Elections
Bonus question: If LRT goes ahead, what will you do to ensure Hamilton receives the maximum benefit?
Responses to the question: "Bonus question: If LRT goes ahead, what will you do to ensure Hamilton receives the maximum benefit?"
In This Page:
53 Candidate Responses (top)
| Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Davis, Jim | Yes | I would change the route. The fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line. My vision of LRT is straight down Main St. from Mac to Gage Ave. It is wide enough to support it and with little retail business on Main St. as opposed to King, less chances of losing businesses during construction. At Gage it would elevate so from Ottawa to the Linc it would be overhead. This now allows for street space to remain the same and gives Hamilton a new look for movie shoots as we can now become Chicago. We can continue it from the Linc to Jones road on the street as it is wide enough. At Jones Rd there is a vacant lot for a turnabout and HSR can take passengers to city limits, eliminating Trans cab. By stopping at Eastgate, we shorten the full potential of LRT linking our extended city. By traveling in a straight line, we save on material and allow to extend the track. With a more common sense route and less money being spent on property would sell Metrolinx and the Province on this route. |
| Eisenberger, Fred | Yes | LRT is a transit project but it is different in Hamilton as compared to Toronto because it is equally important as a city-building initiative. If LRT goes ahead, as I fully expect it will, it will build our community and help us get ready as our population swells to 750,000 over the next 20 years so we don’t make the mistake Toronto made which was to put off building transit resulting in the gridlock they have now as a daily reality. |
| Gomes, Carlos | No | |
| Graydon, Edward HC | N/A | No response provided |
| Pattison, Michael | Yes | If construction consortiums and land owners commit to the building within the construction timetable of LRT, then they should be rewarded through incentives and/or reduced permit fees. I am hoping to showcase to Hamilton that when you get everyone on the same page, things can happen. My goal is to end the divisiveness that our city has faced going on 14 years now, and truly create a unified city that has vision and is ready for the future. |
| Schmid-Jones, Ute | Yes | Once we build it, we can celebrate it. The city can showcase a project like the LRT as a sign that we are moving forward and evolving with the times. One of the ideas I have had would be to create a local lottery to help raise funds to alleviate local poverty with the prizes being things like dinner and a show at one of Hamilton's great independent restaurants and one of our theatres, with LRT tickets to get there. That sort of thing could make a small difference financially while also showcasing the best Hamilton has to offer, promoting local businesses as well, and might help to present the LRT as yet another great thing about Hamilton. More than anything else, however, what the city needs to get the most benefit out of the LRT is also having a strong HSR that is equally good at getting passengers to or from the LRT to everywhere in the city that isn't on the east/west or north/south lines. |
| Sgro, Vito | N/A | Please use our website vitosgroformayor.ca as the the answer to the provided questions. |
| Tavares, Ricky | N/A | How much are you going to pay me ? $100 and I will communicate with you at your basic level. Otherwise you are useless to me and Hamilton. |
| Wozny, Mark | No | Money would ne better spent on other infrastructure projects. |
| Yan, Nathalie Xian Yi | Yes | If LRT is successful although I am personally oppose to it I will do my best as the elected representative of the city to encourage the provincial government to support full funding and make the project in the best interest of Hamiltonians |
| Ward 01 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Allen, Jason | Yes | I will ensure that inclusionary zoning is implemented along the corridor, in order to ensure that the benefits of LRT-driven investment are spread out more evenly. I will also use the lessons I learned working with the Eglinton Crosstown team to ensure that businesses along the corridor are well supported. Finally, I will encourage the Economic Development department to stop chasing after big name marquee employers for the development along the corridor, but instead invest in incentives and assistance for small to medium businesses, which are the engine of our economy. We don’t need another ill advised #Hamazon campaign chasing after a project that we don’t have the city infrastructure to support. What we need is to support strong, vibrant small businesses in Hamilton who are employing people now, and could use a bit of help to employ even more. |
| Anderson, Sharon | Yes | Making sure that while we gain increased density along the proposed route, we also gain increased rent controlled units to maintain housing affordability as well as increased commercial space. Making sure our existing bus routes are adjusted to make the best use possible of the LRT route in moving people around the City. Promote the use of the LRT to our residents to build ridership throughout the City. Build off the LRT momentum to complete the other sections of our BLAST network.
|
| Cole, Sharon | Yes | Bringing all partners (the City, P3 partners, HSR, ATU, BIA's, businesses, community groups and residents) to the table will be paramount through the planning and development phases with the cornerstone being communication, facilitated by Councillors to ensure expectations are effectively managed. We are building rapid transit solutions for the future, not just for today and I believe it is my job as a Councillor to help them understand, participate and achieve that vision. |
| Eroglu, Ela | Yes | As councillor, I will ensure that as City we are getting all the benefits that LRT can provide. It is important that LRT to integrate other modes of transportation that links a greater number of destinations and connects all communities. Ensure that it provides mobility to everyone and contributes towards walkable and connected communities. LRT will help stimulate economy and contribute the revitalization effort of downtown by attracting new investors, businesses and bring more quality jobs to the City. Since LRT is green and clean we will benefit from reduced air pollution and reduced noise pollution. In order to get full benefit from LRT it must be integrated with Hamilton Street Railway network, pedestrian connections, cycling routes, bike share system, and other systems including GO Transit that connects Hamilton to the neighbouring cities. |
| Geffros, Sophie | Yes | LRT is a massive infrastructure project, and with any massive infrastructure project there is the potential for huge investments in our city. Developers are already buying up land around the proposed LRT line -- I will ensure that at least 30% of the new units are affordable or geared to income (this figure is higher than the range given for general housing developments, as it is vital that transit is easily accessible by low-income people and people living with disabilities). I am also excited to work with neighbourhoods, the Chamber of Commerce, and small businesses to ensure that any disruptions to small-businesses are minimal and that individuals are encouraged to patronize the stores along the transit line. |
| Massie, Richard | Yes | Along with the economic uplift - I would focus on ensuring development along the LRT route includes affordable housing. It is important to respect existing neighbourhoods' residents who have called Hamilton home for decades by not pushing them out- many are on a fixed income and cannot adjust to greater property tax values. |
| Miklos, Lyla | Yes | The potential with any major new infrastructure project is for gentrification to run amok. It is our duty as elected officials who are entrusted to look after the well being of all our citizens to insure that capitalist forces are not what drive our decisions. We need to make sure that any new development along the corridor is centred with a commitment to affordable housing. We also need to help build up the businesses that are based in Hamilton and encourage small business owners to be anchor tenants along the line rather than outside international corporations who are not truly invested in the community or the city. |
| Narducci, Linda | Yes | I appreciate that change is hard. If the people of Hamilton can see the benefits the likelihood of using it and accepting the system would be higher. I would like to see a fresh and exciting marketing plan using real people, real residents, real stories and how it has improved their lives and lifestyle. This marketing plan should include the businesses that will be affected by the construction. Supporting them in keeping flow of business to them. I think we need to be aware of rental and housing prices, that they are kept within the plans for affordable housing along the line. |
| White, Harrison | Yes | First and foremost is a restructuring of the HSR bus route system. That will improve the day-to-day lives of many in the city. Next up would be attempts to attract new business to downtown Hamilton, we have a significant amount of office space available. I believe we could use the 500-thousand-dollar informational pamphlet utilized to try and gain Amazon’s second headquarters to try and recruit other business to the city. I would like to see plenty of mixed-use zoning in the areas around the LRT to ensure better population density, as well as plenty of store-front shops for people to shop at. I would like to see bike racks at each major stop for the LRT and would prefer if a bike route could connect to each major stop as well. I would like to lobby the government, both federal and provincially, to provide additional transit funding in an attempt to establish a north-south route as well. Given how long it has taken Hamilton to establish the first line of LRT, if the A-Line portion of the B.L.A.S.T. network is to be completed before 2030 we need to start the process right away. I believe if Hamilton uses long-term vision, we can ensure the LRT is the first step to continuing to grow and develop our city. |
| Wilson, Maureen | Yes | We need to ensure the value is captured by land use planning that allows for and fast tracks appropriate densities along the corridor and we need to press hard for a community benefit plan that provides important priorities such as apprenticeships and living wage jobs for local residents and businesses. We also must plan with purpose to ensure the availability of affordable housing along and within the transit corridor. |
| Ward 02 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Daljeet, Suresh Venodh | Yes | It's going ahead! I would like to see a plan in place before it's built to show how The HSR and the LRT will integrate, how efficient the connections to GO will be. |
| Farr, Jason | Yes | Along with Councillor Green, we received support from council on a Community Benefits Agreement. I currently sit on the Community Benefits Working Group and will continue doing so. Through this work and current city policy, we are well poised to create local jobs and training and affordable housing along the b-line and near the b-line.
|
| Kroetsch, Cameron | Yes | When LRT goes ahead during the next term of Council I will ensure, as Ward 2 City Councillor, that we work with the Hamilton Community Benefits Network to address much-needed community and social infrastructure. We need a balanced approach to all LRT-corridor development to ensure that not only does the City benefit from the increased taxes that will be collected but also so that the community who currently rely on transit is not displaced. We must ensure that we diversify development along the corridor and that we employ inclusionary zoning principles that consider the need for affordable housing. From my perspective, this project is not just about transit but will have a significant impact on the entire downtown core, and a large section of Ward 2. We must ensure that there is a net benefit to everyone who continues to live, work, and play in downtown Hamilton. |
| Smith, Nicole | Yes | For Hamilton to get the maximum benefit we have to optimize community benefits directly from LRT and sustainable development as a result of the project. |
| Tennant, Mark | Yes | If the LRT goes ahead. I would advocate for construction stages over time (recommended by Waterloo business owners), improved accommodations for people with disabilities with regards to accessibility to LRT stops, and more consideration to compensating businesses affected by construction. I want the HSR to be a part of the LRT plan. I would recommend an independent transit commission to continue negotiations; An independent commission could be comprised of elected officials, citizen appointees and other vested interests. They would keep in mind the best interest of the stakeholders; the residents of Hamilton. |
| Ward 03 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Bureau, Alain | Yes | |
| Farr, Laura | Yes | Working with the Community Benefits Network, I would ensure that our agreements include using Hamilton workers and products wherever possible. There is no reason for our community not to benefit from this project. |
| Kuruc, Ned | Yes | Regardless of whether the LRT goes ahead, it is important that we grow our transit network to tie together the entire city. |
| Nann, Nrinder | Yes | * I will advocate for Community Benefit Agreements that will provide employment and training opportunities to Hamiltonians. (I support Community Benefits Agreements at the city-wide level, not just for LRT).
* I'll ensure that businesses and residents along the B-line are well-informed of the timelines and kept abreast of changes. * I'll ensure the HSR communicates clearly to riders what changes there may be in routes due to construction. * I'll work with the community and businesses to help encourage local shopping during disruptions due to construction phases. * I'll strongly advocate that any new transit jobs related to LRT meet the wages and benefits that our existing transit workers get, at a minimum. |
| Smith, Dan | Yes | I will go over the designs thoroughly to ensure we have dealt with any issues that might arise from the system. As well, I will discuss any issues by talking to those affecting along the route. |
| Sprague, Kristeen | Yes | |
| Ward 04 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Merulla, Sam | Yes | Yes |
| Ward 05 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Yes | ||
| Maldonado, Juanita | Yes | Let’s get to work. |
| Ward 06 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Jackson, Tom | Maybe | Well, whatever is done, and IF the LRT still goes ahead, let’s hope the campaign to promote the maximum benefits of this project “BEYOND THE CORE” is a heck of a lot better than the feeble, ineffective campaign over the last 3 years since the $1B. was announced to demonstrate the benefits of this LRT!! In my humble opinion, IF circumstances change and the LRT does not proceed, that MAY have been one of the regrets for the staunch pro-LRT advocates. |
| Taylor, Timothy | Yes | |
| Ward 07 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Benson, Steve | Maybe | If the LRT is to be built it is mandatory to plan for stop and go areas, meaning places people can drive to and park their cars to ride the LRT. We also need to build for future expansion.
Currently City Council, in its short sighted thinking, has not included Park’n Ride areas in their planning. So people who live on the mountain can’t drive down the Claremont Hill for instance and park off Victoria to ride the train. These people will still drive through downtown to get where they are going. It is literally proves city designers have no vision and do not think for the future. In spite of everything the City says its wants to do to reduce cars in the downtown area,. they continuously ignore opportunities to do so. This City Council seems to have no vision. No concrete plan. Some councillors are blindly following without actually looking for solutions. I believe we have a serious lack of common sense and long term vision directing our cities growth. One of the biggest reason I feel is we are still following an outdated master plan created in the 90’s and I believe taken from the direction of the provincial government at the time. No wonder we are going backwards. Time for Change. |
| Kazubek, Joseph | Yes | I will ensure that HSR receives adequate funding to enhance services and to offer more services among the mountain wards.
Aswell, all contracts are to be awarded to local businesses, and all supply are to be purchased locally, and metro link is to honour the union discussions that have already occurred. |
| MacIntyre, Dan | Yes | We need to focus on communicating with residents across all of Hamilton in order to educate them on the BLAST network. I want to see the project finished ahead of schedule and under budget, while that may be a challenge it’s still a great goal to have. Ensuring that the rest of the BLAST network implementation isn’t met with such resistance should be one of our goals as a city as we can’t afford further delay with this network. Continuing to attract investment and max out that transit corridor for development is the maximum benefit for Hamilton. I want to be able to hang my hat on having been a part of the effort to bring new employers and economic investment to this city and immediately demonstrate that the B-Line has paid for itself with economic activity. |
| McMullen, Geraldine | Yes | Much of the work has been done on this file, through multiple decisions, over almost a decade now, made by previous Councils. Continued funding was promised by the recently installed provincial government. If the funding comes with specific caveats, then we deal with that when it comes. If the LRT goes ahead, we must, as a Council, act as one in supporting proposals that attract future funding. Supporting a majority decision of a board (Council) is the backbone of a unified request for funding from provincial and federal governments. Going rogue does not bode well for a forward thinking Council. As Abraham Lincoln once asserted, “a house divided against itself will soon fall”. |
| Pauls, Esther | Yes | Advocate on behalf of Ward 7 residents for the best service that they are being taxed for. |
| Ward 08 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Danko, John-Paul | Yes | If nothing else, the LRT debate has highlighted that we do have serious problems with our existing HSR transit options. We can't build LRT, then continue to ignore bus transit - one cannot succeed without the other. We also have to find ways to address the displacement of vulnerable populations through increased property values. Affordable housing has to be part of the LRT plan. Finally, we must leverage our investment in LRT - the whole purpose of this project is to make Hamilton a better place to live and encourage urban growth. We have to make sure that zoning and regulations are in place to make sure that we encourage quality growth, with attention to how people will interact with urban spaces, the aesthetic qualities of the urban form and allowances for green space and recreation.
But here is what YOU can do. This is an important election for Hamilton. With the boundary realignment, the new Ward 8 councillor will likely hold a deciding vote on many of the issues discussed above. If these issues are important to you - there is still time to help out with the campaign: http://www.jpdanko.com |
| Wicken, Colleen | Yes | As previously mentioned I do not support the LRT Initiative as it is planned. If LRT should move forward, I will do all that I can to insure that there is improved North - South busing on the mountain from the Air Port to downtown that would include GO transit at the Mohawk College Transit Hub as well as complimentary East - West bus routes that are more frequent on weekends and holidays. We have these amazing retail outlets on both the East and West sides of the Upper City we need a way to get to there to support these businesses. |
| Ward 10 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Beattie, Jeff | Yes | Infrastructure renewal, transit expansion, redevelopment of areas with a lower tax base into areas with a higher tax base, opportunities for new affordable housing options, focusing high rise/high density development into the downtown corridor (away from the suburbs) are all benefits of the project. These benefits need to be better communicated to residents - not just in the 'old' City of the Hamilton, but particularly in the outlying areas. There is a LOT of misinformation out there that needs to be challenged. |
| Ward 12 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Marley, Kevin | Yes | At this point, I don't think going back and reviewing the location or stops would be in the best interest. I think the previous councils have done enough studies to understand that the of the current plan provides the maximum benefit as of right now. Other than the LR itself, making sure the city is on time when it comes to the purchase of lands required and that the construction is done with constant public updates because they deserve to know what the progress is and how construction will affect them on a day to day basis. |
| Scime, John | Yes | When LRT moves through its final planning stages it is important to understand how future infrastructure dollars will be spread throughout the city. We know there will be hundreds of millions of dollars offsetting the infrastructure (sewers, water, communications, roads, etc) along the LRT corridor. We need to prorate the LRT corridors infrastructure budget and disperse it to other aging infrastructure projects. This is how Hamilton will maximize the total purse allocated for this funded project. |
| Ward 13 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Gelder, Rich | Yes | Be vigilant and ensure that whatever consortium wins the right to design, build, operate, maintain and finance the project is doing their job through frequent and publicly-accountable oversight. We also need to ensure that businesses in the corridor whose livelihoods will be disrupted during the phased-in project are supported. |
| Mitchell, Pamela | N/A | Declined to answer |
| Vanderbeek, Arlene | Yes | I am a rationale and pragmatic person. If LRT is to continue, I will be working to be sure there is connectivity from Dundas and across the City to feed the line and make it as successful as possible. |
| Ward 14 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Iszkula, Robert | Yes | |
| Whitehead, Terry | Yes | If LRT goes ahead: Seeing as how the ridership numbers are not adequate to support the system, my focus would turn to investing in the public transit feeder systems to increase the ridership and the viability of LRT. |
| Wilson, Bryan | Yes | Expand it. |
| Ward 15 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| McKechnie, Susan | Yes | When we say that Hamilton needs to benefit, we are really saying that all Hamiltonians need to receive maximum benefit from the LRT. Outside the lower city, this heavily implicates the effective delivery of the BLAST network that should really augment the LRT with an aim of reaching the key points of transit in non-core parts of the city, many of which include the fastest growing population pools like that in Ward 15. Currently there is no transit option in place to connect outlying students, seniors or workers to the downtown core and its transportation network. The BLAST infrastructure can begin to alleviate some of this demand.
Planning and strategic staffing will be critical to the success of moving this project forward. At a projected capital cost of $1Billion, the LRT represents one of the largest (potentially the largest) infrastructure project the city has ever undertaken. The challenge with mega-projects like this is that there is always the risk of scope creep and other variable cost concerns that could see its projected cost escalate substantially. Of the LRT projects going on in other cities, each one is substantially over budget and suffering from inevitable timing delays for delivery. Very careful attention to how this is delivered is critical. Another challenge with mega-projects like this is that they could also “monopolize” resources at the city. Because of their size the City Council, City Staff, Capital budgets, etc run the risk of getting overburdened with the planned infrastructure development. Very careful resource planning needs to be considered in light of these concerns. |
Response Summary (top)
| Brief Response | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 45 | 84.9% |
| No | 2 | 3.8% |
| Maybe | 2 | 3.8% |
