Raise the Hammer

Both ways? No, not at all. I was not including the rural residents - note that I said "most" of the half-million. But if you want to pick at population data as a little side track, sure, let's do that. Because my fantasy world is based on reality.

At the time of the 2011 Census, Hamilton's population was 519,949. According to the Census data, 475,352 resided in one large "population centre" (i.e., urban area) and 7,881 in another small one (Waterdown), with 36,716 living in the city's rural area. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recens...

This means 93% of the city's residents were urban in 2011. To me, that is "most".

Back to the real issue:

Snarkyness aside, your questions are valid and should be discussed.

• The question of "need" is what the transportation studies have been aimed at answering - and they have shown that the transit demand is there. In my opinion, you have to examine the entire market for transit in the city because the LRT creates an opportunity to rationalize many of the HSR's existing routes, as well as free up buses used on King/Main to expand service on other routes, or create some new ones.
• The question of "want" has not really been discussed, aside from those who are interested in seeing this happen, and those who are interested in seeing this proposal fail to happen. How do we determine "want"? Wider public meetings? A plebiscite? Perhaps those need to happen along with balanced education of the facts, so the average resident can voice an informed opinion.
• The question of "afford" is coming up next year and will probably be discussed extensively. How much will the city be asked to spend? Can the province afford its share? What other funding tools will be available and how will they affect the province and residents of Hamilton?

It does no service to the case against LRT to be so dismissive based on a limited interpretation of information, just as not having the right analysis and factual information does no service to the case for LRT. This is why Metrolinx and city staff have been exhaustively studying transit in Hamilton, so we can get to those questions of want and affordability.

Is there room for informed discussion in your little fantasy world?