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 transit for 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 verified transportation, 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 post- 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 my 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.