When can I take a ride? And answers to your other LRT questions

The province is paying $1 billion to build a light rail transit system through the lower city. It will also pay to fast track the Centennial GO station.

Here are answers to seven questions about what Tuesday's announcement means to you.

1. What exactly is the route for the new LRT system?

The light rail transit system will run from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, with a spur line going from King Street to the James North GO station- and says the province "ultimately" to the waterfront. Originally, the line was supposed to go from McMaster University to Eastgate Square, but it's been shortened to pay for the spur line. The province says the line will eventually be extended to Eastgate Square. You can learn more and take a virtual ride on the route here.

2. When will I get to ride it?

Construction will start in 2019 and take about five years. The province estimates the LRT will be operational in 2024.

3. When will the Centennial GO station be ready?

The province will begin building parking next year, with shovels going in the ground for the tracks in 2017. The GO station will be operational by 2019, Metrolinx says.

4. What if the LRT system costs more than $1 billion?

When asked that question, the province says that $1 billion is what it will cost. "The $1 billion cost was calculated based on estimates provided by the City of Hamilton, and account for inflation," Metrolinx says. If you say so. Some councillors also worry that Hamilton property taxpayers will have to pick up the cost for any infrastructure problems crews uncover while they're installing the tracks.

5. Does this mean Main and King will become two-way streets?

That's been mentioned as something that will be required in some previous LRT reports, although whether that materializes will be part of the design process over the next couple of years.

6. What's a "spur line?" Where will it go?

"Spur line" is the term officials are using for a shorter line that will extend from the main King Street line to connect to a GO station. That was a condition of the province giving LRT money — that the line connect to the GO system. The spur line for Hamilton's system will run along James Street North, connecting to the new James North station. How many lanes it will occupy will be part of the design process.

7. What will it mean when I try to drive downtown?

It won't mean anything until 2019. But once construction starts, the impact will be significant, says Coun. Sam Merulla. First, construction will block off many lanes along the route for the length of the five-year construction. And once the system is in, it will change the way you drive downtown. "The significance of this cannot be understated," Merulla said. "Anything worth investing in, there's pain associated with it."

Watch a video of what the system could look like below.