Hamilton will have to pick up some of the cost of LRT, mayor told

Hamilton will have to come up with ways to fund part of the costs if it proceeds with a plan to install Light Rail Transit (LRT), says Mayor Bob Bratina.

The mayor met Monday with Bob Chiarelli, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, at the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) conference in Ottawa.

The minister clarified that Hamilton will have to raise a share of the cost of establishing an LRT service, Bratina said in a phone interview with CBC Hamilton on Tuesday.

"It was a relief to finally hear a clear statement from the minister that there will be participation expected from the host community," he said.

Hamilton has been examining LRT since 2007, when the province announced MoveOntario 2020, now under Metrolinx, to establish light rail in Hamilton and the GTA.

The city established a Rapid Transit office. Last September, council passed a motion asking for the province's commitment to fully fund the two planned LRT lines in Hamilton.

But Bratina says he learned in his meeting with Chiarelli this week that municipalites will have to look at revenue options to help raise the $50 billion to finance the planned LRT projects.

Bratina will also meet with Environment Minister Jim Bradley about Randle Reef, an underwater toxic mass in Hamilton Harbour. He is also meeting with Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Also at the AMO conference, Dundas councilor Russ Powers will be acclaimed as the association's new president.