BLAST network

The BLAST network is a plan for a frequent rapid transit system in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The system is planned to include five routes, with two light rail transit (LRT) lines, and three bus rapid transit (BRT) lines.

BLAST network
Overview
Locale	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Transit type	Light rail / bus rapid transit
Number of lines	5
Website	Hamilton Rapid Transit
Operation
Operator(s)	Hamilton Street Railway
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map

Background

In 1981, during Bill Davis's Progressive Conservative administration, the Province of Ontario offered to finance the construction of a light metro in Hamilton from Lloyd D. Jackson Square to the Lime Ridge Mall. The line would have employed the ICTS platform used in the Scarborough RT in Toronto and the Expo Line in Vancouver. The plan, however, faced significant local opposition, and Hamilton-Wentworth Council rejected the proposal. The plan called for an elevated track – one of the elements that triggered opposition, with residents suggesting commuters would be invading their privacy by looking down on their back-yards and in their second floor windows.^[1]

BLAST was conceived as part of the city's 2007 transportation master plan. It was later incorporated by Metrolinx as part of its regional transportation plan, The Big Move.^[2][3] The B-Line LRT and A-Line were among the plan's prioritized transit expansion projects and were funded by the Government of Ontario in May 2015.^[4]

By 2019, Hamilton and Metrolinx were preparing to build the B-Line (Hamilton LRT).^[5] Land acquisition and building demolition for a 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square had started.^[6] On December 16, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced it was cancelling its funding for the BLAST system's B-Line LRT, due to cost overruns.^[7] The provincial Ministry of Infrastructure noted that provincial funds originally planned for the Hamilton LRT project would be redistributed to other transportation infrastructure projects, with consultation with a newly formed Hamilton Transportation Task Force and Hamilton's city council.^[8] On April 9, 2020, the Hamilton Transportation Task Force released the report, suggested that the city need a "higher order transit project", and it could be either LRT on B-Line or BRT on both B-Line and A-Line.^[9]

On February 9, 2021, the province reversed its decision and reinstated the project as the Hamilton LRT.^[10]

Proposed lines

The B-Line LRT and A-Line BRT are the top transit priorities for the City of Hamilton and were originally scheduled for completion in 2024.^[11]

The 2017 Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan outlines a proposed regional transportation network for service by 2041.^[12] It includes four priority bus routes and an LRT to run on the north portion of the A-Line. BRT and LRT transit lines included in Metrolinx's 2017 Regional Transportation Plan includes:

Line	Type	Corridor / main route	Termini		Opening
	LRT	Main Street, King Street and Queenston Road	McMaster University	Eastgate Square	2024
	BRT		University Plaza	McMaster University	Before 2041
	BRT	Highway 6 and York Boulevard	Downtown Hamilton	Waterdown	Before 2041
	LRT	James Street and Upper James Street	Hamilton Waterfront	Hamilton International Airport	Before 2041
	BRT				2024
	BRT	Centennial Parkway, Upper Centennial Parkway, Rymal Road and Garner Road	Ancaster Business Park	Confederation GO Station	Before 2041
	BRT	Kenilworth Avenue, Upper Ottawa Street, and Mohawk Road	Meadowlands	The Centre on Barton	Before 2041

References

1. Cory Ruf (May 27, 2014). "LRT and lessons to be learned from Hamilton's first flirtation with urban trains: In 1981, Council turned down elevated train line, despite province's vow to foot most of the bill". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
2. "Routes and Corridor Maps". City of Hamilton. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
3. "The Big Move" (PDF). Metrolinx. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
4. Kevlahan, Nicholas (May 26, 2015). "Hamilton Gets YES for an Answer". Raise the Hammer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
5. Craggs, Samantha (April 11, 2019). "Provincial budget confirms - again - that Hamilton will get LRT". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
6. Craggs, Samantha (March 28, 2019). "Metrolinx resumes buying land for Hamilton LRT after 7-month pause". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
7. Craggs, Samantha (December 30, 2019). "With the province pulling money from LRT, will BRT have its time?". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
8. "Important announcement regarding Hamilton LRT project". www.infrastructureontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
9. "Hamilton Transportation Task Force Report". Ontario. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
10. Craggs, Samantha (February 9, 2021). "LRT is back on the table in Hamilton — but depends on the feds, province says". CBC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
11. Dongen, Matthew Van (February 3, 2017). "All you ever wanted to know about BRT in Hamilton". The Hamilton Spectator. ISSN 1189-9417. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
12. "The Draft Regional Transportation Plan 2041" (PDF). Metrolinx. p. 66. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.

External links

• Light Rail Transit: City of Hamilton project page
• Hamilton LRT: Metrolinx project page
• BCA Consultation boards