10-25-2016, 12:51 PM
I think there's a good possibility that LRT will not happen in Hamilton. Another councillor recently came out against it "as proposed," ostensibly because the province pledge $1 billion for the LRT, but not the ~$300 million the City had requested for other transit improvements.
The bus lane debacle illustrated the suburban/downtown divide in Hamilton very well- the councillors representing the people who benefitted from slightly better bus service voted for the bus lane; those whose constituents only ever go downtown to drive through it voted against. The suburbs have enough seats on council to defeat LRT; if they sense the tide turning too strongly they'll vote to stop it. Nobody should underestimate the City of Hamilton's ability to act against its own self-interest.
I guess there will be no referendum, though we'll see today. But council can still stop the LRT, and there are the votes to do that.
The bus lane debacle illustrated the suburban/downtown divide in Hamilton very well- the councillors representing the people who benefitted from slightly better bus service voted for the bus lane; those whose constituents only ever go downtown to drive through it voted against. The suburbs have enough seats on council to defeat LRT; if they sense the tide turning too strongly they'll vote to stop it. Nobody should underestimate the City of Hamilton's ability to act against its own self-interest.
I guess there will be no referendum, though we'll see today. But council can still stop the LRT, and there are the votes to do that.