More Travel Options in a Rapidly Growing City
Transformative transit investments – bringing light-rail transit to Hamilton and establishing all-day hourly GO service – are building a future ready Hamilton that is readily connected to the broader region.
Transit is key to preparing for Hamilton’s expected increase of population to 820,000 by 2051.
“LRT is building for the future needs of a growing city,” says Abdul Shaikh, director of the Hamilton LRT project office.
“Areas near the LRT corridor are seeing extensive growth and more opportunities to welcome more residents and businesses every year. As a growing innovation, technology and healthcare hub, Hamilton needs higher-order transit to help serve expansion and intensification in the core and beyond. A multi-modal, integrated approach to our transit and transportation networks will provide more choices for residents, employees and visitors to travel to school and work, and enjoy the many destinations Hamilton has to offer.”
A 17-stop, 14-kilometre LRT will connect McMaster University in the west end of Hamilton to Eastgate Square in the east. LRT vehicles will run on tracks in dedicated lanes, separated from regular traffic and offer frequent, safe, comfortable, efficient and reliable transportation.
It will connect riders with the major employment areas, entertainment districts, venues, arenas, parks and neighbourhoods that make Hamilton a vibrant and unique place to live, work and play.
Hamilton LRT will be integrated with existing Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus service, connecting with existing north south and parallel routes, and connect with local bike share and cycling routes.
This significant investment in Hamilton’s transit network is one piece of the City’s future vision of serving major corridors and connecting existing and future employment and development areas throughout Hamilton with higher-order transit.
Enhanced GO service is a boon to Hamilton’s position as a major employment centre, facilitates business connections to the GTA, supports residential development, and boosts tourism to the city.
LRT will connect to regional transit, including GO Transit bus and rail service from West Harbour GO and the Hamilton GO Centre to Toronto and beyond. The future Confederation GO rail station near the intersection of the QEW and Centennial Parkway North will provide two-way train service from Toronto through Hamilton and on to Niagara Falls.
Construction on the $50-million Confederation Station is underway and should be completed in 2025. The province estimates more than 120,000 people and 63,000 jobs will be located within five kilometres of the Confederation station by 2041.
