Province says Hamilton's LRT plan can move forward

The province has given the city of Hamilton and Metrolinx the go-ahead on its LRT project.

A letter sent Wednesdayfrom Environment Minister Chris Ballard, marksthe official OK from the province after the city submitted its amended environmental review of the project after a contentious, marathoncouncil meeting in April.

The signoff was required to accommodate the changes to the plan over the years, including the April decision to send the LRT all the way out to Eastgate Square instead of just to the Queenston Traffic Circle.

Ballard's office reviewed the plan for any impacts to cultural and natural environments, as well as to Indigenous land rights. Though there were 25 official complaints lodged with the ministry, the minister concluded the plan can go ahead as contemplated.

"I am of the opinion that the proposed changes to the transit project will not have a negative impact on matters of provincial importance," Ballard's letter states.

In a tweet, Mayor Fred Eisenberger welcomed the news.

The letter will be presented formally to councillors at next week's General Issues Committee meeting on Aug. 9.

Also at that meeting, councillors are scheduled to discuss a motion from Coun. Matthew Green to have HSR, rather than a private company, operate Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) system.

If councillors agree, the city will ask Metrolinxto include it in a legally binding master agreement due before the end of the year. And it will, Green says, keep transit along the 14 kilometre route public, rather than giving up control to a private corporation.

But Metrolinxis already well along the way in its process of shortlisting bidders for the project,and so far, it seems unlikely tochange course.

The agencyissueda call for interestfor companies likely a consortium in February to not only design and build the 14-kilometre system fromMcMasterUniversity toEastgateSquare, but to operate it as well. It would likely be a public-private partnership,Metrolinxsaid.