Raise the Hammer

I am inclined to agree it's not a good use of LRT funds (unless attached transit funding is for LRT along a different Mountain route), even as an LRT advocacy. In the Plan B we still need to make sure transit (i.e. express buses) is part of the package, maybe even (as a requirement) linked to an LRT transfer station at Limeridge that also transfers to the suggested RHVP/LINC express buses!

As much as some of us may love or hate LINC/RHVP, Europe does have "ring roads" around their cities, too. The 403-Skyway-RHVP-LINC is now the defacto "ring road"; even with city cores that some of us love so much, that bans cars. Many of us hope it gets built, many of us hope it does not get built.

I believe in a quick Plan B, in the realism of an Almagamated city (before bitter feelings occur)

Basically both Mountain and Lower City may recognize widening funding might be refused by the new transit-happy governments unless it's packaged with transit too, and other requirements such as safety / flooding mitigations / etc.

The merits of the widening is unappealing to many here, but we also must be prepared for Plan B (in an Almagamated city) it may be the easiest way to successfully get majorly expanded transit installed in Hamilton, in a compromise.

Gotta make sure Plan B (unavoidable widening) has additional strict requirements attached to it. Obviously, the transit bargaining clip may work in favour both ways --

(A) seeing widen not happen (due to onerous extra requirements)

(B) seeing widening happen WITH majorly improved transit and other requirements. The transit bargaining clip may reduce overall average Hamilton opposition.

Simply stubbornly saying no isn't enough and will just simply create additional Mountain opposition against the LRT that will hurt us in 2018, etc.

Also working among others with the LRT advocacy, I keep engagements with my Mountain friends as polite as can be (for years on end!), and need to recognize we need to get transit done, and tame the downtown streets. Difficult compromises need to be brainstormed, and now.

So simply attach big conditions to the widening, to the point where it's either a "NO" (more easily happening due to cost of required transit / safety / flood-remediations / other addons) or a major transit win ends up occuring simultaneously with RHVP/LINC widening. The political climate is compatible with this now for the next several years. For me, it is in line with respectful engagement and sibling rivalry.

Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2015-11-04 12:44:52