Press Release: Four Major Business Associations Partner on Support for LRT

· by Bianca Caramento

Four Major Business Associations Partner on Support for LRT

October 9, 2018 – Hamilton, ON: The four largest business associations in Hamilton –
the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the Realtor’s Association of Hamilton-Burlington,
the Hamilton Halton Construction Association, and the Hamilton Halton Home Builders’
Association – have joined together to publicly support the B-Line LRT project, which has
once again become a municipal election issue.

The organizations have partnered together to advocate on behalf of completing B-Line
LRT and addressing housing affordability, as these issues remain integral to the
progress and prosperity of our growing city.

Each partner recognizes that housing affordability is a complex problem facing the City
of Hamilton. Increasing the housing supply is an important component to solve the
ongoing issue of affordability. To this end, Hamilton has seen a 500% increase in new
residential units in the downtown core over the past 6 years, much of which has been
attributed by the developers themselves to the LRT project.

The partner organizations also recognize the citywide benefits of the LRT project. The
Canadian Urban Institute estimates $81.6 million in increased city revenue over the next
15 years from B-Line LRT. Additionally, B-Line LRT is just the first project of the planned
BLAST network, a 25-year transit strategy that will bring rapid transit to all corners of the
city.

“The citywide benefits of B-Line LRT will be long-term and profound. With all the
development spurred by LRT, the city’s tax revenue is expected to increase, meaning
more money for municipal projects citywide.” Keanin Loomis, President and CEO of the
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the Realtor’s Association of Hamilton-Burlington,
the Hamilton Halton Construction Association, and the Hamilton Halton Home Builders’
Association also highlight that there has already been $105 million spent over the 11
years its taken to plan the B-line LRT project. To respect taxpayer dollars, address
housing affordability, and to unlock the potential citywide benefits of this project,
Hamilton’s business associations support the completion of the B-Line LRT.

The associations have produced #YesLRT signs. If you would like a sign, please email
hcc@hamiltonchamber.ca, or print your own at http://ow.ly/d/7Yum.

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Media contact: Marie Nash, Director, Communications and New Media,
m.nash@hamiltonchamber.ca | 905-522-1151 ext. 245, C: 905-741-7164