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Expected Completion: 2024

Hamilton is a city with a bright future, and that future will bring many more Hamiltonians. Those Hamiltonians need more and better transit. We’re on it: take a look at the new Hamilton LRT. It will feature 17 stops on 14 kilometres of safe, rapid, and reliable light rail, from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Eastgate, from the west end of the city to the east.

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17 stops will take you where you need to go and provide you with more connections for better and easier rapid transit service. Connecting you to Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus service, GO bus routes, and the Hamilton GO Centre Station that by 2025 will feature new, all-day GO service on the Lakeshore West GO train line, getting you from Hamilton to Union Station. Biking? You’re good to go. The Hamilton LRT will integrate cycling and pedestrian routes, and Hamilton’s own SoBi bike share system.

Hamilton is poised for decades of prosperous growth, and Hamilton LRT will be there to help fuel your future. It’s about more than just moving people from place to place. It’s about your quality of life, revitalizing the Hamilton you love, and linking every corner of your city. Plus it’s a catalyst for stimulating economic development.

The Hamilton LRT will do more than get Hamiltonians moving. It will do more than promote a cleaner, more stunning environment in a city already defined by stunning nature. The Hamilton LRT will be a rebirth for the Main-King-Queenston corridor. Pedestrian-friendly city blocks with modern stops will be the meeting place between community and convenience.
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Construction Notices & Project Updates

17

stops

14

kilometres

46%

projected population growth by 2041

Metrolinx is working collaboratively with the City of Hamilton to deliver the Hamilton LRT project: a new 14-kilometre LRT line that will run through downtown Hamilton along Main and King Streets, and on Queenston Road.

Hamilton LRT is one of the largest infrastructure investments in the City’s history and will protect for future growth through segregated LRT lines.

With 17 stops and connections with local Hamilton Street Railway service, multiple GO bus routes, the Lakeshore West GO train line and a new pedestrian connection to the Hamilton GO Centre, the new Hamilton LRT will get you where you need to go – whether in the city or beyond – and drive major economic investment, continuing to build up this great city.


Aspect Future
Number of stops 17
Number of route kms 14 km
Ridership 1,500 passengers per hour in the peak direction, with 12.6M annual ridership.
Service Every 6 minutes during peak hours
Cost $1 billion (2014$) capital (construction) investment
Project delivery model Alternative Financing and Procurement, using the DBFOM model. Hamilton LRT will remain publicly-owned by Metrolinx.


  • 2008-2010: Planning and Feasibility Studies, Business Case completed.
  • 2011: Original Environmental Assessment completed by City of Hamilton.
  • 2015: Province commits $1 billion towards capital costs.
  • 2017:
    • Request for Qualifications (RFQ) released for consortiums to Design-Build- Finance-Operate and Maintain the LRT;
    • Route extended 3-km to Eastgate Square;
    • Completion of Environmental Assessment Addendum completed in partnership by Metrolinx / City of Hamilton.
  • April 2018: Request for Proposals (RFP) issued.

As part of the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, three pre-qualified teams are currently preparing proposals that detail how they will deliver the project. Bid submissions are expected in Spring 2020 and a preferred proponent will be selected with contract award occurring later that year. The construction schedule will be determined by the proponents through the RFP process.

In April 2018, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx issued a Request for Proposals to three shortlisted teams to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. The three teams were selected based on the evaluation of criteria identified in a Request for Qualifications process that began in February 2017.

Teams have been invited to respond to the RFP and have begun preparing proposals that detail how they will deliver the project. Upon evaluating the received proposals, IO and Metrolinx will select a preferred proponent and award the contract.

Read the April 13 news release here.

View a copy of the RFP here.

Hamilton LRT: Frequently Asked Questions

Watch this space for future community meetings or public engagement opportunities. You can always share thoughts, questions or comments on the project by emailing HamiltonLRT@metrolinx.com.