7 former mayors and regional chairs encourage city to accept Hamilton LRT

Seven former Hamilton mayors and regional chairs have come out in favour of light rail transit (LRT).

But a current city councillorand vocal skeptic of the project has dismissed it, saying the authorsare out of touch on the issue.

The former leaders say in an open letter released Tuesdaythe planned LRT system will be "a great benefit" to the city andwill "attract new investment and jobs.

Everyone wants to jump on a bandwagon because it sounds good, but they haven't beenaround the table.- Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor

"It will mean rising property values and assessment and create significant economic uplift, not only for the downtown, but for the entire city," they wrote.

The letter is signed by the following:

• Anne Bain, Mayor of Stoney Creek (1997-2000), regional councillor (1994-2000).
• Terry Cooke, Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Chair (1994-2000), Ward 1 councillor (1985-1994).
• Larry Di Ianni, Hamilton mayor (2003-2006), Stoney Creek councillor (1982-2000).
• Don Granger, Flamborough mayor (1991-1994).
• Bob Morrow, Hamilton mayor (1982-2000), board of control (1970-1980), alderman of Ward 1 (1971-1972), Ward 3 councillor (2014).
• Bill Sears, regional chair (1986-1988), Stoney Creek mayor (1980-1985).
• Bob Wade, Hamilton mayor (2000-2003), Ancaster mayor (1984-2000), regional councillor (1978-2000), Ancaster councillor (1978-1984).

The province has offered to build the $1 billion system, which would run from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, and from King Street East to the West Harbour GO station, or the waterfront, budget permitting. Metrolinx will build the system with input from the city.

City council has cast several votes over the years to move the LRT project ahead. But some councillors have expressed reservations.

In September, they're expected to vote whether to accept the provincial money.

Terry Whitehead, a Ward 8councillorquestioning LRT,didn't give much weight to the letter on Tuesday. He says he's been gathering his own data on how LRT has worked in other cities.

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"Everyone wants to jump on a bandwagon because it sounds good, but they haven't beenaround the table or have the depth of knowledge that would suggest this could be very problematic if it's not done right," he said.

The letter is part of a growing swell of support and questions overthe proposed LRT project. LRT supporter Graham Crawford has used social media toassemblemore than 200 logos of businesses and organizations in favour of LRT, including Mohawk College.

"I'm getting several logos coming in every hour," he said.

Others have voiced their concern over the current route, part of which goes along King Street East. Last week, three International Village businesses asked council to consider putting LRT on Main Street instead.

On mobile? Click here toread the letter.