Raise the Hammer

Thank you for your carefully-thought-out respectful words, I appreciate intelligent #noLRT dialogue.

I drive a car too. I've grown up depending on a car. I've lived in suburbs in my childhood. I've also spent some time happily car-less without feeling too inconvenienced, and other times happily car-owner. So I have come to an appreciation of multiple lifestyles. (I share widespread concerns about Ontario's debt, but also agree with Ryan here.)

In a thought exercise -- I have noticed people have said they wouldn't backtrack on an RHVP widening if 5% of the budget was spent and the new estimate suddenly showed a 25% cost overrun. I tell them that is how we feel -- we really want LRT to be on-time and on-budget, but a 10% overrun doesn't turn all #yesLRT to #noLRT in exactly the same way that people passionate about the RHVP, wants to see it widened at all costs. Some will angrily tolerate a 1% increase, others 5%, and others irresponsibly no-limit. I definitely don't want taxpayer waste, either, and we better do our goddamndest best to have an LRT that isn't screwed up -- in a manner of speaking.

Many agree in the "...It looks like LRT is coming anyway, I don't like it, but let's try to get the best possible results out of it..." perspective. Originally, the Hamilton LRT plan had a plan to pass by our large Gage Park without a stop! Lots of residents advocated for it, myself included -- helping massively amplify awareness. Now they've announced at the GIC that they are working on bringing the Gage Park station back. Yes, even this #yesLRT will criticize the LRT plan.

Overall, I feel LRT actually provides better taxpayer return than RHVP, given the Hamilton LRT is also hugely an economic development project, not just saving commute time for those who live near the corridor. More jobs locally, more new businesses locally, etc. I invite you to read about my Kitchener-Waterloo ION LRT tour at http://www.raisethehammer.org/article/2959 -- where there is a huge business boom in part thanks to LRT -- this is one of the ways LRT will be helping pay down Ontario's debt in coming years. Also, since densification will occur near the LRT routes, this increases total taxpayer revenue per square kilometer with a bigger population.

I understand that not everyone agree with this view; but hopefully one can understand (even if not agree) why I came to this perspective.

Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2016-10-27 11:00:06