Hamilton's Bay Street LRT stop is still alive - for now

Hamilton's proposed light rail transit (LRT) stop at Bay Street got a last-minute reprieve Wednesday when a city councillor shuffled it off to a subcommittee.

Councillors voted 9-6 last week to ask Metrolinx to scrap the $2.6 million stop, which the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce requested.

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But just as city council was about to ratify that move,Coun. JasonFarrfrom Ward 2 moved referring the item to the city's LRT subcommittee.

That passed, but just barely, with a8-7 vote.

Councillors will receive several letters on the matter tonight, including Cycle Hamilton chair Dave Heidebrecht, chamber president Keanin Loomis, Arend Kersten from the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce and Susie Braithwaite from the International Village BIA.

Who voted in favour of the deferral:

Aidan Johnson (Ward 1),Farr, Matthew Green (3), Sam Merulla(4), Tom Jackson (6), Terry Whitehead (8),Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Maria Pearson (10)

Opposed:

Doug Conley(9), Brenda Johnson (11),Lloyd Ferguson (12), Arlene VanderBeek(13), JudiPartridge (14),Donna Skelly (7),Chad Collins (5)

Here's what else happened:

• Council votedto allow Coun. Robert Pasuta to be absent for more than three months from health reasons. Pasuta told local media that he's healing after falling off a tractor.
• Council appointed Coun. Doug Conley to a committee looking at licensing rental units. Conley's appointment keeps the issue alive.

CBC Hamilton reporter Samantha Craggs will tweet live from the meeting. Follow her at @SamCraggsCBC or in the above window.