12-17-2019, 07:43 PM
(12-17-2019, 03:35 PM)timc Wrote:(12-17-2019, 03:04 PM)MidTowner Wrote: I'm not sure if it would have been politically possible for Hamilton to chip in for LRT. For sure it would have been difficult. And, with the funding model that we pursued in Waterloo Region, Hamilton would not be experiencing what it is this week. It's harder to mess around with multiple other funding partners, and harder to discuss ballooning costs when multiple other levels of government remain committed.
I remember the province not living up to expectations on LRT funding for ION ("up to two thirds" became a cap of $300 million). It was almost enough to kill the project before it got started. Local taxpayers stepped up to cover the shortfall of over $200 million.
IIRC, though I could be wrong, the region was going to do 1/3 and the province 2/3 of the costs -- then at some point, the province said no to 2/3, but the federal government kicked in 1/3 almost last minute (likely a 2011 Tory election promise to the cities). (I believe the region had hoped for 1/3 from the federal government originally but didn't have high hopes that Ottawa would give us anything -- so they were prepared to fund 1/3 of the project with the province doing 2/3)