collection of Hamilton Light Rail Citizen Statements

369 Pages·2017·6.01 MB·English

Citizen
Statements
The Hamilton Light Rail Initiative is
a citizen’s group with over 3,480
supporters who are in favour of
building LRT in Hamilton.
The following is a compilation of
selected citizen statements
received by the Hamilton Light Rail
Initiative.
Anna Vermaat We are having a very hard time trying to understand why there is hesitation on this at all. There will
be head aches, nothing ever goes perfectly smoothly but this a "No Brainer". This city is so over due
to have a transit system that will work for future generations. The current generation will find out
just how great it is once all the dust is settled. Remember the politics before the Linc and Red Hill
highways finally got finished. We can't imagine life without them now! Just check out some other
cities where LRT systems works so well. Please get on with it.

Richard Brooks I am a senior resident and lover of Dundas. But, I am also a resident of Hamilton and care about the
health of our city.
I believe LRT can provide a major impetus to the better development of the City. By encouraging new
development at the various LRT stops, we can further build on the current revitalization the City is
experiencing.
John Hurley I am one that lives in Stoney Creek, and drives to downtown Hamilton, Daily, for work. The main
reason I do not take public transit currently is due to the fact that the busses are frequently overfilled
during peak times. I would reconsider my transportation plans in a hearbeat should the LRT be put
into play. Please keep it going!

George Overend I am astounded that anyone could vote against such an amazing opportunity for our great city.
Deann McGlinchey I have lived in this wonderful City my entire life, and could not be a more proud Hamiltonian. But I
am afraid. We, as a city and a community, have come so far. We are continually surprising the
naysayers, we have achieved so much. But I fear that the impacts of losing out on this LRT
opportunity will be so severe, we may not be able to bounce back again. Now, I don't for a moment
believe that we are defined by the LRT. But I know in my heart of hearts that we cannot afford to
squander this opportunity. We deserve to see our vibrant neighbourhoods continue to be enhanced
and revitalized. I'm no expert on the matter. I can't regurgitate statistics or reference studies to
prove a point. But I do know that with the LRT our community has the potential to see so many
positive outcomes that we may not see otherwise.
Natalie Arnold I support LRT in Hamilton.
T. Ross Its high time that Hamilton moved into the 21st century with some decent urban transit. Don’t waste
this opportunity to make Hamilton a vibrant city. Hamilton is a CITY proper, not a suburban town or
city like most around Toronto. CITIES need proper rapid transitf or it to grow and develop.
Just remember that when lines of the New York subway was built in the 1890's it was built into
almost rural areas. DONT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY
matthew nash This letter is to express my support for LRT for its verifiedt ransportation, economic and social
benefits.
First, creating an efficient transportation system is a challenge in Hamilton. However, building more
roads is not the answer. If there’s anything that traffic engineers have discovered in the last few
decades it’s that you can’t build your way out of congestion. It’s the roads themselves that cause
traffic. Anti-LRT Tweets cannot change this unassailable fact (sorry Chad). Chris Higgins, the pos-t
doctoral fellow who authored a paper on the LRT and its effective use, recently stated "As you build
more roads, it just means more people drive." Be humbled and take the advice of the experts who
understand best practices of transportation. We need logical, efficient transportation systems such
as the LRT to solve our mounting congestion.

Second, numerous studies have argued conclusively for the many economic benefits. Let me state
the first obvious economic benefit: 1. Billion. Dollars. This is money we are being given to grow our
fledgling economy. This is a winning lottery ticket that you'd be throwing away, then taking the
interest away from future generations. Also, road building is one of the biggest expenses for a city.
The LRT reduces road building by taking people out of cars and using the transport network more
efficiently. Further, property values will increase along the route further driving property tax revenue
up with it. Hamilton needs the LRT to bring economic prosperity .
Lastly, the social benefits of LRT are immense. We have a diverse demographic living in the
downtown that needs a clean, quick and safe mode of transit. The LRT emits almost no pollution,
ensuring our most vulnerable are not burdened even more by poor local air quality - see the local
code red report or the global UN pollution report if you've forgotten the serious health effects of city
pollution. Moreover, climate change is causing disastrous flooding, especially in my Rosedale
community, and we must take big steps to curb greenhouse gases, of which, LRT is a key initiative.
All Hamiltonians will benefit from a congestion-relieving, cost-benefitting, revenue-generating, and
pollution-reducing project. Look at the facts, the numerous reports, and listen to experts who've all
come out in favour. Don't stand in the way of community-building. Don't turn your back on a billion
dollars (really?). The future is LRT.

Ania K Please support the LRT in Hamilton. It will enhance our downtown core, attract investment, bring in
new jobs and make the downtown more prosperous for all! We need to put more of a focus on the
downtown core instead of treating it like an eyesore. Any great city has a great transit system which
in turn results in a thriving downtown core.

John Clinton I support LRT in Hamilton.This is a fantastic opportunity for our city and I would like m y City Council
to speak with one voice in their unconditional support.
Peter Tracz As a citizen of Hamilton,I am fully supportive of the planned LRT project. I find it very disappointing
that some councillors still question this transformative initiative.
Specifically, I urge the City's General Issues Committee to reaffirm the project and that all members
of Hamilton City Council provide their endorsement.
Russell Wong Good for everyone
Margaret Ferizis What a wonderful opportunity for the entire city of Hamilton and lotto win for those that live along
the route.
Please do not give in to the complaints and fears of the naysayers who are afraid their drive in might
be extended by 10 minutes. They are not thinking of the greater good or benefits of the entire city.
Just their own selfish self interest.
George Smith Very Grateful for Hamilton to be getting this project- Hamilton has so much potential and this
investment will fuel further investment in this great city as it moves away from steel and keeps
moving toward becoming even more of a health care go-to city.
Catherine Clase Please ensure we move ahead with LRT
Cheryl Evans Vote to support LRT and build a better future for our city, our current citizens, and those who will
come because of this once in a generation opportunity.
David Zanchetta Support LRT. Don't let Hamilton be left behind
Grant Ranalli I very strongly support LRT for Hamilton. I urge council to get on with it. Everyone voted (several
times) in support of it. I cannot understand how several councillors are now having second thoughts.
The LRT is right for Hamilton on so many levels. It will spur further development, reduce noise and air
pollution in the core, produce many jobs in building and operating it, it will allow us to replace aging
infrastructure as part of the overall cost etc.
To say no to this project, after agreeing to it would be flip-flopping as well as foolhardy and frankly,
cowardly.
If your constituents are unsure, your job is to educate them as to why you voted in favour of it in the
first place. If conditions for it have changed sine that vote, they have only changed for the better (i.e.
$1B in funding)
Doug Holm Please vote yes to LRT.
I recently moved to Hamilton because of forward looking transit initiatives like the LRT, separated
bike lanes, and GO stations. The city would benefit tremendously from rapid transit.
Tony Hill I sincerely hope the LRT goes through.We need electric and mass transit to get citizens interested.It;s
been nearly 25 years since the last pure electric transit system existed here,and the remaining trolley
buses had diesel motors installed in them for some reason.Before that,35 years ago,the ALRT system
was a possibility,but was cancelled for various reasons I'm not sure of.I recently bought a book on
Hamilton,with proposals that never came to fruition,and I looked at the then proposed ALRT route
and thought that maybe the LRT should maybe follow that route more so due to our city's particular
conditions.Maybe some of it could slightly elevated.Nonetheless,I hope it happens.

Gesine Alders I fully support the Hamilton LRT.
Lia Bronsard I believe that the LRT plans must stay on course! This will tremendously improve our town, and place
Hamilton on the Map of well-planned and up and coming cities!
Thomas Lorini Yes to LRT!!
Laura Newkirk I am in favour of the proposed LRT project connecting the east to west in Hamilton. We must
continue to decrease the use of cars with efficient affordable public transit.
Tom Flemming I support the fully-funded LRT for Hamilton. Better public transit is needed to take this city into the
future. Council needs to say YES to this wonderful opportunity.
Brad De Boer This is a step in the right direction. Moving forward is never easy. This will be a benefit for future
generations! Congratulations! Hamilton!
Tom Belshaw As I said before,we need to get the word AMBITIOUS back to describing our great city.....now is the
time for a MODERN EFFICIENT LRT to transport all those people who will be moving into those new
downtown residential buildings being built at the moment. City council,get your heads out of the
sand & look at what OTHER progressive cities are doing with transit (LRT)... The people of Hamilton
voted you to the council to do the right thing in implementing an up-to-date transit service (LRT)The
money is already allocated to this project...LET'S MAKE HAMILTON AMBITIOUS AGAIN for the
future................ .........TOM

Anita Kuehn I'd like to express my support for LRT -- the City of Hamilton needs it!
Les Szamosvari Your Worship, Mr. Mayor, and Honourable Councillors, More than ever, I am convinced that LRT is
necessary in Hamilton to weaken the deadlock that an antiquated, automobile-based, transit plan
holds on the progress of sustainable public transportation
Nadine Bernacki The LRT and associated public amenities and design will bring Hamilton into the future as a world
class city. It will reduce our contribution to climate change (via the use of fossil fuels for
transportation) and have positive impacts on the mental and physical health of the urban population
of our city as well as draw new people here.
Jane Cudmore Dear Councillors, I am a ward 1 resident, and I fully support implementation of the proposed LRT
plans while hoping the final plans will include additional stops.
Eric Kania Even if I lived on the mountain or Flamborough I would still support this considering there is 1 billion
being offered by the province for this project. It'd be incredibly inept for council not to take
advantage of this offer. Benefits far outweigh the cons so long as the council focuses it's efforts on
ensuring the project is managed and planned as best as possible rather than wasting time returning
to decisions that have already been made...Multiple times.

kandy o I support LRT
michael Maccharles We must bring the city of Hamilton into the 21st. century as quickly and efficiently as is possible .. I
have travelled the world quite extensively .. and European cities have for the most part far better
people moving systems than we do.. whether they be LRT or old subway systems .. they move
people.. millions of them daily.. IE : London ..Paris .. Boston ..NY Density is a must for a city to
survive.. and Hamilton must get on with urban density and Transit.

Ron Heres Once Hamilton gets the LRT it will greatly transform the ability and lifestyle of its inhabitants . It will
deliver the ability to get around town and enable people to expand their opportunities on many
fronts . Less street traffic and more efficient travel will make this city a key proponent on the "Green
" Front .

Clean city living is in demand and lays the groundwork for a city that balances its industrial roots with
modern health and prosperity. Gone should be the days of unkept and unchecked pollution and now
Hamilton can forge a new destiny of renewal and hope f or many generations. I believe the "New"
Hamilton will be one that makes this city proud and offers many a chance in the prosperity that
follows.
Increased ability and efficiency is the engine that drives productivity . I'm proud that my Family has
the chance to partake of the wonderful opportunity this will afford this great city. A great Thank You
to the Govenrmental agencies that recognized the need and the foresight to implement and allocate
the funds required . Hamilton says Thank You !
Chris Cotoi I strongly believe the LRT will improve transportation in Hamilton and it will also have a positive
impact on businesses along the route.
Alexis Fletcher Let's move out of the dark ages.
Desirée Kelleher No matter what the reason is to use public transport, a light rail running East to West in our city will
improve the journey of many of us and those that will come after. Don't fear the growing pains of
construction.
Don Holland Please do not squander this once in a generation opportunity. The councillors who are spreading
misinformation must be taken to task. The city needs this if you wish to have a vibrant healthy city in
the future.
Laura Stewart I'm really excited to see our city plan for its future like this. I'm also excited to use my car much less!
Hubert Shen I really like the LRT from Hamilton can be able to build at the end. As all the newer millennials,
immigrants,people from all around GTA will potentially attracted to city of Hamilton. LRT is one
important element to improve the city attractiveness and improve city transport for more people to
consider to live in Hamilton. Just look at all the cities that has LRT, and see the improvement on
access and city transportation efficiency for the public. It will be a significant improvement for
accessing Hamilton from east to west end, with currently HSR routes. LRT will only make the
transportation access in a much more improve way. Think long term, it will help Hamilton as a city to
a next level for attracting younger people to come in and start their life in Hamilton.
Tim Amos I'd just like to pass on my thoughts and support for the LRT project. There are many naysayers who
aren't even within the LRT area (*ahem* mountain councilors) and are trying to abolish a wise
investment. This needs to happen. As a proud Hamiltonian, I can honestly say that I've seen the
change in pace, culture, and overall well being of the city in the 5 years I've lived here. This
investment would help boost our cities reputation. It would bring us closer to a more sustainable city
and one which draws in MANY people from a younger generation. These are the ones who are
environmentally conscious, who don't plan to have a car, and who want to live in an affordable city.
What is now viewed as a proactive approach at $1billion, will most definitely turn into a reactive
approach at the coast of $1.5 billion in a short time.

Joanna Hodson I have used LRT in other cities across the world and have found it to be rapid and efficient.We must
improve our public transit systems in this region to mitigate ever increasing traffic congestion and
the Hamilton LRT is one piece of a larger picture.
I would love it to be extended to University Plaza in Dundas sometime in the future!
Aoife Gregus This is an important initiative for Hamilton, and it's is the type of forward thinking that won me over
from a residency in Toronto, to move to Hamilton 2 years ago.
Please ensure that the light rail train project goes through.