Local News

Councillors offer early support for light rail

City council appears to be lining up behind Mayor Fred Eisenberger to support the bid for light rail transit.

By Rob Faulkner, Last Updated Thursday, October 02, 2008

Published in the Hamilton Spectator on October 2, 2008.

City council appears to be lining up behind Mayor Fred Eisenberger to support the bid for light rail transit.

Eisenberger is hoping to line up votes for an Oct. 20 public works meeting and subsequent Oct. 29 council decision.

A draft plan from Metrolinx, a provincial Crown agency, shortlisted an east-west rapid transit line from Centennial Parkway to McMaster University for funding - but didn't say if it'll be rail or bus.

City staff have been actively pursuing light rail as their preferred option, and are poised to update council this month and get support to do more work with Metrolinx.

A poll of council by the Spectator found most support the continued pursuit. Of 15 councillors, 12 replied. All but two gave clear support, though several had conditions.

Margaret McCarthy and Bernie Morelli are undecided until they hear the staff presentation. Lloyd Ferguson will be in support if Metrolinx pays capital costs. Chad Collins is supportive but wants a lot of community input before traffic is affected or land is expropriated.

Other councillors supporting light rail are Bob Bratina, Brad Clark, Scott Duvall, Brian McHattie, Sam Merulla, Dave Mitchell, Maria Pearson and Russ Powers.

The positions of Tom Jackson, Robert Pasuta and Terry Whitehead were unknown at press time.

Metrolinx is expected to reveal projects it will fund in its initial five-year budget in November. The city wants the east-west line - using Main and King in some combination - to make it into this funding envelope so work can begin in 2011.