Light Rail Transit project for Hamilton back on track with contractors asked to step up

The long-waited Hamilton Light Rail Transit project is on track towards shovels in the ground after the Ontario government issued a Request for Qualifications for contractors to bid on the construction work.

The move brings the province one step closer to getting started on the key transit project that is expected to carry 50,000 riders a day across one of Ontario’s fastest-growing cities.

“I’m thrilled about today’s announcement,” said Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath. “This long-anticipated news is a critical step in a historic investment in public transit for our city.”

The first announcement for funding for the project happened in 2015.

The Civil Works and Utility Relocations request invites contractors to submit a statement of qualifications to lead the construction of most civil work, including utility relocations, roads, structures, grade separations, bridges, sidewalks and traffic control signals along the entire alignment. The province will evaluate the submissions and announce a shortlist of candidates who will then be invited to submit proposals to complete the work.

“Our government is making real progress on our historic plan to build and expand transit across the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said provincial Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. “As one of our priority rapid transit projects, the Hamilton LRT will reduce gridlock and connect thousands of families and workers to affordable public transit, improving quality of life and growing the economy for everyone.”

Once complete, the Hamilton LRT will connect commuters to an expanded high-speed rail and GO network, offering service to McMaster University, City Hall, Tim Hortons Field, Eastgate Square, downtown Hamilton and other locations.

In May 2021 the province and federal government announced an investment of up to $3.4 billion in transit infrastructure to support the construction of the Hamilton LRT.

Through this partnership, Ontario and Canada will each contribute up to $1.7 billion in capital funding toward getting the transit project up and running for the City of Hamilton.

“The federal government is committed to delivering Hamilton’s LRT and is pleased to partner with the Government of Ontario to deliver fast, reliable and sustainable transit options to communities across the province,” said Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas. “As Hamilton grows, this new LRT will help residents get where they need to go.”

Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said the project will be a “game changer” for Hamilton, “bringing better connections to local and regional transit,” while Joseph Mancinelli, the Canadian Director of the Labourers International Union of North America, said his union has been a “strong champion” of the project “since day one.”

“Hamilton requires resilient and reliable infrastructure to keep up with demand. Investing in viable transit infrastructure will continue to spur economic development and address critical infrastructure and transit needs throughout the city while creating thousands of jobs for the members of LIUNA and skilled trade workers.”

Neil Lumsden, the MPP for Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, called the request for qualifications “another milestone” for the transit plans for the people of Hamilton.

The Hamilton LRT project will bring 14 kilometres of fast, frequent light rail transit through Hamilton’s downtown core connecting riders from Eastgate to McMaster along Main Street, King Street and Queenston Road. It will support 16,400 new daily trips on transit and feature direct connections to GO Transit and HSR bus service.