Metrolinx has already started buying properties along Hamilton's LRT route

Metrolinx has already put deposits on a number of properties it needs to acquire for Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) line. But it won't say how many properties, or exactly how much it's spent on deposits so far.

It does mean, the city says, that "time is of the essence," putting additional pressure on city council as it is set to cast a crucial LRT vote Wednesday.

The agency is spending $1 billion to build LRT from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle. That includes buying at least part of more than 250 properties along the route, including about 90 that have to be fully or partially demolished. Most of those are around stop locations, where Metrolinx needs to widen the right-of-way to accommodate stop platforms and traffic lanes. 

A new city report going to council Wednesday says the agency has spent or committed $43,000,760 as of February, some of which includes land acquisition deposits where delay could be an issue.

But Metrolinx says it's in negotiations and won't reveal how much has been spent on deposits.

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Metrolinx would "rather not get into specific numbers because they are in negotiations," said spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins.

That may come out Wednesday, when Hamilton city council is due to make a potentially decisive decision around the LRT project.

Councillors will vote whether to approve a design plan that's an update to a 2011 environmental assessment (EA). Metrolinx and the city have to submit the EA to the province for the project to move ahead. Construction is planned from 2019 to 2024.

Councillors have already deferred the vote twice. The city and province are in eleventh hour negotiations to try to extend the plan to its original destination of Eastgate Square, which will win the support of more councillors. More delay will put the project in danger.

$75 million to build nothing

So far, the province has spent or committed $71,985,740 on the project. That breaks down as follows:

• Spent to date: $31,028,740.
• Remaining commitments: $40,957,000.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger has feared the city will have to pay back some of that if council cancels LRT. That's what happened in Toronto, when the city had to repay $75 million to Metrolinx after it cancelled a Scarborough LRT project. One headline dubbed it "$75 million spent to build … nothing."

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Wednesday's report doesn't really offer an answer on whether that would happen if Hamilton cancelled.

"It is fair to expect that if the city decided to discontinue the LRT project, there would be a negotiation between the province and the city on what discontinuance would cost, if anything," the report says.

Metrolinx and the city established a joint office in 2015 after Premier Kathleen Wynne announced $1 billion to build LRT.

That office cost $2,899,690.28 in 2016 and $1,178,012.94 so far this year, the report shows. Appraisal fees for 2016 and part of 2017 combined have cost $77,575.28.

Metrolinx has covered the costs so far

Discontinuing the project now, the report says, would cost the city $1.5 million in staff severances.

The city has signed a non-binding memorandum of agreement with Metrolinx, the report says. The real estate protocol, however, is binding, but can be terminated with 30 days notice.

Metrolinx has covered all the city's costs as it relates to the joint LRT project, including its property acquisition team.

The report also shows the city and Metrolinx spent $10,785,670 from 2007 to 2011 to look into LRT, design 30 per cent of the system and produce the Rapid Ready report.

This B line LRT plan is part of a larger plan called the BLAST network, which would see rapid transit spread throughout the city.

[email protected] | @SamCraggsCBC