Chamber Applauds Minister of Transportation Yurek for Greenlighting Hamilton LRT

· by Bianca Caramento

March 28, 2019 – Hamilton, ON: Hamilton Chamber of Commerce applauds the provincial government’s decision to resume the RFP process and lift the freeze on land acquisition along the B-Line LRT line.

“I want to applaud the Ford Government for going forward with the Hamilton LRT project,” said Keanin Loomis, President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “This is a government that listens to business, and they’ve done an incredible job of thoroughly evaluating the business case for Hamilton LRT. They’ve concluded, just as we did many years ago, that this project will be transformative for Hamilton and produce jobs and economic development.”

For several years, the Chamber, empowered by its 1,000 members, has rallied the community, including Hamilton’s Anchor Institutions (McMaster, Mohawk, HHS, St. Joe’s and both school boards) and other business associations (Realtor’s Association of Hamilton-Burlington, Hamilton Halton Construction Association, and Hamilton Halton Home Builders’ Association) in support of a project that is integral to the future prosperity of Hamilton.

The Chamber has long recognized the citywide benefits of the LRT. The Canadian Urban Institute estimates that, due to the hundreds of millions of dollars of development that has and will be unlocked by the project, $81.6 million in increased city revenue is expected over the next 15 years.

Moreover, there has already been $105 million spent over the 11 years its taken to plan the B-line LRT project. As a means of respecting taxpayer dollars, addressing housing affordability, and unlocking citywide benefits, the Hamilton Chamber is pleased we are taking the next step towards completing the B-Line LRT.

“As we’ve seen recently with developers pausing their plans in Downtown Hamilton, businesses rely on certainty and clarity for planning purposes. Today’s announcement provides businesses and developers the positive signal they need to invest further in our community.” Keanin Loomis, President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

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Media contact: Marie Nash, Director, Communications and New Media,
m.nash@hamiltonchamber.ca | 905-522-1151 ext. 245, C: 905-741-7164