Type Light rail Status Planned Website Hamilton Rapid Transit | System Hamilton BLAST network Locale Hamilton, Ontario | |
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Termini McMaster University
Queenston Circle | ||
The B-Line is a main bus route in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It runs along Main Street and King Street in downtown Hamilton. It is also one of five planned light rail transit (LRT) lines which form Hamilton's proposed BLAST network. It is a top 15 priority project in The Big Move, Metrolinx's regional transportation plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
The B-Line LRT is in the planning phase. A benefits case analysis was conducted, showing a net benefit for implementing LRT, and that it would be adequate dealing with long-term travel demand growth. An environmental project report was completed in October 2011.
The line had been envisioned to run between McMaster University and Eastgate Square, with a complete journey taking 31 minutes. The line would be 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) long, and have 17 stops in total. On May 26, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced a shorter route between McMaster University and Queenston Circle, but also including a segment of the A-Line to provide a direct connection to West Harbour GO Station, as well as a pedestrian corridor to the Hamilton GO Centre. The capital costs for the project will be $1 billion, funded entirely by the province. For the West Harbour GO Station, construction is expected to begin in 2017, with the station completed in 2019. For the B-Line LRT, procurement is expected to begin in 2017, and line construction is expected to begin in 2019.
In February 2014, Brian McHattie, a city councillor and mayoralty candidate, sent a letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne to affirm support for the B-Line on behalf of the City. This triggered criticism from current mayor Bob Bratina and other councillors who have reservations about the LRT plan.