Terry Whitehead releases 58-page LRT report — to mixed reviews

A Hamilton Mountain councillor has released a 58-page report Monday that he says boosts his case for bus rapid transit (BRT) over light rail transit (LRT).

Until I see a 10-year plan and financial investment, I'm going to have a heck of a time supporting LRT.- Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor

But at least one councillor in favour of the province building a $1 billion LRT system here says it hasn't changed his mind. And one of the researchers cited says it doesn't tell the whole story.

Terry Whitehead says he and his assistant on the report, Howard Rabb, have done weeks of work compiling "empirical data" about LRT projects across North America.

Whitehead says he found that LRT ridership numbers aren't as robust as advocates believe, and that Hamilton needs at least 10 years of investing in its transit system before it's ready for LRT.

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"I'll continue hammering away that it appears we're going to pick up a dud with this current plan," he said. "Until I see a 10-year plan and financial investment, I'm going to have a heck of a time supporting LRT."

Whitehead's report cited, among other sources, a 2015 dissertation from McMaster University researcher Christopher Higgins, and several U.S. reports, including a 1989 Federal Transportation Authority study. It also references city and Metrolinx reports.

Whitehead's 'evidence' was 'cherry-picked,' researcher says

Higgins posted his own review of the report online.

"Right now there are only a handful of studies considered," he wrote, "and on top of that the 'evidence' looks to be cherry-picked for maximum effect rather than to present a balanced analysis (much to my disappointment, this applies to the very small snippets of my work used throughout)."

If somebody wants to go to that extreme to collate information that's already published, so be it.- Sam Merulla, Ward 4 councillor

Whitehead, who represents Ward 8, says he'd rather see A and B line BRT — a system that like LRT, also includes dedicated transit lanes, but doesn't involve rails.

City council has voted more than 11 times for LRT over the years, dating back to 2006. But Whitehead says "there are a lot of gaping holes in the reports we received." They require further examination on, for example, whether LRT goes down King or Main Street through Hamilton's downtown core.

Whitehead used money from his ward budget to compile the report, which he has published on his website.

Sam Merulla, Ward 4 councillor, says Whitehead is welcome to do that.

"If somebody wants to go to that extreme to collate information that's already published, so be it," he said.

The report, he said, "doesn't come to any concrete type of conclusion," except that "rapid transit is something he feels is a priority and so do I."

Rob Pasuta, a Ward 14 councillor who has spoken against LRT, says he knew Whitehead was doing the report, and he supports the effort. "I'm glad to see someone bringing up these issues."

Hamilton city council asked the province for the full capital cost of building the system. Last June, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced $1 billion to do that.

The announced system will be built by Metrolinx with city input, and will run alternatively on Main and King streets from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, and along James Street North to the West Harbour GO station — or the waterfront, budget permitting.

Since then, though, some city councillors have expressed reservations about the project, including its impact on traffic and local businesses. Whitehead is one of the most vocal. Those in favour cite its benefits such as environmental impacts, economic uplift and the notion that the province will spend the money elsewhere.

Council is expected to vote in the fall to accept the Metrolinx project. Until then, city and Metrolinx staff continue to work on designing and implementing the project.