City and province in talks to extend LRT to Eastgate Square

The city and province are talking about extending Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) system to Eastgate Square as originally planned. But it's still unknown whether it'll happen fast enough to sway any councillors to approve the project during a crucialvote Wednesday.

Stay tuned. Who knows?- Ted McMeekin, MPP

The city and province have been talking "for months" about LRT to Eastgate Square, said Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. And they're still talking.

As for whether there'll be anything to announce soon:"Stay tuned," he said. "Who knows?'

Changing the LRT plan to go to Eastgate Square may seem like an eleventh hour effort to get councillors on board. But McMeekin's comments are just the latest indication it's not an outlandish idea.

• LRT to Eastgate: Is it pulling 'rabbits out of hats?' or a realistic gambit to save LRT?
• Hamilton's $1B for LRT is only for this project: McMeekin

The LRT plan was originally supposed to go from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. But when the province announced $1 billion in 2015 for Metrolinx to build the project, the B line portion only went from McMaster to the Queenston traffic circle.

The province said the revised plan allowed it tobuild an LRT spur line down James Street North. But it has since found the ridership isn't worth the cost. Then it floated an A line bus rapid transit (BRT) plan from the waterfront to the airport. That hasn't won expected accolades from Mountain councillors, and the province has released no details since.

Does it factor in? I think it factors in. Does it decide it? No.- Coun. Arlene VanderBeek

That leaves $125 million unspent in the $1 billion project. It would cost an estimated $225 million to run LRT to Eastgate Square, which means Hamilton needs more money from the province to make it work.

A plan that goes to Eastgate Square would win over some on a city council where the majority appear to be undecided or opposed to the project.

At least four councillors interviewed say they'remore likely to approve the project if it goes to Eastgate Square. That includes Arlene VanderBeek, councillor for Ward 13 in Dundas, who said she's undecided right now.

"It's a much better plan if it goes to Eastgate Square," she said.

As for her own vote, "Does it factor in? I think it factors in. Does it decide it? No."

'I've talked to people who have said they wouldn't transfer. What's the point?- Coun. Terry Whitehead

Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor, said his own support hinges on Eastgate Square.

"There are a lot of discussions going on," he said. "But I'm waiting to see if it bears fruit."

Without an Eastgate Square connection, he said, people would have to get off at Queenston traffic circle and have to get on another bus to go to Eastgate.

'What's the point?'

"I've talked to people who have said they wouldn't transfer," he said. "What's the point?" In addition, he said, "there's no north-south connectivity at the Queenston traffic circle."

Wednesday is a pivotal day for the project. That's when council will vote on whether to approve an update to a 2011 environmental assessment. The original environment assessment already included a plan to Eastgate Square.

The city has to submit the plan to the province for LRT to continue. If it's not approved soon, the city risks missing the 2019 deadline to start construction.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirmed the city and province are talking about EastgateSquare.

"I'm doing everything I can to get this EAapproved and move on to the next steps," he said.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC