All councillors will see big LRT issues at the same time now
It's a compromise that keeps the city's special LRT subcommittee intact
Hamilton city councillors will see big information around the light rail transit (LRT) project at the same time now, rather than it going to a subcommittee first.
City council voted Wednesday that any binding agreements will come right to all councillors at the general issues committee (GIC). That group will also be the first to see traffic, infrastructure or environmental issues that impact the whole city, as well as an expected transit project assessment process (TPAP).
It's a procedural item, but it impacts how city council handles LRT decisions moving forward. Right now, all LRT reports go to a subcommittee that includes six councillors, four of which are staunch LRT supporters. Those reports then go to the general issues committee (GIC), and then to city council.
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Judi Partridge, Ward 15 councillor from Flamborough, isn't comfortable with that.
"The time is right for all councillors to be part of the LRT meeting discussions," she said earlier this month. "The LRT transit project is one of the most important city issue that residents want to be fully engaged in. I believe moving the issue to be dealt with at special GIC meetings will achieve that."
Wednesday's vote was a compromise. At first, Partridge wanted to disband the LRT subcommittee altogether. She and Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor and LRT subcommittee chair, worked out what was passed Wednesday.
Here's what will go to GIC:
- Any binding agreements between the City of Hamilton, Metrolinx and any other parties related to the LRT project including, but not limited to, the master agreement and the operating and maintenance agreement.
- Any LRT project related items that require funding from the City of Hamilton.
- The final report of the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) and any future amendments to the TPAP, as necessary.
- Any items that would result in impacts to the broader city and/or community such as traffic, infrastructure or any environmental related issues.
- Any items that would result in impacts to the broader city and/or community such as traffic, infrastructure or any environmental related issues.