City's 2022 budget highlights commitment to improve and advance public transit

HAMILTON, ON - The City of Hamilton will invest $77.4 million in transit initiatives while continuing year six of the 10-Year Local Transit Strategy as highlighted in its 2022 budget, reinforcing the commitment to support and advance transit across the city.

On December 15, 2021, Hamilton City Council approved the City of Hamilton’s 2022 Tax Supported Capital Budget.

Key investments highlighted in the 2022 budget to improve and enhance transit include:

• $19 million dedicated to the HSR Bus Replacement Program that will replace 18 buses at the end of their life cycle to ensure that the transit fleet remains in a state of good repair for the safety and comfort of customers.
• $11 million for HSR Expansion Buses that will see an additional 14 buses added to the fleet to facilitate additional transit service for Hamiltonians, a key initiative as part of year six of the 10-Year Transit Strategy.
• An additional $2 million to improve the A-Line Priority Bus Corridor.

All HSR replacement and expansion buses will be powered by natural gas, continuing Hamilton’s leading position as one of the greenest fleets in Canada. Currently, more than 51 per cent of the HSR fleet is natural gas.

Furthermore, in May 2021 a joint funding announcement by the provincial and federal governments also committed $3.4 billion to the capital cost of the 14-kilometre Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, making the Hamilton LRT one of the largest infrastructure investments in the City’s history.

The LRT project includes further investment in public infrastructure including roads, sidewalks, bridges, watermains, sewers, electrical distribution (hydro), telecommunications, natural gas, traffic control signals and streetlights.

A Term of Council priority, investment in a variety of multi-modal transportation options including transit, cycling infrastructure, micro-mobility systems, pedestrian mobility, and road infrastructure help to create a more sustainable and active Hamilton.

Additional transportation options are also identified in the City’s Transportation Master Plan, which guides City decisions and planning efforts to accommodate growth to 2031 and beyond and reflects Hamilton’s role as a major distribution hub of goods in Southern Ontario.

Greater use and access to public transit and active transportation also helps reduce traffic-related injuries, improves air quality, contributes to the reduction of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease from air pollution, increases physical activity, improves mental and physical health and encourages more social interaction.

The City of Hamilton’s 2022 budgets will be presented to City Council between January through March 2022. Residents interested in the City’s 2022 budget process can monitor the City’s website for budget-focused GIC meetings, which are streamed via the City's website, the City's YouTube channel or via www.Cable14.com.