Saturday October 1, 2016

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Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday October 1, 2016 Eisenberger takes on 'foolish' LRT critics Mayor Fred Eisenberger has come out swinging against surging opposition to LRT among city councillors, which now includes a referendum pledge and "informal discussions" about approaching the province for a new transit deal. "I think it's unfortunate and foolish to go down this road," said Eisenberger, vowing to do everything "humanly possible" to get council to stay the course on the $1-billion provincially-funded project. Eisenberger warns that if council votes for a referendum it will stop the LRT implementation process dead in its tracks and possibly kill the project. Additionally, he says it's "foolhardy" for councillors to believe there's an alternative deal to be had with the province to redirect money earmarked for transit into infrastructure repairs. "I think the province will take a pretty dim view of coming back with some alternate plans to what we've supported, nurtured and asked for.Ó The mayor was responding to Coun. Chad Collins' promise to bring forward a motion next spring to include the contentious LRT issue as a referendum question on the October 2018 municipal election ballot. Eisenberger says if councillors oppose LRT they shouldn't be "hiding behind" a plebiscite. "If they really want to kill LRT then they should own it and they should put a motion forward to do exactly that and stand up and be counted.Ó Eisenberger was also taking issue with backroom talks about exploring alternatives to the project, which will run from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle, with a spur line on James North. Coun. Donna Skelly told The Spectator she hopes that "informal discussions" currently taking place will result in the city approaching the province for a new deal. The outspoken LRT critic says a number of councillors are looking at options of how to secure the provincial funding for some other form of rapid

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 1, 2016

Eisenberger takes on ‘foolish’ LRT critics

Mayor Fred Eisenberger has come out swinging against surging opposition to LRT among city councillors, which now includes a referendum pledge and “informal discussions” about approaching the province for a new transit deal.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday July 27, 2016 LRT report not about Ôus-and-themÕ says Whitehead A Mountain councillor says a report his office authored to challenge Hamilton's plan for a $1-billion light rail line in the lower city is meant to offer "sober second thought" as the project moves forward. "What is the best net benefit to the community at large?" Coun. Terry Whitehead told The Spectator's editorial board Monday. But just hours after Whitehead released his report, Christopher Higgins, one of its key sources, released viaÊTwitterÊscathing feedback of the Ward 8 councillor's 58-page effort. Higgins publicized an annotated version of Whitehead's report early Monday, discrediting it for using study material "cherry-picked for maximum effect rather than to present a balanced analysis." That, Whitehead said, was "unprofessional." "Who does a peer review on Twitter for all to see?" Whitehead said he and assistant Howard Rabb, who co-authored the report, had asked for Higgins' feedback before publication, but that the researcher said he was pressed for time and heading to China. Higgins, a post-doctoral researcher at McMaster University's Institute for Transportation and Logistics, said a "role for MITL as peer reviewer was mentioned, but never acted upon." Whitehead rejected the report lacks context, saying links to PDFs of full studies it cites are just a click away on its host microsite.Ê The work isn't meant to be scientific, but an attempt to find answers, he added: "I'm not doing a scientific study, let's be clear." During the editorial board meeting, Whitehead said the report isn't about ward politics, either. "This is not an us-and-them thing, as much as people want to pigeonhole me on that." Rather, theÊreportÊÑ which questions projections for ridership, land values, development spinoff and system efficiency Ñ is meant to foster a more "fulsome" take on the project. Whitehead argues staff has presente

 July 27, 2016

“I think it’s unfortunate and foolish to go down this road,” said Eisenberger, vowing to do everything “humanly possible” to get council to stay the course on the $1-billion provincially-funded project.

Eisenberger warns that if council votes for a referendum it will stop the LRT implementation process dead in its tracks and possibly kill the project.

Additionally, he says it’s “foolhardy” for councillors to believe there’s an alternative deal to be had with the province to redirect money earmarked for transit into infrastructure repairs.

“I think the province will take a pretty dim view of coming back with some alternate plans to what we’ve supported, nurtured and asked for.”

Wednesday May 27, 2015

May 27, 2015

The mayor was responding to Coun. Chad Collins’ promise to bring forward a motion next spring to include the contentious LRT issue as a referendum question on the October 2018 municipal election ballot.

Eisenberger says if councillors oppose LRT they shouldn’t be “hiding behind” a plebiscite.

“If they really want to kill LRT then they should own it and they should put a motion forward to do exactly that and stand up and be counted.”

October 28, 2014

October 28, 2014

Eisenberger was also taking issue with backroom talks about exploring alternatives to the project, which will run from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle, with a spur line on James North.

Coun. Donna Skelly told The Spectator she hopes that “informal discussions” currently taking place will result in the city approaching the province for a new deal.

The outspoken LRT critic says a number of councillors are looking at options of how to secure the provincial funding for some other form of rapid transit but also put money toward the city’s $3.5 billion infrastructure deficit.  (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)