Hamilton’s Light Rail Transit project is still not under construction, nearly a decade after the first announcement of 100 percent funding back in May of 2015.
What little information that is available on the project reveals that design work is not complete. At the same time, the City of Hamilton and Metrolinx are still negotiating regarding project management and who will do what.
There is no decision on LRT maintenance and operations, no timeline for what the project will go to competitive procurement, and no timeline for major construction.
Eastgate LRT Station Design at Ten Percent: March Letter
“Verbal comments were received from Metrolinx staff that the property acquisition requirements may be more than previously indicated given station design is currently at approximately 10%,” reads a letter from Eastgate Square to the City of Hamilton submitted in March as part of the Planning Act application to redevelop the shopping mall into a 5,000 residential unit property.
TPR emailed Metrolinx in late July, citing this ten percent figure, asking for specifics on design progress.
“The conceptual design for the LRT project – including the Eastgate stop – is currently being updated and expected to be shared later this year,” was the Metrolinx response.
City and Metrolinx Still Negotiating Roles
“On the Hamilton LRT, Metrolinx is working with the City of Hamilton to finalize a RACI [Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.] document that conveys different groups’ high-level roles and responsibilities during the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) period. This document will help inform Metrolinx’s procurement strategy in successfully delivering the project from an O&M perspective and will incorporate lessons learned from the Eglinton Crosstown LRT,” reads a report signed by Metrolinx’s Chief Operating Officer, Rapid Transit Steve Levene.
More Enabling Works Scheduled for 2025
“The Hamilton LRT continues to see good progress on the enabling works program including utility relocation, property acquisition, building demolition, and technical due diligence. At the end of Q1, a total of 47 demolitions were completed. Design work for watermain relocation on Rosewood/Main and Ottawa/Main is ongoing with construction planned for spring 2025. Further watermain works at Nash Road and Wentworth Street will commence in fall 2024. Enbridge has also initiated detailed designs for five sections along the corridor,” reads a report signed by Andrew Hope
Chief Capital Officer (Rapid Transit). [Hope was the original Metrolinx Hamilton project lead a decade ago.]
Rapid Timeline Background
The Ontario Progressive Conservative government briefly cancelled the project in December 2019. The federal Liberal government attached funding to the Hamilton LRT as part of its conditions to fund Premier Doug Ford’s LRT projects in Toronto.
In May of 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Hamilton’s LRT was back on track.
Fast forward to today, September 2024. The project hasn’t been put out to tender, there’s been no decision on the operations and maintenance model, and there’s no timeline for when the construction will go to tender.
In short, the major LRT construction can begin is Spring 2026 – nearly two decades after the plan to build rapid transit was first announced back in June 2007.
Production Details v. 1.1.0 Published: September 9, 2024 Last updated: September 9, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version v. 1.1.0 corrected typo in headline, thanks to a comment for pointing this out
Peeks?
Thanks for catching my typo.