Light rail a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'

The prospect of light-rail transit for Hamilton is about much more than moving people from place to place.

For many, it's about moving the city itself.

Terry Cooke, former regional chair of Hamilton-Wentworth who now heads the Hamilton Community Foundation, believes light-rail could transform Hamilton.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity to change the city's economic base and land use planning."

It's clear Hamilton city planners and many residents are pinning their hopes for renewal on landing an east-west LRT line from Eastgate to McMaster University.

Business, environmental, neighbourhood and student groups have lined up behind light rail, which was also unanimously approved by city council as the preferred option.

They see LRT as a critical component to bringing people downtown to live, work and spend money, to linking key destinations, to bringing back ailing sections of the core, to enhancing the city's image as a progressive and growing city.