Horwath pushes province to extend proposed Hamilton LRT line

The leader of the provincial NDP is asking the provincial government to extend Hamilton's LRT line plan to Eastgate square, just ahead of what she is calling a "critical" city council vote on the issue.

Andrea Horwath sent a letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne yesterday, saying that the debate around rapid transit in the city is "reaching a tipping point."

"Before council votes on the transit plan you must provide clarity and confirmation about the province's support for the project," Horwath wrote. "I strongly urge your government to honour its commitment to the City of Hamilton, and offer secure funding for rapid transit to reach the originally planned end point of Eastgate Square.

• City and province in talks to extend LRT to Eastgate Square
• Hamilton city council expected to (finally) cast crucial LRT vote

"Your government must take a hands-on approach and offer constructive solutions as we approach this critical vote."

Council is poised to vote on whether or not to send a critical environmental assessment for the LRT plan to the province later today.

If council votes yes, Hamilton's $1 billion project moves ahead. If it doesn't, LRT is suspended indefinitely and risks what some have called "death by delay."

The city and province have been talkingtalking about extending the system to Eastgate Square as originally planned, according toTedMcMeekin, MPP forAncaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.But it's still unknown whether it couldhappen fast enough to sway any councillors to approve the project during Wednesday's vote.

• Read Horwath's letter about extending LRT to Eastgate Square

As for whether there'll be anything to announce soon:"Stay tuned," McMeekinsaid in a previous interview.

The LRT plan was originally supposed to extend to Eastgate Square but when the province announced $1 billion in 2015 for Metrolinx to build the project, the B line portion only went from McMaster to the Queenston traffic circle.

The province said the revised plan allowed it to build an LRT spur line down James Street North. But it has since found the ridership isn't worth the cost. Then it floated an A line bus rapid transit (BRT) plan from the waterfront to the airport, but that didn't win expected accolades from Mountain councillors.

At least four councillors previously interviewed by CBC News say they're more likely to approve the project if it goes to Eastgate Square.

CBC Hamilton's Samantha Craggs will be at Wednesday's meeting and reporting live. You can follow her coverage here.