With Mayor Eisenberger- on ATU and LRT

Mayor Eisenberger

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The Hamiltonian can be reached at admin@thehamiltonian.info


As part of our series that seeks to better understand how ATU will or will not fit into a potentiual LRT implementation in Hamilton, and in addition to our chat with Erik Tuck, ATU President Local 107, and Metrolinx, we also reached out to our Mayor.


1. The Hamiltonian recently interviewed ATU Local 107 President Eric Tuck. Mr. Tuck’s responses to our questions can be read here: http://www.thehamiltonian.net/2017/05/with-eric-tuck-on-atu-and-lrt.html
It appears as though ATU and its interests may be on a collision course with aspects of the possible LRT implementation, specifically as it relates to the privatization of services that would otherwise be provided by ATU members. Understanding that stakeholder management and inclusion are a vital part of any initiative, what measures have you taken, or will be taking to ensure that the right conversations are had and that ATU feel valued and included. We do appreciate that some of this will fall on Metrolinx, but as Mayor of our city, can we have your views on how this situation should be handled.

2. On the onset, did you accept that ATU and their members may be adversely impacted by an LRT implementation as it is currently being envisioned, or is this something that you are now turning your mind to?

3. What message do you have to Hamiltonians and to ATU supporters who may agree with Mr. Tuck’s assertion that public transportation is a staple that should remain within the control of local authorities?

4. Is there anything else you would like to add, relative to the cross section between ATU and their interests and direction that the city may be going in in relation to LRT?

The Mayor responded with the following: 

“We know this project is being delivered as a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) Council has made it very clear that if ATU can be involved in any way we should consider it. I will continue to encourage conversations between Metrolinx and ATU.”

While the Mayor's reply was brief, we acknowledge that it's been a busy time for him, and appreciate his time. 

With Metrolinx- On ATU and LRT

Due to repeated attempted abuses of this thread, it has been locked.
The Hamiltonian can be reached at admin@thehamiltonian.info

As a follow up to our interview with ATU President Eric Tuck, we reached out to Metrolinx to get their perspective.

The questions we posed were as follows:

1. Does Metrolinx see ATU local 107 as a significant stakeholder in transit matters related to Hamilton and specifically with respect to LRT?

2. What efforts has Metrolinx made to establish a working relationship with ATU Local 107, and is this something that you would deem appropriate at this juncture?

3. What provisions are you making, if any, to recognize the men and women who are unionized members who currently support transit in Hamilton. Will there be any measures to bring them into the fold as service providers?

4. The following is an interview we conducted with ATU Local 107 President Eric Tuck. http://www.thehamiltonian.net/2017/05/with-eric-tuck-on-atu-and-lrt.html Do you have any comment on Mr. Tuck’s responses?

5. Is there anything else you ’d like our readers to know about a potential LRT implementation in Hamilton, from Metrolinx’s perspective?

The response we received from Metrolinx is as follows:

ATU local 107 is recognized as an important stakeholder in the Hamilton LRT (LRT) project. Metrolinx is working closely with the City of Hamilton to integrate HSR with Hamilton LRT, further enhancing the connectivity of the system and ensuring seamless integration.

We are aware that ATU has expressed interest in beginning the dialogue with the City of Hamilton and Metrolinx on its role in the LRT project. We look forward to further discussions with the City in the coming months on potential options.

The Hamilton LRT project will be delivered using a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain procurement model. This means the consortium responsible for designing and building the project will also be responsible for operating and maintaining it for a set period of time (typically 30 years). This approach transfers risk to the consortium and provides a strong incentive for high quality design and construction since the same people building the project will be responsible and accountable for operating and maintaining it after it is complete.

To be clear, the project will remain publicly owned by Metrolinx once complete and the consortium will operate it on our behalf. This is similar to the way a number of transit lines are currently operated across the region today, including the entire GO Rail network, York Region Transit, and the York VIVA Bus Rapid Transit project.

It is also consistent with the delivery model used for the Waterloo LRT, and Hurontario LRT in Mississauga and Brampton.

Thanks to the folks at Metrolinx for your response. 

SaveSave

Media Release from Mayor Eisenberger

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR EISENBERGER

May 10, 2017, Hamilton, ON – Bob Bratina does Hamilton a great disservice with his column of May 10 published in the Hamilton Spectator.

Rather than de-railing Hamilton’s renaissance, as Mr. Bratina alleges, our LRT project is propelling it forward. Never before has a project united all of Hamilton’s anchor institutions with such passionate support - three local chambers of commerce, and the local unions - the way that LRT has. Construction cranes are dotting the downtown skyline, many being driven by the certainty that LRT will bring to the city. Expansion of the city’s tax base will further translate to a rebalancing and lower taxes in suburban areas.

Mr. Bratina used to understand this. When ran for Mayor in 2010, he ran on a pro-LRT platform. His commitment to LRT was in his campaign document under the heading “Economic Development”. On this, I could not agree more. Economic development is exactly the point!

While Mr. Bratina seems to have grown tired of federal issues during his short tenure in Ottawa, perhaps he could re-awaken his interest by assisting the city with federal investments in our infrastructure and by helping our Stelco workers and retirees secure their pensions and benefits. Where Mr. Bratina could make a difference, he is uncharacteristically silent.

As Mayor, I have experienced a great deal of co-operation and assistance from MPs and MPPs from all three political parties. Our representatives at Queens Park and in Ottawa see the value in a Team Hamilton approach and have never disappointed, with one notable exception. It is not too late for Mr. Bratina to join the team.

Note: To read the column that the Mayor is referring to, click here or purchase today's Spec.

With Eric Tuck- On ATU and LRT

Local 107,
ATU President, Eric Tuck

As ATU is a major stakeholder in the potential LRT implementation in Hamilton. we thought we'd reach out to its President of Local 107, Eric Tuck. Enjoy our chat with Eric.

1) On behalf of your membership can you summarize any concerns you may have about the potential implementation of LRT in Hamilton and how it may impact your members?

Our primary concern is the impact on the rest of our transit system. Essentially though the Province's/Metro-linx procurement practices, they are attempting to Privatize Public Transit by insisting that the bid process is restricted to a design, build, operate and maintain for 30 years through the 3Ps (Public Private Partnership). 

There's been numerous examples that show 3ps procurement policies actually cost taxpayers 30% more over public implementation/operations and often result in greater interruption and diminished services.

By adding private for profit partnerships to a public service eventually those added costs get passed