| BLAST network | |||
|---|---|---|---|
     | |||
| Overview | |||
| Locale | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Transit type | Light rail /bus rapid transit | ||
| Number of lines | 5 | ||
| Website | (Re)envision the HSR | ||
| Operation | |||
| Operator(s) | Hamilton Street Railway | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge | ||
| |||
TheBLAST network was a plan for a frequent rapid transit system in the city ofHamilton,Ontario, Canada. The system is planned to include five routes, with twolight rail transit (LRT) lines, and threebus rapid transit (BRT) lines.
In 2019, the City of Hamilton launched a project entitled(Re)envision the HSR, which was an evolution on the BLAST network. The new plan includes an additional E-Line. As a result, the BLAST network branding is no longer used.
In 1981, duringBill Davis'sProgressive Conservative administration, the Province of Ontario offered to finance the construction of a light metro in Hamilton fromLloyd D. Jackson Square to theLime Ridge Mall. The line would have employed the ICTS platform used in theScarborough RT inToronto and theExpo Line in Vancouver. The plan, however, faced significant local opposition, and Hamilton-Wentworth Council rejected the proposal. The plan called for an elevated track – one of the elements that triggered opposition, with residents suggesting commuters would be invading their privacy by looking down on their back-yards and in their second floor windows.[1]
BLAST was conceived as part of the city's 2007 transportation master plan. It was later incorporated byMetrolinx as part of its regional transportation plan,The Big Move.[2][3] TheB-Line LRT andA-Line were among the plan's prioritized transit expansion projects and were funded by theGovernment of Ontario in May 2015.[4]
By 2019, Hamilton andMetrolinx were preparing to build the B-Line (Hamilton LRT).[5] Land acquisition and building demolition for a 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square had started.[6] On December 16, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced it was cancelling its funding for the BLAST system's B-Line LRT, due to cost overruns.[7] The provincialMinistry of Infrastructure noted that provincial funds originally planned for the Hamilton LRT project would be redistributed to other transportation infrastructure projects, with consultation with a newly formed Hamilton Transportation Task Force and Hamilton's city council.[8] On April 9, 2020, the Hamilton Transportation Task Force released the report, suggested that the city need a "higher order transit project", and it could be either LRT on B-Line or BRT on both B-Line and A-Line.[9]
On February 9, 2021, the province reversed its decision and reinstated the project as theHamilton LRT.[10]
The B-Line LRT and A-Line BRT are the top transit priorities for theCity of Hamilton and were originally scheduled for completion in 2024.[11]
The MetrolinxRegional Transportation Plan 2041 outlines a proposed regional transportation network for service by 2041.[12] It includes four priority bus routes and an LRT to run on the north portion of the A-Line. BRT and LRT transit lines included in Metrolinx'sRegional Transportation Plan include:
| Line | Type | Corridor / main route | Termini | Opening Target | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRT | Main Street,King Street andQueenston Road | McMaster University | Eastgate Square | 2024 |
| BRT | University Plaza | McMaster University | Before 2041 | ||
 | BRT | Highway 6 andYork Boulevard | Downtown Hamilton | Waterdown | Before 2041 |
 | LRT | James Street andUpper James Street | Hamilton Waterfront | Hamilton International Airport | Before 2041 |
| BRT | 2024 | ||||
 | BRT | Centennial Parkway,Upper Centennial Parkway,Rymal Road andGarner Road | Ancaster Business Park | Confederation GO Station | Before 2041 |
 | BRT | Kenilworth Avenue,Upper Ottawa Street, andMohawk Road | Meadowlands | The Centre on Barton | Before 2041 |
Though the A-Line and B-Line projects were targeted for 2024, the timeframe for both has slipped significantly. On November 6, 2024, Metrolinx issued arequest for qualifications for utility relocation and renewal, roads, sidewalks and traffic control signals along the B-Line route.[13] No timeline is currently provided for the beginning of construction or updated target date for opening.
