Campaigning Liberals promise to fully fund Hamilton 'rapid transit'

Ontarios transportation minister has promised viaTwitterthat a Liberal government would pay the full capital costs for Hamilton's proposedrapid transit line.

Glen Murray tweeted on Tuesday evening that a Liberal government will fund 100 per cent of the capital costs of a rapid transit line.

And Premier Kathleen Wynne has added her voice to the assurances. Wynne told the Hamilton Spectator Tuesday that the province's commitment to fully fund "rapid transit" in Hamilton hadn't changed. "The capital costs are what we've always committed to," she said in an interview with the newspaper at a Burlington Campaign stop. "It's the same way we worked with other municipalities."

But the comments still left many questioning if the Liberals meanlight rail transit (LRT) or bus rapid transit (BRT), and what would be required from the city.

It also shocked Monique Taylor, NDP MPP for Hamilton Mountain, who read the tweets at a school board meeting Tuesday night.

Wow, she said. Im really shocked to see that. Im going to take it back to my team and see whats going to happen with that.

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The Liberals announced $15 billion for transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) during their budget last week. While it specified an LRT line for Mississauga, for Hamilton, it said only rapid transit.

It used that terminology, MPP Ted McMeekin said then, because thats the term used in the citys 2011 Rapid Ready transit plan.

A June 12 election was triggered after NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced that her party would not vote for the budget. There was no dollar value included in the budget for Hamilton transit.

It had some tweeting Murray, wondering if he meant the province fully funding a proposed $800-million LRT line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square.

LRT was not mentioned, Rapid Transit was mentioned, what does that mean? Hamilton resident William Mehlenbacher tweeted. Do we always have to come begging?

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Coun. Brad Clark, a mayoral candidate for the October municipal election, said its clear to him now that Murray is talking about BRT.

He is no longer talking about LRT, Clark said.

Im reading the tea leaves pretty clearly. They dont have the money. The $15 billion they have set aside wont cover all the expenditures they have for the 12 or 13 communities across the GTHA."

Murrays tweets are frustrating, but its still specious, he said. We need a clear answer from the government in terms of what theyre expecting.

Coun. Brian McHattie, a mayoral hopeful and vocal LRT advocate, said he was heartened by talk of full funding, even if its obvious campaigning.

He also doesnt rule out that Murray is talking about LRT.

If theres some controversy and I dont have to action the thing in the short term, Ill just say rapid transit, he said. Thats just being a smart politician.

If the Liberals are elected, McHattie said, the city should hold Murray to his tweet, which is a promise in writing.

He shouldnt be saying that if its not true, he said. Thats very definitive. Weve been looking for that.

Once the elections over, if the Liberals are in place, well call them on it.