan attempting to address? Is there some sort of traffic congestion strangling our city that I am not aware of? Is there a hue and cry to “please do something” about our transit system that can’t be fixed at less cost? Is there some sort of projection of actual people moving in vast quantities to Hamilton in the near or medium future? How much longer will my drive time be to visit Stoney Creek, Westdale, Ancaster or get out of town? If this is a plan to convince me to get rid of my car and only use public transit, you will be mistaken. I’ve travelled on LRTs in Calgary, Vancouver, Zagreb, Amsterdam and many other cities. We don’t have the population densities along the proposed routes to match any of those cities. Where will the riders come from?

1. During construction of any alternative transit option, how and how much will the city reimburse the lost business and lost jobs of those working along the routes? The considerable construction time for LRT will cause businesses to close and many people will lose their jobs.

1. During this debate at least one official has claimed that LRT will reduce our taxes. How much and when? And please don’t tell me in 2038. And if that’s not true or measurable now, please withdraw the statement and refrain from that type of nonsense again.

1. How much more will it cost us taxpayers to operate and maintain the systems, compared with what we pay now? Have you seriously studied how to make our current transit operation more efficient without tearing up our streets and causing congestion for those of us who choose to drive? If not, then please present those of us who drive with a viable option.

1. We’ve been told that LRT will bring us untold investment and greatly increase our property values. Prove it. Where will the investment come from and for what? The Metrolinx studies project property value increases of 1 to 7 per cent. And that’s in the area around the transit stations only. It’s silent about the properties along the route or away from the stations. What are those projections?

1. What is the overall effect on the non-inner city dwellers? Will it take someone commuting to central Hamilton longer to get to work? How much longer and at what cost? Will the cost be an “area rated” cost to us who will benefit most from the expenditure, in Wards 1 through 5? Be honest with all the taxpayers.

1. If this is a good idea so far, tell us how many more permanent jobs will be created by this massive expenditure, in Hamilton, along the routes? The Metrolinx study says, at best, by 2038 the LRT will create at most 138 nonconstruction jobs. Is this the best you can do for expenditure of $800 million of our tax dollars? Please.

1. Have other routes been contemplated? (The neighbourhoods along Rymal Road have a higher population density than the lower city and it’s still growing.) With employment projections for the Airport area and higher housing density, shouldn’t they be in contention?

1. Is there a better economic strategy to spend $800 million that addresses real problems than this proposal? Can $800 million be better spent to create more than 138 jobs?

Don Drury is a Hamilton resident and a former member of Hamilton council.

Comment edited by mystoneycreek on 2011-10-11 06:43:02