The LRT Thing

Metrolinx's recent decision to punt the decision as to whether to allow HSR/ATU to run LRT, back to city council has been fraught with controversy. While the decision has been referred back to Hamilton City council, that direction was laced with dire warnings about the risks of hard wiring the running of LRT to HSR.

Much of these concerns are amplified in Andrew Dreschel of The Hamilton Spectators's opinion piece, which can be seen here. Andrew's piece entitled Councillors Should Say No to HSR Running LRT, makes it pretty clear where he stands on this.

While Dreschel's piece lands as it piggybacks on Metrolinx's warnings, Andrew's suggestion that Metrolinx would retain ownership of the system, thereby  having it remain in the public's hands, may not be compelling to some. While the statement is true that Metrolinx's ownership denotes it as being in public hands,  Hamiltonians may not find comfort in that. Referring to a provincial agency that will have interests and responsibilities beyond Hamilton's LRT, is not the same as a locally run system. The proximity effect has force in this. We're not suggesting one or the other is the better option; only that the comparison may not hold as nicely.

The decision as to realize the benefits and risks of privatization is also not a slam dunk. There are many variables to consider. Among them:

What is the track record of agencies such as Metrolinx specifically, and the privatization of public services more generally, location specific and otherwise. We are not suggesting a grade here or rendering a judgment; only that the question should be considered. 

To what degree should we empower a consortium? 

Are there creative solutions that we have yet to consider? For example, is it really a HSR vs. private operator decision? Or can it be privately operated initially, dovetailing into a planned handoff to HSR once certain preconditions regarding readiness are met? Surely that can be contractually cast. Would such a provision be necessary? 

What is the potential cost of litigation, if pieces of a consortium's deliverables fall astray or are otherwise at issue. (we have local examples to refer to).

How much profit is in the for profit model and how does that variable play in the mix.

Were HSR/ATU's interests given enough attention at the onset, and is part of this a hard lesson learned in retrofitting a major stakeholder to the extent that they ought to have been included in early talks? Certainly, if one reads ATU Local 107 President Eric Tuck's past interviews in The Hamiltonian, there is a clear sense that ATU believes that they were not consulted early enough, in a meaningful way.

All this to say that the LRT thing, and more specifically, the decision as to whether to allow HSR/ATU to operate the system is not a simple matter. Nor should it be playing out this late in the process. 

The Hamiltonian