Hamilton Light Rail Transit Project: Next steps and our commitment.

· by Huzaifa Saeed

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is committed to ensuring a successful implementation of the B Line Light Rail Transit project in Hamilton. This follows our history of being proponets behind the business case for LRT in Hamilton.

Today at City of Hamilton General Issues Committee meeting there was the presentation of a senior staff report on their recommended strategy for LRT implementation. The main staff report can be found here as well the powerpoint deck. You can also find a video of the meeting: https://youtu.be/ibGOB7OKscI?t=1179 (Keanin’s Presentation), Staff Presentation: https://youtu.be/ibGOB7OKscI?t=7279

As well the following appendices:

Appendix A: TOR For council LRT Subcommittee 

Appendix B: CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) REPORTS

Appendix C: Map of proposed LRT Line

Appendix D: Chronology of Rapid Transit/LRT Consultation Events

Appendix E: List of Rapid Transit/LRT Technical Reports

Our LRT Taskforce partners MITL also presented at the meeting, their deck can be found here

The key next steps for the project are:

1) A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be developed between Metrolinx and the City to scope out expectations such as costs, design, maintenance, operation, revenue sharing, citizen engagement and approvals. The final version of the MOA will be provided to Council for consideration and approval.

2) City Hall will staff an LRT Office with dedicated staff members for the duration of the project. The individuals will be responsible for community outreach and communications, we will endeavor to ensure your organization is on their contact list.

3) A high level council subcommittee/taskforce is proposed to oversee the project and receive periodic updates. The TOR can be found above and for our role as stakeholders it mentions the following: “It is proposed that the Sub-Committee include senior staff as well as members of Council. Other representatives of the community – key stakeholders, will be asked to attend as advisors to the Sub-Committee. These can include but are not limited to (Chamber of Commerce, BIA’s, HHHBA, institutional and business partners.”

The other two key items include an upcoming proposal of a Interim Control bylaw to restrict currently allowed developments that are suboptimal for LRT uplift and a review of development incentives offered by the city along zones falling near the LRT spine.

At the meeting today Keanin received a few questions on our preference for maintaining our Chamber Taskforce vs the Chamber having a seat on the council subcommittee as advisors. We reiterated our stance that we’d prefer to fold our task force under it’s current mandate “if” most of it’s key stakeholders are directly invited to the council subcommittee itself. We will be following up with staff to see the proposed invite list.

Attached as well is our presentation to council today. Our two key objectives are to help City and Metrolinx facilitate communication with businesses along the LRT spine and to advocate for policies that will maximize the economic uplift for LRT.

For more information please contact: Huzaifa Saeed | Policy & Research Analyst | Hamilton Chamber of Commerce| 905-522-1151 ext: 230| h.saeed@hamiltonchamber.ca