How could HSR issues affect city bid to operate LRT?

There are questions about whether the current problems involving Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) service could impact upon the city’s request to operate its light rail transit (LRT) line.

It’s a concern that was hinted at during a heated committee meeting at city hall on Wednesday when Dundas Coun. Arlene Vanderbeek noted that “we’ve asked the province to let us run the LRT,” adding “all of a sudden, we can’t run the HSR.”

It’s also been a popular question on social media after driver absenteeism rose to 19 per cent last month, resulting in almost two dozen “no-show” buses per day in Hamilton and leaving riders at the side of the road.

Ryan McGreal, editor of the website Raise The Hammer says “if I’m the province, I’m looking very closely at this situation.”

General manager of public works, Dan McKinnon, acknowledges that “the optics aren’t good.”

Hamilton city council has been waiting two months for an answer since it asked the province to reconsider contracting out operations and maintenance of Hamilton’s proposed $1-billion, 14-kilometre LRT line.

Environment Hamilton, which has consistently asked city politicians to increase investment in the HSR, has scheduled an emergency meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Hamilton City Hall, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Spokesman Ian Borsuk says it will give people who are most affected “a chance to talk about the issues and where they see potential solutions” and “get the ball rolling” to ensure their voices are heard.

He notes that riders who rely on city buses to get where they need to go, such as work and school, are “getting frustrated.”