01479259

Component

The Province of Ontario is in the midst of an unprecedented expansion of light rail transit (LRT). But what factors are behind the determination to build LRT? The case of light rail in Hamilton offers important insights into the tangible and intangible motivations and justifications that inform the light rail transit planning process. The decision to construct LRT is based on the tangible goals of city-building and increasing economic development, revitalization, land use change, and transit ridership. The planning process is also based on the intangible symbolic goals of city branding, differentiation, and image-led planning as a means of altering perceptions and increasing competitiveness. However, an extensive review of the literature demonstrates that a series of prerequisites that must be in place if an investment in light rail is to achieve these goals. Applying this knowledge to the case of Hamilton reveals a project that faces significant challenges to inducing land use change and altering perceptions. The research presents several lessons relevant to planners and policymakers involved in the light rail transit planning process.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP075 Light Rail Transit.

01470560

13-3780

English

17p

2013

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Maps; References

Economic development; Land use planning; Light rail transit; Policy analysis; Policy making; Ridership; Transportation planning

Ontario (Province)

Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-3780

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:44PM