Failure is not an option with LRT, says Hamilton mayor

It was a cushy gala filled with a who's who of Hamilton politics and business. MPPs rubbed elbows with corporate executives. The talk was light on new information, and heavy on applause.

But still, the question of the hour for Mayor Fred Eisenberger at the annual Chamber of Commerce mayor's breakfast on Thursday was anxiety over light-rail transit (LRT).

Eisenberger was at Liuna Station for the breakfast, an annual event where business, politicians and media gather for the mayor's "state of the city" address. Instead of the usual speech, Eisenberger took questions from the floor so it would be more of "a conversation," he said.

One of those questions was about LRT. Mary Aduckiewicz is the CEO of Denninger's, a company that employs 350 people and is centred in the International Village. That's where LRT is expected to turn the neighbourhood into pedestrian focused with a single lane of traffic, similar to Hess Village. And it's a neighbourhood where business owners fear as much as five years of construction, which will start in 2019. LRT is due in 2024.

Aduckiewicz told Eisenberger that she likes the idea, but she worries about the impact on the store.

"Whenever you have a lot of construction or disruption, people do not want to take the time to come to your store," she said afterward.

• LRT plan for International Village 'scares the hell out of me': new business owner
• King Street traffic squeezed to make way for LRT, design plan reveals

Eisenberger said he has no concrete answers, but the city will keep her informed.

"Communication's going to be everything," he said.

"If we fail to do so, we've failed all the businesses and we've failed in terms of delivering LRT, quite frankly. There's no option for failure."

Eisenberger focused much of his LRT-related talk on "city building" aspects of the project – the idea that it will bring economic uplift.

"I've always believed, and still do, that having a highway going through our city is not conducive to our downtown," he said. "I see no harm in that traffic pattern changing."​

Metrolinx is building a $1-billion LRT line in Hamilton from McMaster University to Queenston Circle, and from King Street to the West Harbour GO station, or Guise Street if there's enough money.

The city released a design study on Wednesday that included a new LRT-only bridge over Highway 403, King Street becoming two way after Dundurn and the International Village becoming one lane.

Here's what else the mayor talked about:

• His $50 million plan to alleviate poverty and provide more affordable housing. That included talking about growing up in social housing in McQuesten, and living there until he was 19.
• Plans to develop Piers 7 and 8 in the west harbour.
• Trying to make it easier for businesses to operate in Hamilton through streamlining services and cutting red tape.

Eisenberger says he will deliver the 2017 state of the city address via live stream.