Special Report: Light Rail

Green, Whitehead Square Off on LRT on The Agenda

Watch two Hamilton councillors debate the city's light rail transit plan.

By RTH Staff
Published January 13, 2017

Last night's episode of The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO included a discussion with Hamilton's Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Green and Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead on the topic of Hamilton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan and the controversy that continues to surround it.

The program runs a little over 19 minutes and includes some real zingers, including Whitehead calling LRT a train "to nowhere".

Upcoming Public Meetings

Metrolinx and the City are currently holding a series of public meetings to present updated details about the plan.

There will be three "Community Update" meetings featuring a formal presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, as well as three "Public Information Centre" meetings that will be structured as more of an open house.

Community Update Meetings

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Location: Sackville Seniors Centre, Fireside Lodge
780 Upper Wentworth St., Hamilton

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Location: Dundas Town Hall, Level 2 Auditorium
60 Main St., Dundas

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2017
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Location: Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, Lecture Hall
127 Gray Rd. Stoney Creek

Public Information Centres

Date: Monday, January 16, 2017
Time: 4 to 8 pm
Location: Dr. John M. Perkins Centre, Atrium
1429 Main Street E., Hamilton

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Time: 4 to 8 pm Location: David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 2nd Floor Auditorium 100 Main Street W., Hamilton

Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Time: 4 to 8 pm Location: McMaster Innovation Park, Atrium 175 Longwood Road S., Hamilton

4 Comments

View Comments: Nested | Flat

Read Comments

[ - ]

By JasonL (registered) | Posted January 13, 2017 at 14:14:40

If LRT is a train to nowhere, then let's please close down the Queen Street Hill and West 5th Hill. Surely we don't need roads that lead to nowhere either.

Permalink | Context

[ - ]

By fmurray (registered) | Posted January 13, 2017 at 18:46:36

Thank you for posting this. I wonder what non-Hamiltonians thought about our two councillors. Talk about polar opposites! Can Whitehead answer a simple question?

Permalink | Context

[ - ]

By Deleted User (anonymous) | Posted January 15, 2017 at 21:36:24

Aug 15th I wrote on this forum:

--"Uncertainties about the effect on cycling infrastructure along the King St corridor. If the bike lanes between Dundurn and Mac are removed to accommodate LRT then what is the alternative for cyclists travelling west? Aberdeen to Longwood to Main? That's quite an ask for those commuting by bicycle to Westdale."

I also pointed out that buses can move around cyclists whereas LRTs can't.

Today we read that the bike lanes *will* be removed along King and Dundurn to accommodate increased car traffic. http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7067472-dreschel-lrt-creates-west-end-traffic-concerns/

FAN-TASTIC. What a step backward. You can kiss the Cannon St cycle track goodbye too. Traffic displaced by the streetcar will have to go somewhere. As a non-driver who regularly cycles King St so I can get to the waterfront I'm looking forward to being trapped east of Dundurn. Thanks LRT!

Permalink | Context

By DowntownInHamilton (registered) | Posted January 16, 2017 at 16:31:47 in reply to Comment 120594

Just to clarify, since you haven't. This is from the article:

LRT co-ordinator Paul Johnson says the project team now believes it will have to add an extra traffic lane on both Dundurn Street and York Boulevard — likely at the expense of existing bike lanes.

It does not say that will occur, rather that it might, and that it's belief, not fact.

And are you one of the ones who doesn't believe ridership numbers, but then believes car numbers?

Please clarify this instead of patting yourself on the back.

Permalink | Context

View Comments: Nested | Flat

Post a Comment

You must be logged in to comment.

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds