Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Ontario Provincial Government Decisions on Findings of Hamilton Transportation Task Force

· by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

February 9, 2021 – HAMILTON, ON: The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce welcomes today’s commitment by the province to work with the federal government to fund the B-Line LRT project in Hamilton, following last year’s advice from the Hamilton Transportation Task Force (HTTF) to invest in higher-order, intra-city transit in the City of Hamilton.

For years, our organization has advocated for the LRT project, stressing its economic and social benefits, and the need for significant investment in our transit system. Hamilton has seen unprecedented investment along the B-Line since the province committed to funding the LRT. In fact, the city experienced a 500% increase in new residential units downtown. Moreover, approximately $162 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on engineering, environmental assessments and property acquisitions along the planned LRT corridor.

The B-Line LRT plan is critical to the post-pandemic recovery of our city. Hamilton’s LRT project is shovel ready, ensuring that economic benefits can be realized immediately. The project will create thousands of jobs, spur further economic uplift, increase affordable housing, cut CO2 emissions and will replace aging underground services such as water and waste water.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Premier and Minister of Transportation for heeding the recommendations of the HTTC and identifying Hamilton LRT project as a priority transit project. We now look to the Federal government to consider Hamilton LRT for funding opportunities under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, particularly under the public transit targeted stream.

Consistent with the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan, City of Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan (2018), City of Hamilton’s Ten-Year Capital Budget, and Metrolinx’s 2041 Regional Transportation Plan, it is time for all levels of government, and, if necessary, private partners, to work out a plan to fund and construct the Hamilton LRT project.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Keanin Loomis
President & CEO
k.loomis@hamiltonchamber.ca

Paul Szachlewicz
Policy & Government Relations Advisor
p.szachlewicz@hamiltonchamber.ca