Hamilton, ON, Jan 26, 2015: The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is highly encouraged by today’s announcement by Mayor Fred Eisenberger that the Province of Ontario has committed to funding 100% of the capital costs of a light rail transit system in Hamilton.

The project is expected to run along the B-Line corridor with further discussions on an additional link to the new James St North GO Station. The funding is a portion of the approximately $15 billion in funding allocated to the GTHA for projects as part of their Big Move Strategy.

“The Chamber and its membership applaud the leadership shown by Mayor Eisenberger and Premier Wynne in championing a project that will completely transform this historic city and form the foundation of Hamilton’s future economy,” said Keanin Loomis, President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “Our LRT Task Force believes in the strong business case behind LRT, but most importantly we have faith in the future of this city, especially if we act boldly to accelerate our revival.”

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and its membership have had a long-standing interest in the LRT file. Comprising private businesses, business improvement areas, public sector institutions, three Hamilton City Councillors, the Hamilton-Halton Homebuilders’ Association and the Realtors’ Association of Hamilton-Burlington, the Chamber established its LRT Task Force in early 2012 to:

• Provide a business assessment of the B-Line LRT project that the City has been advancing;
• Provide input and perspective on funding options for the project; and,
• Develop and execute a government relations and community engagement plan in support of the project.

Through subsequent meetings the LRT Task Force comprehensively evaluated available academic and government research. Two documents in particular – the City of Hamilton’s Rapid Ready Report and The North American Light Rail Experience: Insights for Hamilton study from the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics (MITL) – greatly informed the LRT Task Force’s ultimate determination that there is a strong business case for the B-Line LRT project in accelerating economic revitalization of Hamilton.

In its last meeting in April 2014, the LRT Task Force and Hamilton Chamber Board of Directors endorsed a letter to the Minister of Transportation reaffirming its support for the B-Line LRT system.

The Chamber will continue to work with the City of Hamilton, especially Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s proposed Citizen’s Panel on Transit, to advocate for the project.

Established in 1845, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is the definitive “Voice of Hamilton Business”. Representing over 1000 members and 75,000 employees, it champions the interests of ethical, free enterprise by effectively engaging business, community, and government leaders in the promotion of the long-term economic prosperity of our region.

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For more information, contact:

Huzaifa Saeed

h.saeed@hamiltonchamber.ca

T: 905-522-1151 ext: 230

C: 905-220-3030

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