Council support softens for LRT in Hamilton

More than a year after Hamilton city council unanimously approved a transit report that included an east-west light rail transit (LRT) line, some councillors are questioning boththelight rail option and the route.

Several councillors who voted in favour of the report last February told CBC Hamilton Wednesday that theyre having second thoughts about a proposed $800-million LRT system running from Eastgate Square to McMaster University. And one wants to explore whether a north-south route for rapid transit wouldn't make more sense.

For me, its about 50/50, said Coun. Maria Pearson, who represents Ward 10in Stoney Creek, on her support for LRT.

While she was on board with the idea in early 2013, I have more questions than solid confidence," she said.

We had countless staff reports, and the Rapid Ready reports, and its very clear what it said. It was B-line.- Coun. Lloyd Ferguson

Coun. Robert Pasuta of Flamborough says he wishes hed voted against LRT sooner. Coun. Scott Duvall says hes more unsure since the province hasnt given a firm funding commitment yet.

And Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 8 has second thoughts about whether the B-line should be the focus.

At Wednesdays general issues committee, Whitehead nearly introduced a notice of motion to investigate the north-south A-line versus B-line. He withdrew it because of the upcoming provincial election on June 12, he said, but will bring it back if the Liberals win.

Back in February 2013, LRT made more sense, he said. But looking at congestion on the QEW and 400 series highways, as well as demand for more transit on the Mountain, A-line makes more sense, he said.

• RELATED:Campaigning Liberals promise to fully fund Hamilton 'rapid transit'

If you can do both, great, he said. The question is if were setting priorities, where should our priorities be?

Talk like that worries Coun. Lloyd Ferguson of Ancaster, who says the city is too far along to present a fractured front to the province. The majority of council, he said, still wants to stay the course.

The city spent $10 million in Metrolinx money on partial designs, he said.

Were not going to waste that money, he said.

Were going to stay the course on what we spent three years studying. We had countless staff reports, and the Rapid Ready reports, and its very clear what it said. It was B-line.

Impact of BRT

Ted Gill, a former Hamilton-Wentworth senior regional transportation manager, encouraged councillors to take a harder look at bus rapid transit (BRT).

BRT will be fasterto implement and cheaper, Gill said, and might have equal economic spinoff. And its shelters and infrastructure could be used for LRT in the future.

Mayor Bob Bratina said thats similar to his thoughts on it. Going with BRT first is "a smart idea," he said.

Gill's analysis conflicts with a 2010 Metrolinx study, which shows that LRT will cost more, but provide the greatest economic benefit.

"LRT demonstrates a greater ability to attract investment and redevelopment than theBRT alternative and consequentlyprovides higher property value uplift," stated Metrolinx's2010 cost-benefit analysis of rapid transit for Hamilton. It also had the greatest transportation user benefit of the options studied.

'Voodoo economics'

Whitehead doubts that analysis though, calling it voodoo economics that doesnt take all variables into account.

I want to know that weve got empirical data.

Coun. Brian McHattie of Ward 1, an LRT advocate and mayoral candidate, nearly introduced a motion asking for a cost-benefit analysis of LRT and BRT.

"If you continue hearing questions about something, you want to put it bed," he said. "I believe strongly that LRT has much stronger economic benefits, but lets address that head on."

If council support is softening, he said, its likely because of the provinces apparentreluctance to announce fullfunding forLRT.

Hard to make long-term decisions

While last weeks rejected Liberal provincial budget included $15 billion in transit money for the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA), and specified Hamilton rapid transit, it didnt include a dollar amount or specify LRT or BRT.

In fact, the closest recent indications council hasthat the province will fully fund rapid transit is a tweet from Transportation Minister Glen Murray on Thursday and comments from Premier Kathleen Wynne at a Burlington campaign stop.

A Liberal govt will fund 100% of the capital costs of the #HamOnt proposed rapid transit line,tweeted Murray.

But Coun. Jason Farr of Ward 2 is still an LRT fan. And he still believes in the benefits to Hamilton.

Its hard for some to make long-term decisions when you know there are going to be short-term costs, he said.