Hamilton B-Line
The intersection of Main Street and James Street in downtown Hamilton, looking east
Overview
StatusPlanned
OwnerMetrolinx[1]
LocaleHamilton, Ontario
Termini
Stations17
WebsiteOfficial website
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemBLAST network
History
Planned openingTBD
Technical
Line length14 kilometres (8.7 mi)
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map

 McMaster University
Longwood
Ontario 403 crown.svg Highway 403
Frid maintenance facility
Lakeshore West line
 Dundurn
 Queen
 James
MacNab Transit Terminal
Hamilton GO Centre
Mary
 Wellington
 Wentworth
 Sherman
 Scott Park
Canadian Pacific Kansas City
 Gage Park
 Ottawa
 Kenilworth
 Queenston Circle
 Parkdale
Red Hill Creek
Red Hill Valley Parkway
 Nash
 Eastgate Square
Eastgate_Square#Eastgate_Transit_Terminal

The Hamilton LRT (also known as the B-Line) is a planned light rail line in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to operate along Main Street, King Street, and Queenston Road. It is one of five planned rapid transit lines which form Hamilton's proposed BLAST network. The 14 km (8.7 mi), 17-stop route is planned to extend from McMaster University to Eastgate Square via downtown Hamilton.[2]

The LRT was originally funded by the province of Ontario in 2015 but was then cancelled in 2019 due to rising costs. In February 2021, the province recommitted to the project, subject to additional funding from the Canadian federal government.[3] In May 2021, the federal government committed funding for the project as part of a larger spending package to fund rapid transit initiatives in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.[4] Preliminary construction is expected to begin in 2024.[5][6]

Route layout

Hamilton LRT route across the city, as of November 2023

The western terminus is to be built on Main Street in front of McMaster University. The line will continue east until Dundurn Street, where it will turn north to access King Street.[7] After turning back east on King Street, the line continues through downtown Hamilton. At the King–Main intersection, the line will continue on Main Street until Queenston Circle and then Queenston Road until Eastgate Square.

Stops

Stop[8] Platform type Notes
McMaster Island/side[lower-alpha 1] Connection to McMaster University Bus Terminal
Longwood Island
Dundurn Unknown[lower-alpha 2] Located east of a spur line leading to OMSF[7]
Queen Island
James Split[lower-alpha 3] Connection to MacNab Transit Terminal and Hamilton GO Centre
Mary Side
Wellington Side
Wentworth Island
Sherman Island
Scott Park Island
Gage Park Island
Ottawa Island
Kenilworth Island
Queenston Side
Parkdale Split
Nash Split
Eastgate Island Connection to Eastgate Transit Terminal
Notes
All stops are located along the street's median except where noted below.
  1. ↑ Platforms located north of the road
  2. ↑ Stop moved from King St to Dundurn St as part of re-routing in November 2023; platform type was not specified
  3. ↑ Westbound platform located north of the road, eastbound platform located south of the road

History

Planning and funding (2011–2017)

A benefits case analysis was conducted, showing a net benefit for implementing LRT, and that it would be adequate dealing with long-term travel demand growth.[9] An environmental project report was completed in October 2011.[10]

On May 26, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced a shorter route between McMaster University and Queenston Circle, but also including a segment of the A-Line to provide a direct connection to West Harbour GO Station, as well as a pedestrian corridor to the Hamilton GO Centre. The capital costs for the project would be $1 billion, funded entirely by the province. For the B-Line LRT, procurement was expected to begin in 2017 and line construction in 2019.[11][12] The transit line was scheduled to open to the public in 2024.

On February 2, 2017, the province scrapped the A-Line spur altogether, announcing it would opt for bus rapid transit along the entire A-Line corridor from Hamilton's waterfront to the airport.[13]

On March 28, 2017, Hamilton City Council chose to delay the crucial Environmental Assessment vote to April 19, 2017,[14] citing they needed more time to read it for themselves. On April 19, 2017, City Council voted again to delay the Environmental Assessment, this time to April 26, 2017,[15] claiming the plan at that stage (which was to build Phase 1 from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle) was indefensible and unfit as it did not go from a destination location to a destination location.

On April 26, 2017, the province announced with the money saved from removing the spur line from King and James to the West Harbour GO Station, they would work with the City to get the 3 km (1.9 mi) Eastgate Square extension included in the capital funding. Later that evening City Council voted to submit the original Environmental Assessment from October 2011 which covers the original route from McMaster University to Eastgate Square.[16] The motion to submit the original Environmental Assessment was by Terry Whitehead, who was one of the project's harshest critics. The motion passed 10–5, with Councillor Robert Pasuta absent.

On August 4, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved the Environmental Project Report (EPR) Addendum for Hamilton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan.[1]

Procurement and cancellation (2017–2019)

In 2018, before its election defeat, the previous Liberal government knew that the project cost had increased from $1 billion (established in 2014) to $2.85 billion, according to the Progressive Conservative government that succeeded it. However, Metrolinx continued to show the cost as $1 billion until late 2019.[17]

On August 30, 2018, property acquisitions and other spending related to the project were put on hold by the newly elected provincial government.[18] About 50 percent of the properties still needed to be purchased before completing the light rail line.[19]

Light rail was a key issue in the 2018 Hamilton municipal election.[20] Mayoral challenger Vito Sgro campaigned primarily on a platform of cancelling the B-Line project while incumbent mayor Fred Eisenberger was pro-LRT. On October 22, 2018, Eisenberger was re-elected to a second consecutive term (and third overall) receiving 54% of votes and claimed that the results indicated a "strong mandate on LRT to move forward."[21]

On March 29, 2019, Ontario Transit Minister Jeff Yurek announced that project-related spending could resume after an eight-month freeze. He indicated that Metrolinx could now continue to purchase land along the route needed for LRT construction.[22] Four days later, Metrolinx announced the purchase of a 14.5-acre property which will be the site of an operations, maintenance and storage facility (OMSF) for the light rail vehicles.[23]

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx planned to deliver the Hamilton LRT project according to IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model which basically is a public–private partnership arrangement.[24] On February 2, 2017, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario issued the request for qualifications to shortlist proponents to respond to a request for proposals.[25] On April 16, 2018, teams shortlisted by IO and Metrolinx allowed to bid on designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the LRT are:[26]

  • CityLine Transit Group including equity providers ACS, Aecon, CRH and TIAA. In the CityLine Transit Group team the constructors are Dragados, Aecon and Dufferin. The designers are Parsons, HDR, Wood (formerly AMEC) and RDHA. Operation and maintenance providers are ACS, Aecon, CRH and Serco.
  • Ei8ht Transit including equity providers EllisDon, Fluor and Bombardier. In the Ei8ht Transit team, the constructors are Fluor, EllisDon and Bombardier. The designers are WSP/MMM, Hatch, Gh3 and Bombardier. Operation and maintenance providers are EllisDon Facilities Services and Bombardier.
  • Mobilinx including equity providers Astaldi, John Laing, Hitachi-Ansaldo STS, Transdev and Amico. In the Mobilinx team, the constructors are Astaldi, Hitachi-Ansaldo, Amico and Bot. The designers are IBI, Hitachi-Ansaldo, Daoust Lestage, Morrison Hershfield, Exp Services and Arcadis. Operation and maintenance providers are Transdev, Hitachi-Ansaldo and Astaldi.

The procurement of a dedicated fleet of light rail vehicles and the construction of a maintenance and storage facility were included in the deal.[26] The deadline to submit bids was originally scheduled for April 2019 but was later extended by six months.[26][22] As of 2019, no vehicles have been chosen, but the trains could be similar to the Flexity Freedom cars to be used in Waterloo Region's Ion rapid transit and Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT or the Alstom Citadis Spirit cars ordered by Metrolinx as a backup fleet for Eglinton Crosstown LRT.[27][28]

On December 16, 2019, Doug Ford's government told the City of Hamilton that the project will be terminated "effective immediately", because the estimated cost of the project had risen to an "astonishing $5.5 billion".[29][30] The Mayor of Hamilton, Fred Eisenberger, called the cancellation "a betrayal by the province to the City of Hamilton."[29] The capital expenditures had increased from $1 billion excluding financing as of 2014 to $2.85 billion including financing at the time of project cancellation.[31] Also, the Ford government is adding the 30-year estimated cost of $1 billion for operations and maintenance to the capital and financing costs. The City of Hamilton would have been expected to pay the LRT's operating and maintenance costs.[32] The province has already spent $184 million[33] on the project including the acquisition of 60 properties.[34] Consortiums who were competing to construct the LRT would be entitled to compensation as a result of the cancellation. Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said the province has cancelled the Hamilton LRT, but not the Hurontario LRT with similar costs, because the Hurontario project was further along and bidders on the Hamilton LRT had raised concerns about costs.[31]

As a consolation, the provincial government offered the city $1 billion (the original estimated cost of the LRT line) to spend on other transit improvements. To this end, the provincial government set up a task force to decide on the best use for the money.[17] In March 2020, the task force reported their preference for the funds to be spent on higher-order transit (such as light rail or bus rapid transit) along the Hamilton LRT route.[35]

Project revival (2020–present)

In November 2020, there was talk of the project being revived. During an announcement in Hamilton, Ontario, Premier Doug Ford said he had been working closely with Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger on the file but said they would need funding support from the federal government to move forward with it. The following day, then federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna said she supported the project, and that it was up to the province to formally endorse the LRT project and submit a business case for the federal government to review. Laborers' International Union of North America's Joseph Mancinelli cited the project as an ideal stimulant of economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.[36]

On February 9, 2021, the province confirmed its commitment to the project and added the Hamilton LRT to its slate of priority transit projects in the GTHA. The proposed route would be a shorter 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) kilometre line between McMaster University and Gage Avenue and would require an additional $1.5 billion in funding from the federal government.[3]

On May 11, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $1.7 billion in federal funding for the Hamilton project. The capital costs would be split equally between the federal and provincial governments for the full 14-kilometre route.[37]

On June 2, 2021, Metrolinx and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation met with Hamilton city council to discuss operating costs (which would be funded by the city) and to agree to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU).[38] After a two-week delay, council voted 9–6 in favour of negotiating the MOU and proceeding with the LRT project.[39]

On June 2, 2023, Metrolinx and City staff presented a project update to the City of Hamilton's LRT Sub-committee, in which Metrolinx is recommending a different delivery model and contract packaging strategy from what was previously contemplated under the former procurement process.[40] Instead of procuring project partners to deliver all aspects of the project by adopting a Public-Private Partnership (P3) contracting model, Metrolinx is recommending splitting up the Hamilton LRT project into 3 packages, as described below, and using different contract delivery methods following feedback from the market to decrease project risk, strengthen stakeholder management and improve interface between civil and systems scope:

  1. Advance Enabling Works: Early strategic relocation of select private and public utilities (mainly off corridor).
  2. Package 1 - Civil Works and Utilities (alliance): Primarily Third Party assets are designed, constructed, commissioned and handed over to asset owners. The proponent would also conduct works related to private and public utilities (relocation and renewal of longitudinal utilities), civil structures (eg. bridges, grade separations), roadworks and the urban realm (eg. streetscape, pedestrian and cycling facilities, and HSR integration).
  3. Package 2 - Stops, Rail and Systems (delivery model TBD): Works related to LRT guideway, rail, and systems, as well as the Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility (OMSF) and integration of Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) for Revenue Service. Metrolinx is discussing with the City on the potential to include operations and maintenance as part of this contract. If included, this package may be delivered as a P3 Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM).[41]

In October 2023, Metrolinx appointed AECOM to serve as the technical advisor for its Hamilton LRT.[42]

By November 2023, Metrolinx introduced a design change affecting access to the planned Operations, Maintenance and Storage (OMSF) facility on Chatham Street as well as a change in alignment of the mainline. The mainline would cross Highway 403 via a rebuilt and widened Main Street bridge instead of via a rail-only flyover bridge. This change followed a decision by the City of Hamilton to convert Main Street from one-way to two-way traffic and is intended to save cost.[43] Access to the OMSF will be via Frid Street instead of via the busier Longwood Road. The mainline would shift from Main Street west to King Street via Dundurn Street, adding two 90 degree turns to the route. The Dundurn stop would be relocated along Dundurn Street to be closer to Hamilton's Innovation District instead of along King Street.[7]

Operations

  • The B-Line LRT route is currently served by the 10 B-Line Express HSR bus.[44]
  • The trip is expected to take 32 minutes from end-to-end running at a frequency of every 6 minutes during peak hours.[2]
  • The 14 km (8.7 mi) route will include 17 stops placed approximately 600–800 metres apart.[2]
  • The B-Line will use a 30-metre light rail vehicle with a capacity of about 130 passengers. Platforms being built are 60 metres to support future trains of 2 light rail vehicles in length.[2]
  • An operations, maintenance and storage facility (OMSF) is planned along Chatham Street to be accessed south from Main Street via Frid Street.[7] The 15-20 acre OMSF site would initially hold 24 LRVs but could eventually accommodate twice that number. The OMSF will have a shed for vehicle cleaning and maintenance, an office building and an employee parking lot.[45]

References

  1. 1 2 McGreal, Ryan. "Ministry Approves Hamilton LRT Environmental Report". Raise The Hammer. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Frequently Asked LRT Questions". hamilton.ca. July 4, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Craggs, Samantha (February 9, 2021). "LRT is back on the table in Hamilton — but depends on the feds, province says". CBC. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ Beattie, Samantha (May 11, 2021). "Federal government to spend $12B on Toronto, Hamilton transit". CBC News. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  5. ↑ "As LRT process edges along, King Street businesses say they're not getting the info they need". CBC News. January 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Mann, Ken (September 15, 2021). "Key LRT decision ratified by Hamilton city council". Global News. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Important steps taken towards progressing the Hamilton LRT". Metrolinx. November 15, 2023. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Hamilton LRT design drawing/map" (PDF). Hamilton.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 27, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  9. ↑ "B-Line Facts". City of Hamilton. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  10. ↑ SNC Lavalin, Steer Davies Gleave (October 2011). "Hamilton Rapid Transit Preliminary Design and Feasibility Study: B-Line" (PDF). City of Hamilton. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Ontario Investing Up to $1 Billion for Light Rail Transit in Hamilton". news.ontario.ca. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  12. ↑ Canadian Press and Hamilton Spectator (May 26, 2015). "Hamilton to get a new LRT and GO Train station". thestar.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Ontario Moving Forward with More Transit Options for Hamilton". news.ontario.ca. Ministry of Transportation. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Hamilton's LRT project stalled for further debate by councillors". The Hamilton Spectator. March 29, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  15. ↑ "13 hours and no vote: LRT grinds to a halt". The Hamilton Spectator. April 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Hamilton's light-rail transit project gets green light to move forward". The Hamilton Spectator. April 27, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Moore, Oliver (February 21, 2020). "Final decision expected on Hamilton's disastrous light-rail project as angry residents look for closure". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  18. ↑ Thompson, Shiona (August 30, 2018). "Metrolinx pumps the brakes on Hamilton land purchases for LRT". Global News. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Only project paused by Ford government spending halt is Hamilton's LRT". CBC. August 30, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  20. ↑ Van Dongen, Matthew (October 18, 2018). "Poll shows Hamilton mayoral race a dead heat over LRT". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Eisenberger wins Hamilton mayor's race over anti-LRT challenger Sgro". CBC. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  22. 1 2 Van Dongen, Matthew (March 29, 2019). "Hamilton LRT back on track after province lifts funding "freeze"". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  23. ↑ Mann, Ken (April 2, 2019). "Hamilton LRT takes another step forward". Global News. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Finch West, Hurontario LRTs advance". March 29, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  25. ↑ Ontario, Infrastructure. "Request for Qualifications issued for Hamilton LRT". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 "RFP issued for Hamilton light rail project in Ontario". April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Metrolinx statement on Alstom/Bombardier". Metrolinx. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  28. ↑ Spurr, Ben (May 13, 2017). "How do TTC's streetcar options compare? It's Bombardier versus Alstom". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Statement by Mayor Fred Eisenberger on Hamilton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) project". hamilton.ca (Press release). December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.
  30. ↑ "No provincial funding for LRT, mayor calls move a 'betrayal' of Hamilton". cbc.ca. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  31. 1 2 Moore, Oliver (December 17, 2019). "Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath calls on Doug Ford to release third-party transit review of Hamilton LRT". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  32. ↑ Spurr, Ben (December 17, 2019). "Mayor 'optimistic' Toronto transit plans will go ahead, one day after Ford cancels Hamilton LRT". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Ontario cancels Hamilton LRT project, citing rising costs". The Globe and Mail. December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  34. ↑ Van Dongen, Matthew (December 16, 2019). "'A betrayal of Hamilton': Ontario pulls out of LRT project". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Hamilton Transportation Task Force Report". www.ontario.ca. April 9, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  36. ↑ Polewski, L (November 13, 2020). "Ontario premier says Hamilton LRT is a 'good project' that needs federal backing". Global News. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  37. ↑ Lawson, Andrea (May 11, 2021). "Federal government to provide $1.7B in funding for Hamilton LRT - CHCH". www.chch.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  38. ↑ Rankin, Christine (June 2, 2021). "LRT postponed again as Hamilton councillors wait 2 more weeks for crucial vote". CBC. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  39. ↑ Mann, Ken (June 16, 2021). "GIC vote to accept $3.4B offered for Hamilton LRT, council votes next week". Global News. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project Update - Light Rail Transit Sub-committee - June 02, 2023". pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Metrolinx considering Alliance contract to de-risk Hamilton LRT project - constructconnect.com". Daily Commercial News. January 25, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  42. ↑ "AECOM teams up with Metrolinx as technical advisor for Hamilton LRT project". Mass Transit. October 19, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  43. ↑ Mitchell, Don. "Hamilton LRT change will shift route to Dundurn Street, eliminating rail bridge". Global News. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  44. ↑ "B-Line bus schedule" (PDF). Hamilton Street Railway.
  45. ↑ Hayes, Molly (October 13, 2016). "LRT storage barn proposal gets initial nod of residents". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
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